Category Archives: Spotlights

National Food Store Holiday Savings 1934

Posted on January 2, 2019 by

National Tea Co. was founded in 1899. By the end of the ’20s, National Tea had over 600 locations in the Chicago area alone and another 1,000 stores nationwide. Sales grew to about $90 million a year. Many of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Edison Phonograph

Posted on February 9, 2018 by

The image on this postcard (copyright 1905 by National Phonograph Co.) illustrates how amazing it must have been to first hear recorded sounds coming from the phonograph invented by Thomas Edison. Originally the sounds were recorded and reproduced on cylinders. … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Happy Holidays from Shapleigh Hardware Co.

Posted on December 28, 2017 by

This holiday postcard advertising Shapleigh Hardware Company’s Diamond Edge tools was sent on December 24, 1915. Hardware Dealers’ Magazine, Volume 46 of 1916 had an article on Hardware Christmas Greetings in which Shapleigh’s Christmas card and its verse were mentioned. … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Slovak Catholic Sokol

Posted on August 25, 2017 by

This postcard commemorates the XXIII Slet of the Slovak Catholic Sokol that was held at Morton West High School Stadium in Berwyn, Illinois on July 23, 1967. A sokol is a Slavic gymnastic society aiming to promote a communal spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The Bakelite Travelcade

Posted on May 23, 2017 by

Bakelite was one of the first plastics made from synthetic components. It was developed in 1907 by the chemist Leo Baekeland. Bakelite was advertised as a material of more than a thousand uses. It was used for its electrical nonconductivity … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Seventeen Heaven

Posted on April 28, 2017 by

SEVENTEEN HEAVEN was a dream room designed especially for teens. It was exhibited at the National Home Furnishings Show, Aug. 25 through Sept. 9, 1956 at the New York Coliseum. The back of this postcard invited you to read about … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Poissons d’Avril — April Fool

Posted on April 1, 2017 by

These are  old French postcards for April 1, April Fools Day. The postcards usually include the words 1er Avril (April 1st) or Poissons d’Avril (April Fool). Other words on these cards often relate to expressions of love. Sometimes the cards … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlights | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment