Ads Available
Here are ads I have available broken into a variety of categories. I have several ads not listed yet so check back often or drop me a line and let me know what you're looking for. My ads are all tabloid sized and run from the late 1930s through 1959.
I'm still loading many pages onto this website but, in the meantime, you can check the ads I already have listed on Kijiji.
Brewers and distillers were prolific magazine advertisers. Here are ads for beer, wine, whiskey and other spirits from names such as Seagram's, Carlings, Blatz, Schlitz, and Budweiser.
Home appliance ads such as fridges, stoves, vacuum cleaners from companies such as Hoover, Westinghouse, Kelvinator, Crosley. Radios, TVs, and record players are in the "Home Entertainment" section.
Ads here are grouped by artist.
Here are the things that keep your car running such as tires, filters, batteries except for oil and gas which have their own catagory.
You'll find most non-alcoholic beverage ads here- soda pop, coffee, tea, juice from companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Seven-Up, Canada Dry, Maxwell House, Sunkist and so on.
Cameras, film, and acessories from Kodak, Bell & Howell, Revere, Argus, and others.
Lots of Canadian and American candy companies are here. The claims of candy makers were almost as shameful as those of big tobacco. Candy and sugar were good for your kids-- who knew?
For series collectors Life Savers had a long tradition of attractive ads, many making great use of white space.
Nothing established a buyer's status in the North American social fabric than the kind of car they drove.
There were Cadillacs, Continentals, and New Yorkers for the money boys, Plymouths, Fords, and Chevys for the rest of us.
These ads will take you back to a time when each car maker had their own style. Designers of the 1950s went to great lengths (sometimes literally) to catch the eyes of consumers and chrome and color were everywhere.
Nothing sells like Santa.
Here's another category for the status conscious. Suits, socks, shoes, ties, bras...everything you wear. Also includes sheets, towels and fabrics.
Communications companies and telephone suppliers (like Western Electric) plus long distance ads.
Covers/
Articles
Magazine covers are subject to more wear and tear than inside pages so are harder to find in excellent condition. As the major selling point on news stands many are quite striking.
Here's what you eat (except candy). Soups, cereal, veggies, meat, cheese from companies such as Campbells, Post, Kellogg's, Kraft, Heinz, and Green Giant.
Furniture such as beds, chairs, tables plus mattresses and other household items such as glass, rugs, and curtains.
This is an interesting category. Not everything here (such as watches) is always a gift but frequently they are. You'll find ads for silverware, wallets and leather goods, pens, and lighters.
We're stretching this category a bit to include things such as deodorant, soap, after shave, cologne, razors, mouthwash and even detergent. Anything that helps make you presentable for the day.
This is the place for radio, TV, phonographs, records, radio and TV shows, as well as jukeboxes. We've also included some vintage sheet music.
Things you use for heavier work around the house such as lawn mowing, gardening, plumbing, painting, new floors and so on.
Big corporations that produce steel, concrete, utilities such as light and power.
Insurance companies are not known for colorful or creative advertising but, every now and then, a popular artist such as Norman Rockwell sneaks in.
Most of these are ads from World War II when American industry didn't have product to sell but wanted to keep their name in the public eye. This also includes recruitment ads.
Movies /
Entertainment
Movie posters are a popular collectible. Movie ads in magazines employee the same popular artwork but are much cheaper because they were printed in greater quantities. This section also includes movie-related sheet music.
Here are some full-size, authentic movie posters. These are hard to find because they were used several times and then sent back to a central poster exchange.
This category is for your neighborhood service stations for companies like Texaco, Esso, and Chevron.
Recreation /
Toys
Sports equipment such as golf clubs or ball gloves plus speed boats, outboard motors and toys.
Trains, planes and rental cars.
Things that were considered technological innovations such as computers, adding machines, and electric typewriters.
This category features cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, smoking accessories names such as Lucky Strike, Chesterfield, Players, and Camels.
Ads that extoll the virtues of tourism destinations. Also includes travel accessories such as luggage and travellers' cheques and places to stay.