Tag Archives: vintage ad

1906? We can probably blame the opium.

Found on the back cover of the June 1906 issue of The American Thresherman

Found on the back cover of the June 1906 issue of The American Thresherman.

Product Not To Scale

The ad copy:
It Fills the Bill
J.L. Case Threshing Machine Co.
Racine, Wis.
USA

Holy harmonicas, Batman!

1966 magazine ad for the Hohner Marine Band harmonica.

1966 magazine ad for the Hohner Marine Band harmonica.

The first episode of the Batman TV series with Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin) aired on January 12, 1966. 

Did you know the harmonica got its start in China? Or perhaps Germany?

Not quite a harmonica.

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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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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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Beep beep! It’s a ‘Jeep’.

Print ad for the WIllys-Overland 'Jeep' Station Wagon found in the January, 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.
Print ad for the WIllys-Overland ‘Jeep’ Station Wagon found in the January, 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.

The 1946 Willys Jeep station wagon was the first 2-door station wagon.

This was just seven years after the first Jeep prototype (“Quad”) was delivered to the US Army. It was designed in just 75 days.

The History of the Station Wagon

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Are you into Amelia memorabilia? 

Print ad for Amelia Earhard Luggage from the January 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.

Print ad for Amelia Earhard Luggage from the January 1947 issue of Holiday magazine.

According to online calculators, $600 in 1947 would be $7,781 today (2022).

Five Things You May Not Know About Amelia Earhart, including her own clothing and luggage lines.

15 Fascinating Facts About Amelia Earhart

Let’s learn about crocodile and alligator leather!

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That’s hot.

Print ad for Coty Paris found in the December 1946 issue of Art News magazine.
Print ad for Coty Paris found in the December 1946 issue of Art News magazine.

Introduced in 1923 by François Coty.

The history of Coty.

What the heck is dusting powder?

Of curious note is that they show the range of prices from high to low instead of low to high like many of us these days are more used to. Perhaps to help seal the deal it was high-end stuff.

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Say goodbye to girdles!

Circa 1949 magazine ad for Blue Swan Suspants
Circa 1949 magazine ad for Blue Swan Suspants

The answer to a maiden’s prayer.

Wanna see the Blue Swan Mills factory? Just scroll at bit at the link.

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