Museum Artifact: Rock-Ola Hi-Fidelity 120 Wall Box, 1953
Made By: Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corp., 800 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL
It’s one of the quintessential brand names of American pop culture. Rock-Ola—a word that celebrates and encapsulates both the rock n’ roll explosion of the jukebox’s 1950s golden age and the historic roots of the classic “Victrola” talking machines.
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,
Museum Artifact: Replogle 12″ Relief Globe, 1964
Made By: Replogle Globes, Inc., 1901 N. Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, IL
“As I followed that globe from beginning to end of the manufacturing process, I was struck by something cosmic in the very setting. Overhead, conveyers whirled finished spheres in stately orbits. Below them, ranks of plastic bases glittered like stars. I stood amid a galaxy in miniature.”
Museum Artifact: “Golden Hour” Mystery Clock, c. 1950s
Made By: Jefferson Electric Company, 840 S. 25th Avenue, Bellwood, IL
“So handsome on an office desk . . . so beautiful in the home! The ‘Golden Hour’ will be the most talked-about gift of all . . . a gift that reflects your own good taste, and above all, a gift that will be appreciated for years.” –ad for Jefferson Electric’s Golden Hour Electric Clock,
Museum Artifact: Shure 708A Stratoliner Crystal Microphone, 1940s
Made By: Shure Brothers, Inc., 225 West Huron Street, Chicago, IL
“We know very well that absolute perfection cannot be attained, but we will never stop striving for it.” —Sidney N. Shure, founder of Shure Brothers, Inc.
Introduced in 1940, the “Stratoliner” microphone in our museum collection finds the world famous Shure,
Museum Artifact: Boye Rotary Case for Sewing Machine Supplies, c. 1920s
Made By: Boye Needle Company, 4339-4343 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL
“The public knows that where this Case is found, the well-known High Grade ‘Boye’ Needles, Shuttles and Bobbins can be secured.” –Boye Needle Co. advertisement, 1909
One might presume that selling sewing supplies in the early 1900s was a cinch.
Museum Artifacts: Morton’s Free Running Salt and Sausage Seasoning (1930s) + Morton Salt Cardboard Store Display and Advertising Blotters (1950s)
Made By: Morton Salt Company, 1357 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL
“Out of every 10 pounds of salt produced in this country, 9 you never see! . . . Of the salt you do see—table and household salt—only a little more than a billion pounds are consumed each year.
Museum Artifact: Dutch Brand Friction Tape Counter Display and Dutch Brand Grinding Compound, c. 1920s
Made By: Van Cleef Bros., Inc., 7800 Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL
“This orange and blue package on a dealer’s counter will remind you to buy this useful little servant, DUTCH BRAND Friction Tape. Use it for automobiles, bicycles and electrical work; for home, store or shop; for mending tools,
Museum Artifact: Bear Brand Hosiery Box – Women’s Hose 103 Biscayne, c. 1920s
Made By: Bear Brand Hosiery Company (formerly Paramount Knitting Co.), 337 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL
“I believe that hosiery is a very important factor in human comfort. The manufacture and sale of hosiery is a game worthy of the best interests and best efforts of any man.” –Henry Pope,
Museum Artifact: Kool-Aid Packet, Raspberry Flavor, c. 1940s
Made By: Perkins Products Company, 5555 W. 65th St., Chicago, IL
Donated By: Stephen Kelley
“It takes just one word to solve all your refreshment problems. What’s the easiest home-made drink to make? Kool-Aid! What costs only 5 cents a package, yet is enough to make 10 big, frosty drinks? Kool-Aid!
Museum Artifact: Slingerland Tempo-King Bass Drum Pedal, 1960s
Made By: Slingerland Drum Company, 6633 N. Milwaukee Ave.
“The Slingerland name is recognized the world over as the finest in drum equipment. . . . It is the only drum firm that manufactures and processes all of its own parts exclusively, which includes skilled wood-working, metal-working, plating, finishing and final assembling.” –Slingerland Drum Co.
Museum Artifact: Eye-Lash-Ine Eyelash Remedy Tin, 1920s
Made By: Dr. F. Formaneck Company, 1333 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL
“The Beauty, Charm and Soulful Expression of the Eyes can be brought out to the Very Best Advantage with Long, Luxurious Eyelashes. EYE-LASH-INE grows eyelashes and relieves granulated eyelids. At druggists, barber, and beauty shops or by mail upon receipt of 50 cents.” –-Dr.
Museum Artifacts: Hammond Solovox Keyboard Model J, Series A (1940s) and Hammond Organ Generator Oil Can (c. 1950s)
Made By: Hammond Organ Co., 2915 N. Western Ave. and 4200 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL
“Smaller than a piano, a midget in comparison with the vast pipe organs of traditional style, yet capable of 253 million different tones; this is the electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond of Chicago.”
Museum Artifact: No. 4097 Maple Chairside Table with Marble Top, 1960s
Made By: Alonzi Furniture Company, 1840 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL
Donated By: Fred Alonzi
“The charm of Alonzi Furniture is readily apparent. You don’t have to tell your trade it is beautiful—they
can see it themselves. . . The finish—the design—the quality of the material tells them this.
Museum Artifact: Overton’s High Brown Face Powder, 1944
Made By: The Overton-Hygienic Manufacturing Company, 3621 S. State Street, Chicago, IL
“High-Brown Face Powder clings so closely and matches the skin so perfectly that no one ever suspects the powder is there. The quality is rare, the perfume rich and fragrant. . . . Every known facility and method for the manufacture of face powder are employed so as to yield the famous High Brown quality demanded by the ‘lady who knows.’” —Overton Hygienic MFG Co.
Museum Artifact: Thordarson Amplifying Transformer, c. 1920s
Made By: Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Co., 500 W. Huron St., Chicago, IL
“The Thordarson factory is more than an assembly plant. All phases of transformer manufacturing, engineering, core and case stamping, coil winding, impregnating, enameling, assembly, and testing are done under one roof. . . . It has grown from a small one-man shop to a place of leadership in the field—the largest organization in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of transformers.” —Thordarson Electric Sound Amplifier Manual,
Museum Artifacts: Chicago Roller Skates w/ White Boots and No. 78 SPL Wheels (c. 1939), Chicago Roller Skates w/ Brown Boots (c. 1945), and Chicago Skates without boots (c. 1920s)
Made By: Chicago Roller Skate Company, 4458 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL
“They used to call him ‘Slow-Poke’ when he had those old-fashioned, slow, hard-rolling skates. But, Oh Boy! On ‘Chicagos’ he whizzes to the lead like a flash.
Museum Artifact: General Motors “Erie Limited” Locomotive Data Card (Electro-Motive Div.), 1950s
Made By: Toby Rubovits, Inc., 127 S. Aberdeen St., Chicago, IL
On New Year’s Day, 1912, Toby Rubovits took out a large advertisement in the Chicago Tribune, promoting his services as “Printing without frills.” He was, unlike many of his competitors, offering three professional skills in one office.
Museum Artifacts: Super-Triumph Tube Radio (1951, pictured above), Model 4R Long Distance Receiver/Amplifier (1923), Model 808 Tombstone Radio (1934), Model 6D-2620 Radio (1942), Colsol-Tone H511 (1951), Royal 500 Transistor Radio (1960), Model F508V Radio (1964), Spirit of ’76 Television (1976)
Made By: Zenith Radio Corporation, 6001 W. Dickens Ave., Chicago, IL
“You’ve had your last tussle with howling radio static once you tune in this terrific performer.
Museum Artifact: Mrs. Steven’s Candies Tins, 1920s-1960s
Made By: Steven Candy Kitchens, Inc., 611 N. Sacramento Blvd., Chicago, IL
Donated By: Chaleen Stevens (no relation)
“It’s easy to make money in your kitchen, even if you don’t have any business sense. There are many women who could develop profitable small businesses which could be handled from their homes and still not interfere with their domestic duties.” –Julia Steven Krafft,
Museum Artifact: Wide Gauge “Pocahontas” Electric Model Train Set with No. 4637 “Shasta” Locomotive, c. 1928, and O-Gauge Cast Iron Locomotive No. 3195, c. 1930.
Made by: American Flyer MFG Co., 2229 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
“Just Like Real Trains: The new 1928 American Flyer Rainbow Line radiates an atmosphere of supreme quality. Its exquisite beauty, realistic design, and skillful workmanship will instantly capture your admiration.
Museum Artifact: Green River Soda Pop Carton with 6 Bottles, c. 1950s
Made By: Green River Corporation / Sethness-Greenleaf, Inc., 4554 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL
“Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink, have a GREEN RIVER / Delicious, different, goodness knows! / Green River, where refreshment flows / Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink, have a GREEN RIVER!” —advertising jingle,
Museum Artifact: Three Musketeers, Milky Way, Snickers, and Mars Toasted Almond Bar Display Boxes, 1930s-1950s
Made By: Mars Incorporated, 2019 N. Oak Park Ave, Chicago, IL
“The finest quality ingredients blended by the most skillful workers in the most modern institution of its kind.” – Mars Bar display box, 1930s
Still consistently ranked among the top ten largest privately owned companies,
