Tag Archives: vintage advertising

Don’t hate the player piano; hate the game.

Magazine ad for The Aeolian Company’s Pianola found in the September 1904 issue of The Review of Reviews
Magazine ad for The Aeolian Company’s Pianola found in the September 1904 issue of The Review of Reviews

Alas, my summer home is also my fall, winter and spring home. 

Aeolian is defined as “relating to or arising from the action of the wind”. If only I had known this word as a child.

The Aeolian Company was once the world’s largest piano supplier, later going out of business in 1985.

A brief history of the pianola, or player piano.

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Don’t forget to burp’m.

Magazine ad for Tupperware found in the August 1965 issue of Sports Afield
Magazine ad for Tupperware found in the August 1965 issue of Sports Afield

A little bit on Fairman Wallace “Wally” Taber here and here. Dude studied photography with Ansel Adams.

The history of Tupperware parties. Did you know about Earl Tupper and his savior, Brownie Wise?

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Just Four Spiffy Little Ads From 1948

Sylcon Quilted Mattress • Simonis Billiard Cloth • T-N-T Popcorn • Saf-T-Hed Thumb Tack
Sylcon Quilted Mattress • Simonis Billiard Cloth • T-N-T Popcorn • Saf-T-Hed Thumb Tack

Simonis might be the only one still in business.

Come for the gimcracks. Stay for the SPUG.

Colgate ad found on the back cover of the January 1915 issue of The Designer magazine
Colgate ad found on the back cover of the January 1915 issue of The Designer magazine

What’s a gimcrack? Pretty much the same thing as a gewgaw, d-uh.

Mr. Smith must’ve been a real tightwad over clothing, as both he and Mrs. Smith wear the same outfits for several days. Hopefully, Colgate made a deodorant back then. (Nowadays, they do make Speed Stick.)

What’s the deal with fainting couches? In related news, a chaise longue is usually screwed up by Americans as a “chaise lounge”.

It looks like SPUG was made up for this ad, but there are other SPUGS that exist today.

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Dick Won All Around When…

Ad for Thin Gillette Blades found in March 1946 issue of Fifteen Western Tales

They’re plenty keen.

Price comparison: In 1946, four thin Gillette blades cost 10¢. In 2019, four Gillette Fusion ProGlide Men’s Razor Blade refills cost $17.99 on Amazon.

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It’s not the meat, it’s the motion.

Tsk. She can do better.

For Constipation and Biliousness

I am pleased to say I went home with the true jewel of the auction.

The Giblet that Refreshes

The Fifties were a dark time, especially since they hadn’t yet figured out the recipe for Coca-Cola-glazed turkey.

1959 two-page Coca-Cola / Coke Thanksgiving magazine ad

“Grandma, did you forget to make the damned potatoes again?”

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And that’s why Bob in Accounting is no longer allowed to write advertising copy.

As I trudged through this rambling, convoluted bit of century-old writing, I started to hear it in the voice of Mojo Jojo (Roger L. Jackson) from The Powerpuff Girls and it suddenly became much, much better.

Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company ad found on the back cover of a 1917 Life magazine.

It still doesn’t explain the blacksmith though.

“Umm… Excuse me, but why am I even in this ad?”

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Santa Claus was born in a barn, apparently.

1947 Coca-Cola / Coke Santa Claus Christmas Ad

Close that damned fridge door, Santa! We’re not made of money! Continue reading