Those Were the Days: Weird and Wacky Ads of Yesteryear

Stroll back in time for a lighthearted view of early advertising at its best -- and worst -- from 1890 to 1910. This historical scrapbook showcases more than 600 advertisements by well-known companies such as Cadillac, Pillsbury, Remington, and The LadiesHome Journal. It also includes ads for such now-defunct items as the Talk-o-phone, velvet-grip garters, Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair Brush, and other curiosities.
Most of these advertisements circulated long before the government began regulating the sales of food, medicine, and other merchandise. The manufacturers’ claims range from the superlative -- Libby’s Peerless Wafer-Sliced Smoked Beef . . . It has no equal -- to the relatively modest Schlitz Beer (without skunky taste). Many products reflect a vanished way of life, from Pablo Mustache Wax and Arnica Tooth Soap to Cal-Ba-Lock Typewriters, Edison Phonographs, and Gram-o-phone ＄18 Talking Machines. A treat for nostalgia fans, this illustrated compilation includes an index for quick reference.

Born in 1895, Floyd Clymer was an ambitious boy who became the youngest Ford dealer in the country at age 11. Always interested in advertising and publishing, he later worked for a Colorado newspaper and wrote his own ads. For most of his life, Clymer collected advertisements, catalogs, and magazines, a hobby that helped him publish over 150 books on automotive and motorcycle subjects.