At auction recently, I came across a 1902 Christmas catalog from Strawbridge & Clothier, and it spoke of a time when this store and its counterparts were the place to go for shopping in Philadelphia. The gifts…
Category: Advertising
A time when you got a prize in your washing powder
Posted in Advertising, dishware, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and Glassware
On first glance, the fronts of the small trade cards were not very impressive. They held lithographic color images of children tending cows, riding horses, riverboating and fishing. “Kazine Card, Over” was printed on the…
Fancy little match safes to keep you from catching on fire
Posted in Advertising, collectibles, Personal items, and Tins
The first time I came across a match safe at auction, I wasn’t sure what it was. It was about the size of my palm, a little bigger than a pill box, and simple. Likely,…
A child’s wonder at a Star Wars thermos
Posted in Advertising, Animals, bottles, and collectibles
I was standing at a second table I had set up for my block’s annual yard sale when I overheard a mother talking to her son. The boy was about 5 years old and she…
When food was delivered in wooden crates
Posted in Advertising, collectibles, and Ephemera/Paper/Documents
The cover of the wooden crate was nailed shut and there wasn’t a hammer in sight to pry it open. I wanted to desperately see what was inside when I zeroed in on the words…
Elvis & Lone Ranger on TV-shaped lapel pins
Posted in Advertising, Personal items, and TV
I’d seen cereal-box premiums that were the rage during the early years of TV advertising. These were aimed at children, enticing and coaxing them to get their mothers to buy cereal so the kid could…
Pedometer from childhood hero Jack Armstrong & Wheaties
Posted in Advertising, Children, collectibles, and Health & Medicine
Before the weather started to chill, I went out and bought a pedometer. I wanted to measure the number of miles (or mile) I walked along the uphills and downhills of my neighborhood. I didn’t want…