Sing us a song, you’re the honky tonk harpsichord man.

1974 magazine ad for Cordovox Electronic Pianos

1974 magazine ad for Cordovox Electronic Pianos

“Suspiciously similar to the Selmer-Armon in having sliders for the 3 equally dismal sounds.”

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From back when copy, cut and paste weren’t keyboard shortcuts.

The cover of Print (America’s Graphic Design Magazine) July/August 1974

Well, it took 38 years for me to find out about it, then over a decade for me to track down a copy for myself, but now I have it! — Print (America’s Graphic Design Magazine), July/August 1974 — It has a feature story on art directing National Lampoon, and then they let National Lampoon take over a section of their publication for extra mayhem.

Wild.

Always remember to budget some time for creative research.

Here’s your plop of mayo, kids!

A Hellmann’s/Best Foods Real Mayonnaise magazine ad found in the July 1938 issue of The American Home

A Hellmann’s/Best Foods Real Mayonnaise magazine ad found in the July 1938 issue of The American Home

Hellmann’s and Best Foods Real Mayonnaise… Why two names? Let’s find out!

Ketchup’s dark twin – a brief history of mayonnaise.

Mayonnaise, the centuries-old technological wonder

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(BONK) I coulda had a V-8!

1960 magazine ad for V-8 Cocktail Vegetable Juices

1960 magazine ad for V-8 Cocktail Vegetable Juices

The eight vegetables in V-8 are beets, celery, carrots, lettuce, parsley, watercress, spinach and tomato. And yes, I know tomatoes are botanically fruit.

Here. Have a history timeline of V-8!

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Take off, eh!

Magazine ad for Pratt & Whitney found in the December 1937 issue of Aero Digest

Magazine ad for Pratt & Whitney found in the December 1937 issue of Aero Digest.

Pratt & Whitney, the early years.

Da plane! Da plane!
Da Lockheed Super Electra 14H2

A bit about Trans-Canada Airlines, a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway Company.

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“It’s just the flu.”

1905 ad for Horsford's Acid Phosphate
1905 ad for Horsford’s Acid Phosphate

Let’s go back to calling influenza “the grippe”.

Did you know acid phosphate was one of the original ingredients in Coca-Cola and essential at soda fountains?

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Nice cans.

A magazine ad for… cans… from 1985 — Canned Food Information Council

A magazine ad for… cans… from 1985 — Canned Food Information Council

Somebody in the 1980s really wanted to put a sexy robot in an ad.

Why the Can Opener Wasn’t Invented Until Almost 50 Years After the Can

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Alas, I was born too late.

1967 magazine ad for General Mills Bugles, Daisy•s and Whistles... and Canada Dry Ginger Ale sorta.
1967 magazine ad for General Mills Bugles, Daisy•s and Whistles… and Canada Dry Ginger Ale sorta.

Bugles are still around, but I totally missed out their snack siblings — “Whistles – a cheddar-flavored corn product in the shape of a whistle and taste like grilled cheese on toast, only crunchy; and Daisy*s – a flower-shaped snack that had the flavor of puffed popovers.”

Dang it

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Death of a traveling salesman

Magazine ad for Hertz found in the October 9, 1967, issue of Newsweek
Magazine ad for Hertz found in the October 9, 1967, issue of Newsweek

Avis might’ve reached advertising legend status with its “When you’re only No.2, you try harder. Or else.” ad and eventual “We try harder.” tagline, but I gotta tell ya, this 1967 Hertz ad is its own kind of awesome. I never knew it existed before picking up a short stack of old Newsweek magazines at a local flea market this weekend. And the word count in this single print ad? 385.

Avis v. Hertz – a history. 

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