Hoover Aero-Dyne Vacuum Cleaner — 1950 (Lucille Ball)

Yes, it’s Lucy, hawking “a new idea in suction cleaning,” a year before I Love Lucy premiered. She looks a little odd in these stiffly-posed photos — thankfully, she had a lot more personality when she was being steamrolled by vacuum cleaner salesman Sheldon Leonard a few years later…. Below, the photos, a bit larger.

 

Gold Seal Vinyl Tile — 1953

“The big news is Bermuda Hues.”

Zenith Zephyr End Table Radio — 1936

The art deco design of this “end table” radio is fantastic! As the inset says, Zenith introduced this interesting concept because “We believe that as the cradle telephone replaced the wall type, the end table radio will take the place of to-day’s Wall Console.” To see what it actually looked like, there are some photos of this 6-S-147 model here. (The 1937 model can be seen here.) According to the Inflation Calculator, the hefty 1936 price of $84.95 would be the equivalent of almost $1,400 in today’s money.

Here’s a close-up of the drawing of the radio in the ad. (It’s interesting that they’ve combined a photograph with a drawing, and the drawing features the thing they’re actually selling.) So cool!

The text:

The inset:

Royledge Shelf Paper and Edging — 1960

“How to be proud of you linen closet” …when you show it off to the neighbors.

Lane Cedar Hope Chests — 1950 (Christmas)

“In the sweet, protective fragrance of its aromatic red cedar, she can ever so lovingly tuck away those treasures that today are only dreams — but tomorrow become beautiful reality.” Wow.

 

Frigidaire Refrigerators — 1965

“Space-age” has never looked more mod.

Ray-O-Vac Batteries — 1943

Helps get you to your air raid shelter during the Blitz. Interesting WWII situation incorporated into an American ad.

 

Acrilan Acrylic Fiber — 1965 (Henry Fonda)

You know, ol’ Hank’s looked happier.

Cannon Towels — 1951

“Cannon Briliants — brand new towel colors — bright as a comet!” Lime Light! Rocket Blue! Lightning Pink! Sun Gold! The rhapsodic copy below.

 

Owens-Corning Fiberglass Fabric — 1958

I have to say, I’ve never heard of washable draperies made of Fiberglass. I think I’d be more impressed if the “rooms” (er… sets? … dioramas?) weren’t so unattractive. That “library” in the lower left is so fake it MUST be intentional. (Although… that one-dimensional book pattern might have made a more interesting fabric design than the ones pictured here.)