Museum Artifacts: Bunte “Fine Confections, “Diana,” “Stuft” and “World Famous Candies” Tins by Bunte Brothers, 1910s-1930s
Made By: Bunte Brothers Candy, 3301 W. Franklin Blvd., Chicago, IL
Which industry best exemplified the spirit of Chicago at its manufacturing zenith? The steel mills? The Union Stock Yards? The railroads? Architecture?
Nope. It was definitely candy—sweet, delectable, teeth-rotting candy.
For the thousands of Chicago factory workers employed in the confectionery trade,
Museum Artifact: Woman’s Hat, aka Fiskhat, c. 1920s
Made By: D.B. Fisk & Co., 225 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL
“Well dressed women who follow fashion to the finest details show keen interest in millinery bearing the Fiskhat label. They know it means ‘Style and Quality Assured.'” –D. B. Fisk newspaper ad, 1923
The slow death of the millinery trade in America is usually attributed to a simple change in fashion trends—something about the 1960s cultural revolution vs.
Museum Artifact: Swanberg Mechanical Pencil, c. 1923
Made By: Swanberg MFG Co., 1516 W. Foster Ave., Chicago, IL
Once seemingly destined to take its place as mankind’s preferred writing stick, the mechanical pencil only ended up writing itself into a corner. No refinement, no reimagining from one generation to the next, could ever quite transition these utensils from the drafting room to the classroom;
Museum Artifact: Universal Polish Mop, 1920s
Made By: Grossman MFG Co. / Western Steel & Chemical Co., Inc., 4000 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL
No it’s not a Polish mop as “in the style of Poland,” but ’tis instead a polish mop, as in to clean and polish one’s floors. Pre-treated cedar oil mops were routinely sold in tins like this one during the early 20th century,
Museum Artifact: Redington Counting Machine, c. 1920s
Made By: F.B. Redington Co., 112 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, IL
“Lazy Workmen Weeded Out,” read the tagline of a 1919 advertisement for the Redington Counting Machine—a device that’s still used in factories (in a digital format) nearly 100 years later.
“Find out the lazy workman operating your machines by checking your production.
Museum Artifact: Libby’s Canned Foods Store Display, 1923
Made By: Libby, McNeill & Libby, 13636 South Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: 8″ Steel Pipe Monkey Wrench, c. 1920s
Made By: Armstrong Bros. Tool Co., 317-357 N. Francisco Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Annell’ Typewriter, Model No. 3A, 1922-23
Made By: Annell Typewriter Company, 230 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Marrow’s Mar-O-Oil Shampoo, 1928
Made By: Marrow’s, Inc. / Marrow MFG Co., 3037 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Industrial Drop Light Cage, 1920s
Made By: Pyle-National Co., 1334 N. Kostner Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Comptometer Calculating Machine, Model H, 1920s
Made by: Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company, 1733 N. Paulina St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: OVB No. 2 Kerosene Lantern, c. 1920s
Made By: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co., 211 E. North Water Street
“Hardware seems to those who sell it to be more human than any other kind of business.” That’s how journalist Fred C. Kelly sized up the stock and trade of Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett in 1930, on the occasion of the wholesale company’s 75th anniversary.
Museum Artifact: Celluloid Pocket Mirrors, c. 1920s
Made By: Parisian Novelty Company, 3510 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Electric Hot Water Urn, 1920s
Made by: American Metal Ware Co., 368 W. Huron St., Chicago, IL
It’s 18 inches tall, has a 6-pint fill capacity, and looks like a leftover evil robot prop from a low budget sci-fi movie. Rest assured, though, the “American” hot water urn is not to be feared. In fact, you might consider it the patriotic,
Museum Artifact: O-Cedar Solid Center Polish Mop No. 15, 1929
Made By: O-Cedar Corp. / Channel Chemical Co., 4501 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Little Buster Hulless Popcorn, c. 1920s
Made by: Albert Dickinson Company, 2750 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Deering Cast Iron Tractor Seat, c. 1920s
Made By: International Harvester Company, Deering Works, Clybourn and Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Terra Cotta Dog Premium, c. 1920s
Made By: Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, 1701-1711 W. Terra Cotta Place, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Original Bread Wrapper Wax Proof Sheets, 1920s
Made By: Central Waxed Paper Co., 5659 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Elgin Pocket Watch, 1926
Made By: Elgin National Watch Company, 107 National Street, Elgin, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Savoy Cocoa Tins, c. 1920s
Made By: Steele-Wedeles Company, 312-22 N Dearborn St., Chicago, IL
In 1925—back when these Savoy brand cocoa tins from our museum collection were still sitting shiny and new in someone’s kitchen cabinet—the wholesale grocer that produced them, the Steele-Wedeles Company, made a major announcement.
After more than 50 years at its post-fire headquarters on the corner of South Water and LaSalle Street,
Museum Artifacts: (1) Dexter sharpener, 1920s; (2) Dexter No. 2 sharpeners, 1930s; (1) Dexter No. 3 sharpener, 1940s
Made By: Automatic Pencil Sharpener Co. / Spengler-Loomis MFG Co., 58 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL . Factory: 2415 Kishwaukee Street, Rockford, IL.
These three lovely APSCO Dexters were donated to the museum by patron Ken Matejka. Many thanks!
You can read our complete history of the Automatic Pencil Sharpener Company here.
Museum Artifact: Eagle Brand Suede Powder, c. 1920
Made by: American Shoe Polish Co., 1956 S. Troy Street, Chicago, IL
“Wherever footwear is worn and shoes are shined, the American Shoe Polish Company, of Chicago, have made their ‘Eagle Brand’ dressings known”—this according to a 1913 article in that much beloved periodical, Shoe and Leather Facts.
“Through a harmonious co-operation between the manufacturing and selling forces,
