Archive for the ‘Company Advertising’ Category
WESSON OIL – EVERYDAY RECIPES – 1930
WESSON OIL – 1930
Introduction
If you have ever made French Dressing or mayonnaise with Wesson Oil you think of it as a delicious salad oil. It is.
If you have ever made biscuits or pie crust or cake with it you think of Wesson Oil as an excellent shortening. It is.
If you have ever fried anything in Wesson oil you think of it as the ideal fat for all frying. It is.
Wouldn’t you rather make your pastry and biscuits with a shortening so bland and delicate that it is good enough to eat by itself? Or to fry in a fat that is choice enough for the finest salad dressings? Then you will want to know more about Wesson Oil.
Wesson Oil is a delicious salad oil that is just right for every cooking – for panfrying, deep frying, cakes, hot breads, pie crust, the enriching of vegetables and as a base for all kinds of delicate salad dressings. When you’ve used Wesson Oil for cooking as well as for salads, you realize what a convenience it is to have in one can an oil that has so many uses. Instead of two or three or four pails or bottles or dishes on your pantry shelf, you an have one can of Wesson Oil. And from that single can you can pour a very wholesome frying, fat, an excellent shortening and a perfectly delicious salad oil.
Wesson Oil (1) – 1930
Wesson Oil (2) – 1930
Wesson Oil Pie Crust
1/2 cup Wesson Oil 2 cups Bread Flour or
1/3 cup ice water 2 1/4 cups Pastry Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder 1 tsp. saltPour the oil and ice water into a bowl. Beat with a fork or with a rotary beater until thoroughly mixed. Add the dry ingredients which have been sifted together. Stir with a fork, knead lightly into shape and roll. Use as two single crusts or for a double crust pie (flour should be shifted once before measuring).
Wesson Oil (insert) – 3 – 1930
I bought this attractive 46-page recipe pamphlet in 2003 for $3.00. It measures 5 1/4 x 7 1/4” and is very good condition. Today’s value should be $6-$7.
That’s it for today folks. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so I can send you my cookbook – “100 Unique Recipes from the Past.
National Pork Board – 2006
State Fair
Prize-Winning Pork Recipes
This brochure that I’m presenting today is one of the nicer newer ones that I happily added to my collection. The quality is unsurpassed! The layout, colors, content, and paper quality are amazing. Each page is a heavy, high-gloss paper. It measures 5.5” x 8.5” and contains 38 pages and 48 recipes – one from each state representing ‘blue-ribbon’ award-winners. It also contains a handy-dandy cooking guide.
“Each recipe has only five ingredients plus pork (salt, pepper, water and oil don’t count) and were judged the best for getting a creative dinner together fast.”
Newer recipe brochures are just as collectible as the vintage ones. I’m always on the lookout for free brochures and recipe cards when I shop at Safeway, Albertsons, or any other large supermarket.
This particular brochure was free for the asking. You might want to check out their website and request some of their offerings:
One other thing…when you receive a collectible brochure through the mail, I suggest that you carefully open the envelope and store both the pamphlet and envelope in a clear plastic sleeve. I believe that the addition of the mailing envelope adds value to the pamphlet. I get my plastic bags from Bags Unlimited and have found that the 2 mil new ‘Comic Bags’ are perfect for any pamphlet up to 6” x 9”.
National Pork Board (1) – 2006
National Pork Board (2) – 2006
National Pork Board (3) – 2006
Well folks, that’s about it for today. Remember to leave me your name and email so I can keep you informed of future postings. By doing so, you’ll receive a free download of “100 Vintage Recipes from the Past”.
Until Next Time,
Tim
GOOD LUCK CANNING RINGS
GOOD LUCK CANNING RINGS
Probably two of my more historically interesting recipe pamphlets are the Good Luck Jar Rubber Rings pamphlets from ca. 1915-1920. The company – Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Company of Cambridge, Mass. adopted a rather unique trademark. Not that there’s a whole lot of interesting recipes from the pamphlets, but the advertising and historical information are quite interesting.
Good Luck Canning Rings – ca. 1915
Notice anything unusual about the cover? You got it! The Swastika! Here’s what the company has to say about their trademark:
THE STORY
of the
“SWASTIKA”
“The oldest “Good Luck” symbol in the world”
“There are many emblems of “Good Luck.” the rabbit’s foot, the horseshoe and the four-leaf clover have long served to satisfy the imaginations of the superstitious, but the ancient Swastika design is by far the oldest sign of “Good Luck” known to mankind.
“Its exact age will probably never be known, but sufficient proof of its antiquity may be obtained from the fact that the name is derived from the ancient Sanskrit language, where it stood for “well-being” or, as we more popularly term it today, “Good Luck.”
“History records the use of the “Swastika” as early as the 13th century BC., where from ancient Troy it traveled east into China, India and Japan, and west into Greece, northwestern Europe, Iceland and the Americas north and south. In later centuries its use must have been general throughout practically the whole world, a fact borne out by excavations in various parts of the globe.
“It may often be seen tattooed on the arms of Chinese and Japanese sailors as a protection against the “Evil Eye,” while in ancient China, it was considered a sign of great fortune if a spider should by chance weave this design into his web on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year. To the North American Indians it represented the four winds of Heaven and is found on shell ornaments and stone idols closely resembling statues of Buddha which have been excavated in various parts of the United States, while in later years the Pueblo and Navajo tribes made use of this design in their pottery, blankets, rugs and bead work.
Good Luck Canning Rings – ca. 1915
“The Egyptian Meander, a design frequently seen in the borders of red and white tablecloths and widely used in architecture, is said to be adapted from the Swastika, while our Persian rugs, as well as napkins and other household linens frequently contain this ancient symbol either in its original form or in one of its many adaptations.
“Today the “Swastika” is used more widely than ever before as a sign of “Good Luck” and a symbol of happiness and success.”
from “Good Luck In Preserving” ca. 1915
Good Luck Canning Rings – ca. 1915 (back cover)
Cold Pack Canning – ca. 1920
My-Oh-My! How this language of ours has changed over the past 90 years. Maybe that’s why they put this on the back cover(?)
Cold Pack Canning –ca. 1920 (back cover)
Inside each of the advertising brochures are handy-dandy, perforated, stick-on labels for your finished canned food. How would you like to give your aunt Mabel a jar of your famous blueberry jelly with one of the following labels? Ouch!
Good Luck Canning Rings – ca. 1920
Advertising brochure #1 measures 6.25” x 3.5” and contains 13 pages plus 4 pages of labels. I purchase these in 2003 for $4.50 and $5.00. They are very rare and the ones I have are in excellent condition so I place a value on each of $20-$25.
Advertising brochure #2 measures 6” x 3.5” and contains 33 pages plus 4 pages of labels.
Well folks that’s about it for today! Hope you enjoyed you weird history lesson. Be sure that you leave your name and email below so you don’t miss my next posting. Remember too – you’ll get a free download of “100 Unique Recipes from the Past” when you sign-up.
Tim Mack
JELL-O – “The Delicious Dessert”
Vintage JELL-O Pamphlet – 1902
It’s not often that I can share with you an entire recipe pamphlet in full, vivid color. Not all vintage pamphlets are the size of most cookbooks. Take this JELL-O advertising pamphlet for example: It contains three pages! Granted, there are no recipes, nor techniques enclosed other than telling us that it can be prepared in two minutes.
JELL-O (1) – 1902
This unique advertising pamphlet is die-cut and measures 4” wide x 3.5” high. I purchased it in 2003 for $.35 and value it today at $8-$10.
JELL-O (2) – 1902
JELL-0 (3) – 1902
_____
Sorry about the short posting today, but have a full-slate of “non-cookbook” chores to do today. Don’t forget to sign-up below and download the free “thank-you” cookbook – 100 Unique Recipes from the Past
By the way, did you know that the only food that doesn’t spoil is honey.
Tim
GENERAL ELECTRIC: The “Silent Hostess” Treasure Book – Vintage Cookbook – 1931
Vintage Treasures from General Electric
General Electric – 1931
This vintage cookbook from General Electric is a real “quality” cookbook. It has a hard cover and is stitched in the antique method. The book contains quality advice; great recipes; and wonderful, colored graphics. It has 103 pages and was published in 1931 by the General Electric Company, Electric Refrigeration Department, in Cleveland, Ohio. Estimated value is $18.00.
General Electric (2) – 1931
Foreword
“Fortunately, those days are past when the homemaker must sacrifice all outside interest for the sake of her home.
“First came the electric iron—the steps it saved from the stove to the ironing board and back again amounted to several miles a year. Next, the washing machine, to save backs from aching and knuckles from cracking—and again a saving of time. And then the vacuum cleaner—what a relief from the tiresome and dirty task of sweeping!
“And now the electric refrigerator. Not only can it save the housewife time and energy, but it can actually work for her. With a little planning on her part it can take an active part in the preparation and serving of her meals.
“This new and latest contribution to efficient homemaking has untold possibilities for the housewife. She is already familiar with the fact that it contributes greatly to her family’s good health, by maintaining a constant low temperature and insuring proper food protection. But so many new avenues are now open to owners of electric refrigerators that few yet appreciate its full value.
“It is with the hope that we may be able to point out some of its many advantages and indicate just a few of the ways in which it will save the busy homemaker time and energy that we present this book.”
General Electric – 1931
Another thing I like about this book is its attention to detail. Every page of each section is identified with a vintage title like the one below:
General Electric (3) – 1931
A Dairy Statement from 1929
One last thought – another fun part of old cookbook collecting are the loose pieces of notes, recipes, etc. that one often finds in the books. Here’s a copy of a dairy bill from 1929 that I found in the book:
Well folks, that’s about it for today. Hope you enjoyed. Be sure to subscribe below so you don’t miss even one issue of this blog. By signing up you’ll receive a downloadable unique cookbook that I compiled just for you (see it here).
Also, as a reminder, in case you missed my previous blog, I’m offering another downloadable ebook to all those who submit their most unusual sandwich recipe; so be sure that you subscribe and leave me a comment with your sandwich recipe.
Tim
BETTY CROCKER: The Old and New
BETTY CROCKER Filled Need for Signature
Who was Betty Crocker? This queen of the kitchen was “born” in 1921 as a result of an advertising gimmick.
Betty Crocker, as she originally
appeared. From the February,
1950, Good Housekeeping
magazine. She was a home-
maker in her mid-40’s and
dressed simply and
inexpensively.
General Mills ran a picture-puzzle contest that year, to publicize Gold Medal flour. The contest was run in a national magazine; the prize for working the puzzle correctly was a tiny pincushion shaped like a bag of Gold Medal flour.
The response overwhelmed the office staff, as they were half-buried under 30,000 completed puzzles. In addition to the puzzles, however, they were also inundated with questions. Many hundreds of women wanted General Mills to answer their baking questions, such as “How long should I knead bread dough?”
(see “The Vintage Art of Bread-Making” for the answer).
Surprised but game the advertising staff decided a reply should be sent to each of these questions. With help from a variety of sources, ranging from their wives to nearby home economists, answers were found and replies drafted. Since help had come from many places, they were still left with the dilemma of how to sign the response.
‘Betty Crocker’ Grows Younger
The last name was chosen first. William G. Crocker, who had been a popular director of the company, had recently retired and his surname was selected. Then the advertising staff searched for a good all-American “homey” name – and decided on Betty. Thus, that well-known authority on American cooking, Betty Crocker, came into being.
Betty Crocker was given a new look in
1955. She shed a few years from her
age and modernized her hairdo.
Several “portraits” of Betty Crocker have been reproduced over the years. The first of these was painted 15 years after her “birth.” It, too, was a composite, a blend of the features of several of several General Mills employees. Each version “modernized” her, but she always has remained a blue-eyed brunette.
This article originally appeared in “Old Stuff” News, dated April/May, 2002. A special thanks for their permission to reproduce the article. “Old Stuff” is published 4 times annually. It is distributed throughout the Northwest. Free at your favorite antique or collectible shop. Single copies by mail $6 each. Annual subscription: $20 (Canada, $35 U.S.). Visit them at http://www.oldstuffnews.com
That’s all for today folks, be sure to sign-up so you don’t miss a single posting. Sign up now and you’ll also receive a complimentary copy of “100 Unique Recipes from the Past”. You can scope it out by hitting the link above, but don’t buy it from that site. You’re going to get it free when you subscribe today.
Tim
THE MALLEABLE RANGE Advertising Brochure – 1907
THE MALLEABLE RANGE – 1907
Mixed on in with collectible food company brochures and manufacturers of kitchen aids and appliances, insurance companies, cookware, and refrigerators. They too have some fantastic recipes and directions for concocting some fine, vintage dishes.
The Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing Company of South Bend, Indiana is one such company. This brochure measures 3.75” x 8.75” and contains 79 pages. Included along with directions for using the various ranges are
dozens of really good recipes. Estimated value is $25-$30.
(Malleable Range Co. – 1907)
Company Statement:
Kitchen Economy
Or, the Story of the Development of
THE MALLEABLE RANGE made in South Bend
“When we speak of kitchen economy we do not mean the false economy of buying poor material and cheap utensils to work with. The economy we believe in is the buying of the best.
“The most important part of a kitchen equipment is the range, for good material and a good cook availeth little if the range on which the cooking is done be poor.
“The story of the evolution of cooking devices is a very interesting one. If we go back far enough we could paint a picture of the fair sex of primitive days kneeling by a fire in the center of a cave, tent or wigwam, enveloped in a cloud of smoke, the fire having been kindled by the rubbing of sticks together.
“This takes us back to the days when man knew very little about iron and its highest development, that of steel. About the only use they made of iron in those days was to fashion implements to torture and to kill.
“From the fire of cross-sticks, the next step was the brazier, used by the Romans.
“About the time of the Roman conquest of Britain, 55 years before Christ, the Greek matron broiled her meats over an open fireplace. Then came the addition of the oven to the fireplace. This was a wonderful step in advance.
“Jumping many centuries from the date of the Christian Era, in the seventeenth century we find the old “Hathaway” with which the kitchens of many of the old Colonial homes were equipped.
“Passing rapidly over many years with their wonderful changes, we find the old Hathaway giving place to the cast iron stove.
“The twentieth century was just dawning when the highest development in cooking devices were reached, that of “The Malleable” Range made at South Bend, Indiana, which is made of a combination of malleable iron and steel.
“Few realize that this range is the crystalization of the growth and development of cooking devices of the ages, not only in relation to its mechanical construction, but also of the materials with which it is made.
“In the first place, malleable is the very highest grade of gray iron, which after casting is submitted to an annealing process. In this process the carbon, which makes cast iron so brittle, is burned out, all other impurities being eliminated. This process gives it great tensile strength. It can be doubled, stretched, hammered and twisted without breaking.
“Steel is also one of the highest products of iron. It was a happy combination when these two metals were brought together. The most important part of it, however, was the way in which they were brought together in the scientific construction of “The Malleable” Range, made at South Bend, Indiana.
“This is the very highest type of range made and sold in the world today.
“It costs a little more money than some other ranges on the market, but there is a reason for it. It should be of interest to every housewife to know of these reasons.”
Well, that’s about it for today folks. Get signed up with your name and email so I can keep you informed of future postings. Drop me a comment or question and I will get back to you.
Tim
