Tussy Cream Deodorant

Oh that strange, disembodied face staring out from the top picture. A bit of advertising , of course, but with all the reflections, a bit weird. Tussy Cream Deodorant has been manufactured since 1925, and according to it's manufacturer's web site, Suite-K.com., it's available in dollar stores everywhere. Stamped on the back of the top picture, "APR 28, 1951" If the regular price for a jar of Tussy was $1.00 in 1951, and it's for sale in dollar stores today, that means that the price hasn't changed in 61 years. Now that's a bargain!

Have I Got A Broom For You!

"No. 544 Slimline Broom. Designed for a lady by Stanley Home Products, Inc. A new experience in sweeping. Balance and lightness makes sweeping almost effortless. Complete with handle." Who would sell a broom without a handle?

Polarine From Standard Oil

Even though this postcard is of a Detroit city bus, it was mailed from and to Kansas City. The postmarks, for sending and receiving are both "KANSAS CITY NOV 5 1911" The times are "7-PM" and "8-PM" Mailed and sent to the same post office. It's addressed to "Mr Raymon Walker, MC book" No street address or city name, so it might have gone to a box in the building, or it was for counter pick up, or the mail man knew everyone on his route. And the message, "Mr. Walker, Dear friend thank you verry much for your remembrance towards me. Will leave KC November the 6th for Va by the way of Atlanta, Georgia. Your G. McWilliams" Mr Walker, Dear friend, a strange mixture of the formal and familiar. And he misspelled dear friend's first name. Very strange.

Surge Electrobrain!

An advertising postcard from the Surge Dairy Equipment Company. "It's here! The Electrobrain Surge Pipe Line Washer that washes, rinses and sanitizes at just one push of a button!" About forty years ago I had a summer job at a dairy farm. I cleaned things with a shovel, not a push button. Those interested in a history of the Surge Bucket Milker can go to www.surgemilker.com

Prims USA

I found a lot about this company. In 1530 in Aachen, Germany, goldsmith Wilhelm Prym began manufacturing household goods of brass and copper. In 1642 the Prym family moved the business to Stolberg, Germany. Jump ahead to 1924 when company president, Hans August Prym set up William Prym, Inc. USA as an exclusive importer and sales agent for Prym products in the United States. In 1939 the American branch of the company moved its headquarters to Dayville, Connecticut. In 1946, Herman Koehl, working with Hans Prym, invented the cover your own button and buckle. In 1988 Prym acquired the Dritz Corp., a major maker of sewing notions, sewing gadget and beaded hand bags. Now Prym Dritz Corporation, the company, with it's factories in North Carolina, became a major manufacturer of sewing notions. After several other aqusitions, the name of the company, in 2005, was changed to Prym Consumer, USA. There is a lot more out there, both on the Prym website and from other sources, but way to much for me to transcribe. There was a press release pasted to the back of the horizontal photo of the model, "QUICK-CHANGE BELT combines the quaint charm of Lucy Locket pockets with the practical efficiency of G.I. money belts. Prims cover-your-own slim buckles at each side reiterate cheery red of bright plaid pockets; are readily adjustable to insure snug fit over either slim or gathered skirt. Prims cover-your-own halo buttons are used for fashion as well as function, repeating the gay yellow of the belt's all-purpose cotton. FROM: Press Release, Inc. 220 East 42nd Street New York, N.Y. For: William Prym, Inc. Dayville, Conn. WILLIAM PRYM, Inc. 350 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK 1, N.Y." I found it a little strange that a company involved in women's fashions would advertise something as being like a G.I. money belt.

Kodak Retina

I fell in love with this photo the first time I saw it. The lady is holding a Kodak Retina camera. Made in the 1950's, it's still a top flight camera. I know, I own one and still use it to take ultra sharp black & white, 35mm negatives.

Hobe Jewelry 1940

Well, you certainly learn a lot when you collect old photos. When I ran across this old photo, labeled "Hobe jewelry advertisement 1940," I assumed that it was from a forgotten, local jewelry store in some small town. When I ran a search on Hobe Jewelery, I discovered that Hobe was a major maker of fine costume jewelry. The original Hobe was Jacques, a French jewelry maker from the mid 19th century. He had three sons, and one of them, William, became the sales rep for a German theatrical costume maker. While in the United States, he made a large costume sale to theatrical producer, Florence Ziegfeld. Ziegfeld wanted jewelry to go with his new costumes, and William decided to go into business, following in his father's footsteps, as a jewelry maker. Starting in 1927, William built Hobe Jewelry into one of the largest, and most famous, makers of fine costume jewelry. Hobe shut it's doors in 1992. His pieces are highly sought after by modern collectors.

Clove Gum

Thomas Adams began manufacturing chicle based gum in 1869. His comapny began adding flavors, creating Black Jack, Beemans and in the early 1930's, Clove. This picture looks like it's from the early 30's, and was very probably one of the ways, Adams Gum marketed their new flavor.