Museum Artifact: Imperial Satellite 127 Flash Camera, c. 1950s
Made By: Herbert George Company, 311 N. Desplaines St.., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
1950s
Turtle Wax, Inc., est. 1941
Museum Artifact: Turtle Wax “Hard Shell Finish” Auto Polish and Turtle Wax Furniture Polish Set, 1950s
Made By: Plastone Company / Turtle Wax, Inc., 4100 W. Grand Ave. and 1800 N. Clybourn Ave.
On June 4, 1956—just five years after the first bottles of Turtle Wax “Miracle Auto Polish” hit the consumer market—Chicago workmen began installing a new, ludicrously enormous advertisement for the product,
Langson Manufacturing Co. / LMCO, est. 1923
Museum Artifact: LMCO Cody Colt Paper Buster Gun, 1950s
Made By: Langson MFG Co., 4200 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago, IL
It might have the look and sound of a typical cowboy-themed cap gun from the 1950s, but there’s something a tad different about the LMCO “Cody Colt”—something that helps distinguish Chicago’s Langson Manufacturing Company from most of the competing toy gun manufacturers of its era.
Three Dimension Co., est. 1940
Museum Artifact: TDC Vivid Mainliner 300 Slide Projector, c. 1950s
Made By: Three Dimension Company, 4555 W. Addison St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Mid City Uniform Cap Co. & Citation Hat Corp., est. 1925
Museum Artifacts: Citation Beaver Quality Fedora, c. 1950s, and Mid City Khaki Garrison Cap, 1948
Made By: Citation Hat Corp. / Mid City Uniform Cap Company, 2330 W. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL
“I hate like hell to praise myself, but at the same time I cannot go away from the truth.” —Harry Lev
In the summer of 1955,
Lubri-Gas International, est. 1917
Museum Artifact: Lubri-Gas 1 Gallon Can, c. 1950s
Made By: Lubri-Gas International, Inc., 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Jefferson Electric Company, est. 1915
Museum Artifact: “Golden Hour” Mystery Clock, c. 1950s
Made By: Jefferson Electric Company, 840 S. 25th Avenue, Bellwood, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Meyercord Company, est. 1896
Museum Artifact: Decal Borders, c. 1950s
Made By: Meyercord Co., 5323 West Lake St., Chicago, IL
Donated By: Jeff Levine
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
American Family Scale Co., est. 1928
Museum Artifact: 25 LB Kitchen Scale, c. 1950s
Made by: American Family Scale Co., 515 S. Laflin St., Chicago, IL
A television metaphor might not be entirely apropos for the time period, but when the American Family Scale Company was established in 1928, it was essentially a “spin-off” of Chicago’s venerable American Cutlery Company. In fact, all the classic hallmarks of a TV spin-off were there:
1—The original,
Adjustable Clamp Company, est. 1903
Museum Artifact: Jorgensen Hand Screw Clamps, c. 1950s
Made by: Adjustable Clamp Co., 417 N Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
Back in 2015, when the Made In Chicago Museum was in its developmental stages, the Adjustable Clamp Company stood out as the rare “feel good” story amidst a sea of shuttered factories, outmoded merchandise, and forgotten dreams. The respected tool manufacturer, which changed its name to Pony Tools in 2013 (adopting the title of one of its’ long-running brands),
Acme-Lite MFG Co., est. 1935
Museum Artifact: Mov-E-Lite Portable Flood Light Bar, c. 1950s
Made By: Acme-Lite Manufacturing Co., 401 N. Wood St., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Jays Foods Inc., est. 1927
Museum Artifact: Jays Potato Chip Tin, 1950s
Made By: Jays Foods, Inc., 825 E. 99th Street, Chicago, IL
For over 75 years, Chicagoans have voraciously chomped away on handfuls of Jays Potato Chips—sharing in the communal assumption that some guy named Jay must have invented the salty snack for them back in the proverbial day. If you give it a closer look, however, the familiar Jays logo—with its conspicuous lack of an apostrophe—raises some questions.
Permo Inc. / Fidelitone, est. 1929
Museum Artifacts: Fidelitone Master and Supreme Phonograph Needles and All-Groove Needle Counter Display, 1950s
Made By: Permo, Inc. / Fidelitone, Inc., 6415 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL
Still in business today and headquartered just an hour north of Chicago in the small town of Wauconda, Illinois (Wauconda Forever!), Fidelitone Inc. is technically the same company that Arthur J. Olsen started way back in 1929,
Admiral Corp., est. 1934
Museum Artifact: Admiral Deluxe Table Radio, 1955
Made by: Admiral Corp., 3800 West Cortland Street, Chicago, IL
“Here’s a radio you’ll get a tremendous thrill out of owning! So smart, with its golden-mesh metal grille and dial . . . so contrasting in choice of Ivory, Beige, Green or Mahogany cabinet colors. So low-priced for the performance it gives! This is the new radio you have been looking for!”
White Cap Company, est. 1926
Museum Artifact: Vapor-Vacuum Jar Cap Opener, 1950s
Made By: White Cap Company, 1819 N. Major Ave., Chicago, IL
If you want to start a successful business, invent a solution to one of mankind’s great conundrums. If you want to stay in business, be ready to fix all the new problems your solution creates.
Back in 1930, a small Goose Island start-up called the White Cap Company introduced its “Vapor Vacuum” lid sealing system—a revolutionary new steam-based method for preserving the freshness and flavor of bottled commercial foods.
Bell & Howell Co., est. 1907
Museum Artifacts: Bell & Howell 8mm Magazine Movie Camera 172 (c. 1950), Filmo Auto Load 16mm Movie Camera (1940s), Filmosound 179 16mm Film Projector (1940s), Filmo Projector 57 Model GG (c. 1930s)
Made By: Bell & Howell Co., 1801 W. Larchmont Ave., Chicago, IL
“When you buy a roll of film, it is worth just what you pay for it, and no more.
Republic Molding Corp., est. 1946
Museum Artifact: Polly Flex Tumblers / Plastic Cups, c. 1950s
Made By: Republic Molding Corporation, 6465 N. Avondale Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
The Harmony Company, est. 1892
Museum Artifact: Roy Smeck Soprano Ukulele, c. 1950s
Made By: The Harmony Company, 3633 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL
For about 80 years, Chicago’s Harmony Company consistently ranked among the largest producers of stringed instruments in the world. Unfortunately, when we’re talking about “the arts,” such a legacy of quantity can often presume a deficiency in quality—warranted or not.
Sure Seal Products Co., est. 1949
Museum Artifact: Lichten’s Sure Seal Products “Lick Rust” Can, c. 1952
Made By: Lichten Company / Sure Seal Products Co., 1210 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Co., est. 1897
Museum Artifact: Kellogg Redbar 1000 Series Masterphone, 1952
Made By: Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Co., 6650 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL
Widely promoted during the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company’s 50th anniversary in 1947, the 1000 Series “Redbar” Masterphone—like the one in our collection—is a bit of a postwar icon. It might not have the rich oak exterior of an early box phone or the brass shimmer of an old candlestick model,
Dexter Sewing Machine Co., est. 1956
Museum Artifact: Dexter Sewing Machine and Booklet, c. 1957
Made By: The Dexter Sewing Machine Co., division of the Grant Company, 2735 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Marshall Field’s Frango Mints, 1929-1999
Museum Artifact: Marshall Field’s Frango Mints Box, c. 1950s
Made By: Marshall Field & Co., 111 N. State Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Chicago Screw Company, est. 1872
Museum Artifact: Computer for Heat-Treated Hexagon Head Cap Screws, 1957
Made for: The Chicago Screw Company, div. of Standard Screw Co., Bellwood, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.