Museum Artifact: Motorola Volumatic AM Car Radio, 1956
Made By: Motorola Inc. / Galvin MFG Corp., 4545 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Andrew Clayman
Chicago Specialty MFG Co., est. ~1932
Museum Artifact: 3-in-1 Closet Spud Wrench, c. 1960s
Made By: Chicago Specialty MFG Co., 2954 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Chicago Telephone Supply Co., est. 1896
Museum Artifact: Wood Wall Telephone, c. 1905
Made By: Chicago Telephone Supply Co., 28 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL. Relocated to Elkhart, IN, in 1902
In the August 1900 issue of everybody’s favorite McKinley-era trade publication, Telephone Magazine, the Chicago Telephone Supply Company is referred to as “one of the oldest of independent factories, manufacturing everything that enters into the production of Chicago telephones,
The Detect-O-Ray Company, est. 1940
Museum Artifact: Detect-O-Ray Photo-Electric Switch, 1940s
Made By: Detect-O-Ray Company, 2622 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
Its name sounds like a comic-book doomsday device and it looks more than a little like an evil robot owl, but sadly, the Detect-O-Ray is neither one of those things. In fact, this intimidating technological marvel of the World War II era was briefly marketed—of all places—in the pages of the F.A.O.
Portable Tube Radio Model 5P31A by Motorola Inc., 1957
Motorola Inc. / Galvin MFG Corp., 4545 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Archived Reader Comments:
“This radio is a Motorola Roto-tenna portable radio, Corsair model 5P31A, circa 1957. The case is metal, covered in Grey Tweed Miracle Fabric; with maroon plastic trim. The rotating handle, an exclusive Motorola design,
Fitzpatrick Bros. & Kitchen Klenzer, est. 1894
Museum Artifact: Kitchen Klenzer Scouring Cleanser, c. 1940s
Made By: Fitzpatrick Bros., 1300 W. 32nd Place, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Schwinn Majestic Bicycle Head Badge by Arnold, Schwinn & Co., 1940s
Arnold, Schwinn & Co. / Schwinn Bicycle Company, 1718 N. Kildare & 1856 N. Kostner Ave., Chicago, IL
These days, a head badge on the front of a bicycle is basically just an identification tag—a flat plastic hood ornament for lazy brand recognition. As you can tell by this flashy metal Schwinn “Majestic” badge from the deco era, however, even a small, functionally irrelevant bike part used to get the full VIP treatment down at the Arnold,
Sprague, Warner & Co., est. 1862
Museum Artifact: Ferndell Brand Crystallized Ginger Tin, c. 1920s
Made By: Sprague, Warner & Company, 600 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, est. 1891
Museum Artifact: Wrigley Spearmint Gum Pack, 1932
Made By: William Wrigley Jr. Company, 3535 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
The most remarkable thing about this nearly 90 year-old pack of chewing gum cannot be gleaned from any photograph—it’s the scent! And no, it’s not the musty smell of old packaging. It’s the shockingly vibrant fragrance of the mint in these unopened sticks of Depression era Wrigley Spearmint,
Universal Medicine Co. / Universal Laboratories
Museum Artifact: Universal Special Cream & Wormwood Oil (Piolunkowi Olejek), c. 1920s
Made By: Universal Medicine Co. / Universal Laboratories, 1857 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
S-K Hand Tools / Sherman-Klove Company, est. 1918
Museum Artifact: S-K Tools Socket Set, c. 1940s
Made By: S-K Hand Tools / Sherman-Klove Company, 3535 W. 47th St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
William Cooper & Nephews, Inc., est. 1852
Museum Artifact: Pulvex Products – Flea & Lice Powder, Analgesic Tablets, and Kitty & Cat Flea Powder, 1930-1960
Made By: William Cooper & Nephews Inc., 1909 N. Clifton Ave., Chicago, IL
You might not guess it by looking at the cutesy packaging, but the 1961 bottle of Pulvex “Kitty & Cat Flea Powder” pictured above represents an important crossroads in the history of pet-care pesticides.
Western Fluorescent Light Co., est. 1950
Museum Artifacts: Chelsea Hotel “Fire Escape” Lighted Sign and Lighted “Exit” Sign, c. 1950s
Made By: Western Fluorescent Light Co., 3242-4 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Exit Sign by Western Fluorescent Light Co., 1950s
Western Fluorescent Light Co., 3242-4 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Armour & Company, est. 1867
Museum Artifact: Lighthouse Cleanser, c. 1930s
Made by: Armour and Company, 1355 W. 31st St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Northwestern Beverage Co., est. 1920s
Museum Artifact: Northwestern Beverage Co. Shipping Crate, c. 1960s
Made By: Northwestern Beverage Co., 3691 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Archived Reader Comments:
“Northwestern Beverage Company was in business from approximately 1930 through 1985. It was a family-owned soft drink bottling company featuring 30 different varieties of soda pop.
Victor X-Ray Corporation, est. 1893
Museum Artifact: Victor Interval Timer, 1920s
Made By: Victor X-Ray Corporation, 2012 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
As company names go, the word “Victor” is so ubiquitous—particularly in early 20th century circles—that it basically cancels out the concept of brand recognition. The most famous Victor of the era, the Victor Talking Machine Company of New Jersey (est. 1901), was at least smart enough to distinguish itself with an iconic logo—“His Master’s Voice”
California Ale & Beverage Co., est. 1920s
Museum Artifact: California Club Seltzer Water Bottle, c. 1930s
Made By: California Ale & Beverage Company, 3006-3030 West Fillmore Street, Chicago, IL
The vintage seltzer bottle above was personally donated to the collection by Marc Schulman, a man known to many Chicagoans as the president of Eli’s Cheesecake and the son of one of the city’s great restaurateurs, the late Eli Schulman.
Illinois Cosmetics Co., est. 1926
Museum Artifact: IL Cosmet Talcum Powder, c. 1920s
Made By: Illinois Cosmetics Co., 2108 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL
“This is the day of the Flapper. With the Armistice she came, and today she is firmly established in the hearts of all America.”
Those words appeared in a 1927 advertisement for the Illinois Cosmetics Company—aka Il Cosmet—and for all intents and purposes,
Schulze Baking Company, est. 1893
Museum Artifact: Dainty Luxury Bread Sign, c. 1916
Made By: Schulze Baking Co. / Schulze Advertising Service, 40 E. Garfield Blvd., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Western Clock MFG Co. (Westclox), est. 1888
Museum Artifacts: Luminous “Big Ben” & “Baby Ben” Clock Dials (1940s) and Style 1A “Big Ben” Alarm Clock (1920s)
Made By: Western Clock MFG Company, aka Westclox, 350 5th St., Peru, Illinois
A clock without hands might seem indifferent to the passage of time, but these old “Big Ben” and “Baby Ben” dials have some serious stories to tell.
Purchased from a man who claimed to have salvaged them from the backroom of an unnamed Chicago watch repair shop,
The Simoniz Company, est. 1910
Museum Artifact: Simoniz Car Wax Tin, 1940s
Made By: Simoniz Company, 2100 S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
American Automatic Devices Co., est. 1915
Museum Artifact: Ritz Stick Foot Measure, c. 1920s
Made by: American Automatic Devices Co. / King Bee MFG Co, 500-530 S. Throop St., Chicago, IL
When a stick of any kind becomes culturally relevant enough to have its own name, we tend to ascribe it a simple, self-descriptive one: match stick, hockey stick, joy stick. A rare exception is the Ritz Stick,