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The Age of Advertising: Stromberg-Carlson Company – 1942

An advertisement from The New York Times about new radios – well, not-so-new radios! – from 1942, by the Stromberg-Carlson Company, listing radio retailers in the New York Metropolitan area, northern New Jersey, and Connecticut.

(Stromberg-Carlson w h o?)

The company was founded in 1904, and after being purchased by the Home Telephone Company in 1904, relocated from Chicago to Rochester, New York, where it became, “…a major manufacture of consumer electronics including home telephones, radio receivers and, after World War II, television sets.” Notably – at least in terms of this blog – the company produced the BC-348 communications receiver, which was used in WW II Army Air Force multi-engine transports and bombers….

The company was purchased by General Dynamics in 1955, and by 1980, sold by them in several components.

The acronym “OPA” refers to the Office of Price Administration, an agency of the Federal Government established in August of 1941, within the Office for Emergency Management. The OPA became an independent agency in January of 1942, and, “…had the power to place ceilings on all prices except agricultural commodities, and to ration scarce supplies of other items, including tires, automobiles, shoes, nylon, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, coffee, meats and processed foods. At the peak, almost 90% of retail food prices were frozen. It could also authorize subsidies for production of some of those commodities.”

The full text of the ad (sans the list of dealers’ names for metropolitan New York, and Connecticut) follows:

______________________________

AN IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENT
ABOUT NEW RADIOS

MANUFACTURE of new radios stopped April 22nd, 1942. Early completion of production brought about by 100% conversion to war orders has again made available a variety of our Radios and Radio-Phonographs.

If you are thinking of a new instrument to last you beyond the duration, we suggest you make your purchase soon. For when the current stock of new radios is gone, there will be no more until the war is won.

And you know that, for a long-term investment in good music at its best, you will find “There is nothing finer than a Stromberg-Carlson!”

Visit your nearest dealer listed below, where you will find most models on display, at OPA prices.

COMPLETE LINE ON DEMONSTRATION
Gross Distributors, Inc., 570 Lexington, Avenue, New York City
Representative for New York and New England
Write for free booklet “Facts about FM”

STROMBERG-CARLSON
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

A FINER RADIO FOR STANDARD PROGRAMS • THE ONLY RADIO FOR FM AT ITS BEST
TUNE IN WQXR MON, WED., FRI. 7:30 P.M. STROMBERG-CARLSON “TREASURY OF MUSIC”

______________________________

Well, since we’re talking FM, what better way to end this post, than with No Static At All?

References

Office of Price Administration (OPA), at Wikipedia

Stromberg-Carlson, at Wikipedia

The Age of Advertising: Pennsylvania Railroad – January 15, 1945

The advertisement below, for Pennsylvania Railroad – from January 15, 1945 – has a title that proved to be as optimistic as it was ironic, for after merging with New York Central Railroad in 1968, the resulting firm, the Penn Central Transportation Company, filed for bankruptcy in 1970.

The advertisement combines three elements to produce a striking image. On the left, symbolizing the future, new designs for railroad cars are displayed on a unfurled blueprint, against which are placed a T-square and right triangle. Translucent images of those “future” railroad cards appear below. On the right, a fleet of existing freight and railroad cars, en route from a “city” and a “factory” pass by a suburban rail station. In the background, stylized images of that city and factory are set against the horizon of a cloudless sky, surrounded by farmland. Above all is the emblem of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Though “this” example of the advertisement was published in The New York Times, certainly the original advertisement was in color and doubtless intended for publication in magazines.

Here’s an example of that original ad, from Pinterest:

Here’s the full text of the advertisement:

________________________________________

EYES ON TOMORROW

On drawing board and blueprint, in research laboratory and on testing machines you will find the shape of things-to-come in railroading.
We know the American public expects great things – new, modern trains; daring designs; exciting and novel innovations; new power; new speed; new riding qualities; new comforts and luxuries; new services and ideas in travel, in shipping … in a word, transportation values beyond anything known or experienced before.

In its planning, the Pennsylvania Railroad has these things in mind – for it is a tradition of this railroad to look ahead, and apply its research to finding new ways to serve the traveling and shipping public better!

★ 50,757 entered the Armed Forces ☆ 532 have given their lives for their Country

BUY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS AND STAMPS

________________________________________

That the advertisement was created during the Second World War is strikingly evident by one particular facet of the text: The number of Pennsylvania Railroad Employees who died on WW II military service. Though listed as 532, the actual number is more than twice as many: 1,307. The discrepancy was likely attributable to the fact that the advertisement was created before the war actually ended, and thus, well before the status of all casualties (especially those missing in action) was verified.

The 1,307 men are memorialized at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, in the form of a bronze sculpture – entitled “Angel of the Resurrection” – which portrays the Archangel Michael lifting a fallen soldier out of the “flames of war”. The sculpture is set atop a four-sided black granite base, upon the sides of which are bronze plaques listing the soldiers’ names in alphabetical order, and, bearing symbols of the four branches of the armed forces.

References

Pennsylvania Railroad, at Wikipedia

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial, (once again), at Wikipedia

The Age of Advertising: Coke versus Pepsi – 1945

Here are dueling advertisements from 1945 for Coca-Cola, and, Pepsi (Cola), the former from The New York Times, and the latter from that same newspaper or (hmmm…?) The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Though Coca-Cola used the image of a fighter pilot to promote their product, the advertisement carries no mention of – and implies no endorsement by – the Army Air Force. It’s the visual symbolism that counts.

Interestingly, given that the pilot is seated in an early – “Razorback” – version of the P-47D Thunderbolt fighter plane and wearing “early” style two-piece goggles, perhaps the Coca-Cola company created this ad by using a stock publicity photo from earlier in the, war as a basis for the advertisement.

The Pepsi ad? Simple, and to-the-point.

They’re both still around.

Many things change, but some remain the same!

The controversy continues!

The Age of Advertising: Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation – May, 1945

A simple, visually compelling advertisement by Grumman aircraft. The innumerable silhouettes receding to the horizon are all of the same aircraft, probably representing the company’s F6F Hellcat fighter plane.

The emblem of the 7th War Loan would place the ad’s date at somewhere after May 7, 1945.

The Age of Advertising: Pilot Radio – 1945

It’s late 1945. The war has just ended.

G.I.s are returning; many have already returned.

Consumer products are once again becoming available. In abundance. In quality. In variety.

Time for a return to normalcy. (Albeit, in the retrospect of 2017, a fortuitous, temporary, historically anomalous, overly romanticized normalcy. Hey, it was nice while it lasted.)

And so we encounter an optimistic, symbolic advertisement from Pilot Radio. The company was founded in 1919 in Brooklyn, New York by former test pilot Isidore Goldberg, as the Pilot Electronic Manufacturing Company, the name changing in 1932 to “Pilot Radio”. The company was acquired by Emerson Radio in 1965.

The advertisement is symbolic and optimistic, with the curious image of an hourglass – denoting the march of time – before a receding horizon. No actual products are promoted or described. Rather, the ad’s message is one of pride: “We’re back”…(note the “To Be Opened Soon” gift box) to manufacture radio and televisions for the consumer market.

A VETERAN THAT STOOD THE TEST OF SERVICE

Tested by time in countless homes throughout the world, Pilot Radio has scored a triumph for dependability and unfaltering performance through the war years. Let the satisfaction of present and past Pilot Radio owners be your guide to greater listening pleasure in the future.

Remember the Pilot Radio trademark. You’ll be seeing it soon on radio sets that combine the experience of many years in the science of electronics with the artistry of quality production. It will pay you to wait for a Pilot Radio.

Pilot Radio has also pioneered in television since 1928 and will soon bring you television in its most perfected form. If you would like to receive further information about Pilot Radio’s activities in television, fill out and mail the coupon below.

“Symbol of Quality”

PILOT RADIO

Pioneers in Frequency Modulation and Television

PILOT RADIO-PHONOGRAOH COMBINATIONS PILOT AM-FM RADIOS PILOT PORTABLE RADIOS PILOT RADIO-TELEVSION RECEIVERS

______________________________

Just Two Little References

Early Television Museum – Pilot Radio Corporation History (at Early Television)

Emerson Radio (at Wikipedia)

The Age of Advertising: Motorola Radio – 1945

An advertisement for Motorola Radio, from 1945.

The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (listed at the bottom of the advertisement) the actual progenitor of Motorola, was founded in 1928 in Chicago by brothers Paul V. and Joseph E. Galvin. They originated the name “Motorola” in 1930 by “…linking “motor” (for motorcar) with “ola” (from Victrola)”, selling their first Motorola brand name radio that year.

The text of the advertisement?…

electronics

Yes Sir… THIS WAS AN Electronic Instrument Too…

FUNNY-LOOKING gadget, that old-time radio set. Big, bulky horn…dials and more dials…squeaky and noisy as all get out. Not much like the radio now in your living-room or car. And yet the radio you buy not too long after the war may make your present-day set look and sound as antiquated as that early Electronic instrument looks now. Today Electronics is fighting for America and its Allies brilliantly and successfully. In battle it warns of approaching danger so can can destroy the enemy; in the electric eye it searches for and exposes flaws in heavy castings; in resistance-welding it doubles and triples production. These and countless others are Electronic achievements of vast importance now and for the future. The first Electronic instrument to benefit will be radio.

Motorola Engineers are making full use of the newest Electronic knowledge in the production and development of Radar and Communications Equipment now being used by American fighting men on every battle front. Soon after Victory gives the green light to civilian production, the “know-how” of Motorola Engineers will be switched to the production of civilian radios for home and car with the same all-out efficiency and perfection.

Expect the finest in radio from Motorola.

Your First Post-War Electronic Purchase Should be a Motorola Radio

Take good care of your radio. It is a vital wartime necessity. For service, consult your local classified telephone directory for a nearby Motorola Dealer.

Motorola Radio FOR HOME & CAR
GALVIN MFG. CORPORATION CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

YORK AUTOMOTIVE DITRIBUTING CO., NEW YORK CITY
Wholesale Distributor

For the continued development and production of Radio Communications and other special Electronic equipment for our Armed Forces, the Motorola organization has been awarded two stars for their Army-Navy “E” Flag. Motorola is proud of the part it has been privileged to play in the speeding of Victory.

The Age of Advertising: Dumont Precision Electronics and Television – 1946

Here is another sign of – well, actually from, “The Times”. (The New York Times, that is) from 1946. An advertisement for DuMont Televisions.

Dumont – what the heck is that?

I’d heard of, seen, and viewed programs on, sets by RCA, Zenith, and Motorola. But, DuMont? What was DuMont? Who was Hildegarde?

A little searching (see the excerpts below) reveals the answers….

From Wikipedia: “The DuMont Television Network … was one of the world’s pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being first overall in the United States. It began operation in 1946.It was owned by DuMont Laboratories, a television equipment and set manufacturer. The network was hindered by the prohibitive cost of broadcasting, by regulations imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which restricted the company’s growth, and even by the company’s partner, Paramount Pictures. Despite several innovations in broadcasting and the creation of one of television’s biggest stars of the 1950s (Jackie Gleason), the network never found itself on solid financial ground. Forced to expand on UHF channels during an era when UHF tuning was not yet a standard feature on television sets, DuMont fought an uphill battle for program clearances outside of their three owned-and-operated stations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, finally ending network operations in 1956.”

“DuMont Laboratories was an American television equipment manufacturer. The company was founded in 1931, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, by inventor Allen B. DuMont. Among the company’s developments were durable cathode ray tubes that would be used for TV. Another product was a DuMont invention, the magic eye tube.”

But, who was Hildegarde?: “Hildegard Frieda Albertine Knef (28 December 1925 – 1 February 2002) was a German actress, singer, and writer. She was billed in some English language films as Hildegard Neff or Hildegarde Neff.”

______________________________

Here’s the text of the ad:

HILDEGARDE SAYS:

“Darling, quel amour… ce magnifique Du Mont Teleset!”

Soon you will echo Hiledgarde’s rapturous sentiments. You’ll love seeing and hearing this vivacious chanteuse – especially on a DuMont Teleset.

For its superlative performance is more than mere chance. DuMont’s 14-year pioneering leadership in radio-electronics guarantees uncompromising craftsmanship … assures the things important to you. DuMont will give you incomparably clear pictures, exquisite FM tone, inspired cabinet artistry, technical dependability. These are tested attributes of DuMont-engineered Television-FM receivers. Soon they will be yours … soon you will realize the full richness of television’s tremendous promise if you remember this:

For the best in television, look and listen to a DuMont Teleset!

ALLEN B. DuMONT LABORATORIES, INC.
GENERAL OFFICES AND PLANT
2 MAIN AVENUE, PASSAIC, N.J.

TELEVISION STUDIOS AND STATION WABC
515 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK 22, NEW YORK