Musical Postcard Company, est. 1958

Museum Artifact: “Little Playmates” Musical Postcard / Christmas Card and “Chicago” Musical Postcard, c. 1960

Made By: Musical Postcard Company, 415 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL

Donated By: Nyla Panzilius

It’s no news to anyone that you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole. But what about playing a rectangular paper record on a round turntable? If you’re simultaneously intrigued and skeptical,

Duro Decal Company, est. 1938

Museum Artifact: Duro “Sign Maker” Letter and Number Decals + Display Box, c. 1960s

Made By: Duro Decal Co., Inc. / Duro Art Supply, Inc. / Duro Art Industries, 1832 W. Juneway Terrace, Chicago, IL

Donated By: Jeff Levine

“Duro Letters and Numbers speed up work and are easy to transfer, making every sign a perfect job. Each character is precision made of Best Grade Black Lacquer and Gold Bronze to insure uniformity and quality.

W. F. Hall Printing Co., est. 1893

Museum Artifacts: Motor Trend magazines (1961-1964), Report of the Warren Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy – Paperback Book (1964), “House Dope” employee magazines (1942-1945)

Made By: W. F. Hall Printing Company, 4600 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL

“A deluge of paper stock, ink, glue, and all other printing supplies and equipment enters the plant of W. F.

Playskool MFG Co., est. 1928

Museum Artifact: Playskool Crib Rail Boat Toy, c. 1960

Made By: Playskool Manufacturing Company, 1750 N. Lawndale Ave.

“Next to baby-sitting grandmothers, the stylized wooden toys made by a Chicago firm called Playskool Manufacturing Co. may well be the greatest parent-savers of the age. Two-year olds have been known to play with a Playskool gadget for up to fifteen minutes without once bothering mommy or daddy—and that is about as long as any toy,

Ace Fastener Corp., est. 1930

Museum Artifact: Ace Pilot Stapler 404, c. 1960s

Made by: Ace Fastener Corp., 3415 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL

Adapted from a patent application first filed back in 1930, the Ace Pilot stapler is a fine example of a simple, utilitarian design that’s gradually earned itself more of a retro, decorative appeal.

The early models were so pitch perfect in function, in fact,

Paymaster Corp., est. 1917

Museum Artifact: Paymaster Series X-550 Check Writer Machine, 1960s

Made By: The Paymaster Corp., 1811 W. Winnemac Ave., Chicago, IL

“The only way to have the Paymaster system when you NEED it is to have one all the time—NOW!”—tagline from 1951 Paymaster sales manual

Often kept well out of sight in the backrooms of banks and the HR departments of small businesses,

Bankers Box Company, est. 1918

Museum Artifact: Promotional Gift Box with Playing Cards, c. 1960s

Made By: Bankers Box Co. / Fellowes, 2607 N. 25th Ave., Franklin Park, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Bloomfield Industries, est. 1933

Museum Artifacts: Cast Iron Fry Cutter (1930s) & Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop, (1960s)

Made By: Bloomfield MFG Co. / Bloomfield Industries, 3333 S. Wells St. and 4546 W. 47th St.

Some men have lived and learned through living
Some men have learned by seein’ true
You cannot judge from what they’re sayin’
It’s real clear from what they do
—lyrics by Michael Bloomfield from the song “Good Old Guy,”

Halsam Products Co. & Elgo Plastics, est. 1917

 

Museum Artifact: Elgo American Plastic Bricks set No. 705 (1950s) and Halsam Double Twelve Club Dominoes (1960s)

Made By: Halsam Products Co., 4114 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL

Upon encountering an old cylindrical cardboard container of “American Plastic Bricks by Elgo,” nine out of ten people are likely to make the same spontaneous assumption—that they’re looking at a cheap knockoff of LEGO.

Nestor Johnson MFG Co., est. 1912

Museum Artifact: Johnsons Ice Skates, c. 1960s

Made By: Nestor Johnson MFG Co., 1900 N. Springfield Ave., Chicago, IL

“The first pair of tubular skates made in the United States or Canada were made in Chicago by Nestor Johnson. . . . He made the only really important change in centuries of skate making. From the old flat steel or solid type skate to the All Steel,

Skil-Craft Corporation, est. 1949

Museum Artifact: Handy Andy Tool Set with Blue Diamond Tools, c. 1960s

Made By: Skil Craft Corporation, 325 W. Huron St., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Chicago Miniature Lamp Works, est. 1909

Museum Artifact: Chicago Miniature Lamp Bulbs – No. 94 – Dispenser Pak (10), c. 1960s

Made By: Chicago Miniature Lamp Works, 1500 N. Ogden Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Ekco Products Co., est. 1888

Museum Artifacts: EKCO Miracle Can Opener 885 (c. 1960s) and EKCO Helmet Bottle Stopper (c. 1940s)

Made by: Ekco Products Co., 1949 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL

“We taught your mother a new way to open chicken soup,” read the presumptuous tagline of a 1965 advertisement for the Miracle Can Opener—arguably the most recognizable of the thousands of utensils produced by the EKCO Housewares Company.

Delmark Records, est. 1953

Museum Artifact: Magic Sam Blues Band – West Side Soul LP, 2nd Pressing, 1969

Made By: Delmark Records, 7 West Grand Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Coronet Instructional Media, est. 1934

Museum Artifact: 4 Educational Filmstrips + Audio Records – Aesop’s Fables, 1968

Made By: Coronet Films / Coronet Instructional Media Inc., 65 East South Water Street, Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Kay Musical Instrument Co., est. 1931

Museum Artifact: Kay Ukulele, c. 1960

Made By: Kay Musical Instrument Company, 1640 W. Walnut St., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

S&C Electric Company, est. 1911

Museum Artifact: SM-4 Power Fuse Refill Unit, 1960s

Made By: S&C Electric Co., 6601 N. Ridge Blvd., Chicago, IL

In 2012, shortly after Chicago’s S&C Electric Company marked its 100th anniversary, the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) awarded the business special recognition for one of the “milestone” achievements in electrical engineering history—the 1909 invention of the liquid power fuse. During a special dedication ceremony at S&C’s Rogers Park headquarters,

Carl Goldberg Models, Inc., est. 1955

Museum Artifact: Stunt Man 23 Model Airplane Kit, c. 1970

Made By: Carl Goldberg Models, Inc., 4734 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL

Unless you’ve been a model airplane enthusiast at some point in your life, the name Carl Goldberg might not mean much to you. For several generations of young, aspiring aeronautical engineers, however, his work probably mattered more than anything Charles Lindbergh ever did.

Johnson Products Company, est. 1954

Museum Artifact: Ultra Sheen Conditioner & Hair Dress – 8oz Jar, c. 1970s

Made By: Johnson Products Company, Inc., 8522 S. Lafayette Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Sun Electric Corporation, est. 1931

Museum Artifact: Sun Volts-Ignition Tester + Sun 504 Distributor Tester Sign, c. 1960s

Made By: Sun Electric Corporation, 6323 N. Avondale Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Jensen MFG Co., est. 1927

Museum Artifact: Jensen Alnico Tweeters / Treble Speakers, 1962

Made By: Jensen Manufacturing Company, 6601 S. Laramie Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

White Eagle Rawhide MFG Co., est. 1924

Museum Artifact: Werco Tambourine, c. 1960s

Made By: WERCO, aka White Eagle Rawhide MFG Co., 1652 N. Throop St., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Dad’s Root Beer Co., est. 1937

Museum Artifact: Unopened Dad’s Root Beer “Mama” Bottle, 1960s

Made By: Dad’s Root Beer Co., 2800 N. Talman Avenue, Chicago, IL

“It’s a completely new idea! Genuine draft root beer in bottles!”

When Dad’s Root Beer creators Ely Klapman and Barney Berns rolled out their first big national ad campaign in 1941, they did so with an immediate contradiction in terms—a “completely new” thing was also promoted as the “old fashioned” root beer.