Category Archives: Advertising

Travel-Log #8: Broad Summary (Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas) – Submitted by Carol on 10/3/12

Despite good intentions, I’ve discovered that keeping up on a blog while traveling the width of the country is no easy task.  Whenever possible, we’ve tracked down and run into antique shops and malls in pursuit of a “find.”  In … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, 1900's, 1910's, 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Dolls, Ephemera, Historical, Holiday, Humor, Jim, Kitchen, Monsters, Political, Road Trip, Signs, Toys, Weird | 1 Comment

Travel-Log #4: Abilene, Kansas 9/12/12 Submitted by Carol

Note:  Our apologies for the lack of Travel-Logs during the past two weeks.  It’s not that we haven’t been antiquing; we have.  However, between very busy days on the road and sometimes very poor wi-fi connections at our motels in … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, 1900's, 1910's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Cast Iron, Glass, Historical, Jim, Kitchen, Road Trip | 1 Comment

Travel Log #2: LeClaire, Iowa 9/7/12 Reported by Carol

We entered LeClaire, Iowa, which is just north of Interstate 80 and on the banks of the Mississippi River, at about 9:45 a.m.  I was taking note of the price of gas at a BP station when Jim shouted, “There … Continue reading

Posted in 1920's, 1930's, 1950's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Ephemera, Humor, Jim, Road Trip, Signs, Toys, Vehicular | Leave a comment

Travel Log #1: Galesburg, Il 9/6/12: Reported by Carol

We left home yesterday and headed west through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana; thirteen hours and 681 miles later, we arrived in Brownsburg, Indiana.  What a frustration to watch billboards advertising antique malls flash by us on I-70!  The huge Heart … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, 1920's, 1930's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Historical, Jim, Pottery, Road Trip | Leave a comment

Smile: Playboy Bunny

Is that face familiar?  It may be if you are over 50 years old… and more likely male.  Who is this cute happy guy?  Why, the original Playboy Bunny, of course. This bunny, which stands nearly two feet tall, is … Continue reading

Posted in 1950's, 1960's, Advertising, Carol, Dolls, Humor, Toys, Weird | 5 Comments

Smile: Lebanon Bologna from Lebanon, PA

What could this happy guy with his jaunty bow-tie be smiling about?  His love of Lebanon bologna, of course! He might be a little bit biased, though.  After all, he IS a giant Lebanon bologna himself holding a smaller Lebanon … Continue reading

Posted in 1960's, Advertising, Carol, Dolls, Humor, Monsters, Toys, Weird | Leave a comment

Smile: Dr. Swett’s Root Beer

This happy young man is enjoying a refreshing glass of Dr. Swett’s Root Beer.  Most likely you have heard of Hire’s Root Beer, but not Dr. Swett’s.  Essentially, though, the products were very similar.  Dr. Swett’s may even predate Hire’s … Continue reading

Posted in 1900's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Ephemera, Signs | Leave a comment

Feature Matches: These Matches Should Be Featured in Anyone’s Collection

I’m not a matchbook collector, per se, but if I were a phillumenist, I’d definitely collect Feature Matches.  When it comes to little scraps of advertising ephemera, these clever and colorful matchbooks with pictures on the actual matches are matchless! … Continue reading

Posted in 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Ephemera, Historical, Political | 6 Comments

It’s a Sign of the Times – The Nineteenth Century That Is

I have to admit – I love old signs.  Their sole purpose was to say “Hey, look at me and buy what I have to sell!”   Before we had radio or television, the role of the sign, at least small … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, Advertising, Americana, Historical, Jim, Signs, Weird | 1 Comment

Not Your Average Dummy

I don’t remember exactly when Jim and I first visited the Landis Valley Museum out in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but it was probably in the mid-1970’s.  We were particularly fond of museums like that where various historic buildings – homes, … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Historical, Weird | 2 Comments