Archive for July 3rd, 2008

Jul

Avon in the 1930s and 1940s

Posted by: admin in Collectible Retired Avon Bottles

From its inception, the philosophy behind Avon has always been to put people first. David H. McConnell, starting with humble beginnings as a door-to-door book salesman, always cared about people. He began giving his book customers an inexpensive “thank you” gift of fragrance for purchasing a book. Mr. McConnell was an avid entrepreneur and when you combine those two qualities, you have the ideal strategy for a successful business.

Name change
Avon’s name was officially changed in 1939 from The California Perfume Company to Avon Products, Inc. Avon’s popularity had grown to reach every state, from New York where it started to California, and all lands in between. It was decided that “California” sounded too regional and didn’t represent all communities of the customers. David McConnell visited England in 1828 and the scenery around Stratford-on-Avon reminded him of the town he located his laboratory in, Suffern, New York, and inspired him to use the name. In 1929, he introduced a line of products called “Avon.”

The Great Depression years
When America was experiencing the Great Depression in the late 20s and early 30s, Avon was one of the few businesses thriving. Those difficult times brought changes in attitudes on what the typical American family was supposed to be and how they were supposed to act. Women were typically supposed to be the homemaker, staying in the home. During those tough economic times, any one of the family members who could bring income home was gratefully appreciated. Who better to sell women’s perfume and toiletries, to women, than women?

The year 1932 saw the first three-week campaign series. This type of promotion, which gave the customer three weeks to purchase Avon products at sale prices, offered a time frame people could work within. This cycle of advertising was also a good way to introduce new products in a specific planned format that customers knew to expect. In 1937, Avon was growing so rapidly that they moved to larger administrative office space in Rockefeller Center.

The war effort
During World War II, Avon felt what the rest of the American people felt and they discovered a way to contribute to the cause. Between 1942 and 1945, Avon’s main laboratory converted half of its factory production to paratrooper kits, gas-mask canisters, insect repellent, and pharmaceuticals. Avon wanted to help and they found a way to do it. In addition, Avon was also a leader in adapting product packaging to plastic from glass and metal, as those two ingredients were needed in construction for items to help the war effort. Avon also asked its sales personnel, the representatives, to collect empty shaving cream cans and toothpaste tubes to turn in for recycling purposes.

Many perfume fragrances introduced in the years directly after the war are still prominent in women’s minds, including the classic, “Here’s My Heart” that was first introduced in 1946. Also in 1946, Avon began selling shares of its stock for the first time to the general public.

Today, Avon is a billion dollar company that has offices across the globe. It still has the best interests of its customers at heart. Many of the classic fragrances introduced in the 1930s and 1940s are still requested today and Avon will bring them back for special promotional offers.

Alana Morgaine
Our Avon Collectibles

More Avon Articles By Alana
Collecting Old Avon Bottles

Avon Official Home Page

Looking Up Avon Values

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Jul

What is Ephemera?

Posted by: admin in Vintage Ephemera We Love To Collect

If you were to ask the question, “What is ephemera?” the answer you would get would depend upon who you asked. A researcher, archivist, librarian, collector and a dealer would all have different opinions about what constitutes ephemera. Ephemera is usually discarded quickly unless there is sentimental value attached.

If you look in a common dictionary, ephemera is defined as printed and written matter that is transitory. Examples of these are baseball or trade cards, tickets to a concert or a sporting event, greeting cards and postcards as well as a wealth of other materials that were created with a short term life in mind. Catalogs, store receipts and church programs are all considered ephemera as are personal letters.

The word ephemera is derived from the Greek word “ephemeral”, and it means things that last no more than a day. In our modern world, we create tons of ephemera on a daily basis. Ephemera is becoming recognized among scholars as a way to research and track popular culture through the ages. They are just finding out what collectors have long known, that ephemera contains important information about the daily routines and lives of the people who have come before us.

Collectors find worth in pieces of paper that were meant to be thrown away. A concert ticket can

recall memories of a youth that has long passed. A store catalog can contain goods and products that were considered the “must haves” for their time and the printed ads and posters can give us a peek into what our great-grandparents considered vital and meaningful at that time in their lives.

Ephemera is finding its niche among those who study social sciences. There was a survey that was done a few decades ago that identified 39 ephemera categories. They ranged from circulars for advertising to calendars of universities. Ephemera was once prized more by collectors than serious researchers and scientists, but more scholars are realizing the wealth of information that ephemera can offer. Ephemera is truly a window to the past of the common people as well as that of the elite and those who shaped history.
Alana Morgaine

Our Souvenir Ephemera
Alana’s Books And Magazines

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Jul

Collecting Vintage 1950’s Toys

Posted by: admin in Collecting Old Vintage toys

Many collectors consider the 1950’s to be the golden era of toys. These toys came at an amazing time in history. America had survived the Great Depression and was recovering from the shock of World War II. This decade saw the formation of NASA and the popularization of television. A far cry from the video games of today, the toys of the 1950’s were made for children whose only distraction was their imagination. Below are three toys from the 1950’s that continue to capture the hearts of children and children-at-heart.

To Purchase This Toy Now

The Barbie Doll. The 1950’s saw the introduction of the blonde bombshell with an iconic woman named Marilyn Monroe and an iconic doll named Barbie. Barbie made her first appearance in 1959. She was named after her inventor Ruth Handler’s daughter Barbara, but traces her origins to a German doll aimed at more mature audiences. Barbie made her debut in a black and white striped swimsuit and blonde ponytail. Since those early days, it is estimated that over a billion Barbies have been sold worldwide. Those first ponytailed dolls are a collector’s dream and command prices in the thousands.
Mr. Potato Head. It is hard to believe that this charming oblong fellow arrived in the same decade as the glamorous Barbie doll, but perhaps it’s a testament to the ingenuity of the times. Mr. Potato Head actually preceded Barbie by seven years, as he was introduced in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was invented by George Lerner, the son of a poor dairy farmer. From his humble beginnings, he went on to be the first toy to be advertised on national television and was an immediate success. Mr. Potato Head acquired a wife in 1953, a family soon after, and the rest is history.

To Purchase This Toy Now

Play-Doh. Many people are surprised to discover that Play-Doh has been getting stuck in carpets for over 50 years now. Quite the opposite of the original 70-part Mr. Potato Head and the well-formed Barbie doll, Play-Doh took the concept of toys in a totally different direction. It was invented by the McVicker brothers in 1956; a fortuitous accident as they were trying to develop a wallpaper cleaner. While Play-Doh has undergone an evolution similar to that of both Barbie and Mr. Potato Head, its propensity to harden when exposed to air makes it an unlikely collectible.

Alana Morgaine

Our Vintage Toys

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