Monday, August 6, 2012

Object of the Day: A Trade Card for Quaker Portable Ranges

  
Click on image to enlarge.



Recently, I added another billion or so (okay, maybe 50) trade cards to my collection. I did this for all of you, of course—just so you would have something to see.

Moving on. I think this one is pretty nifty. The printing is exceptional: die-cut, embossed, metallic ink. The front of the card is meant to look like the sort of silver salver upon which one would leave a calling card. Actually, the silver tray is quite convincing looking with its “chasing” and intricate detail. The artist has created the look of several such stacked cards, the topmost of which advertises for:

Quaker Portable Range. 

Tauton Iron Works 

                                   BOSTON, MASS.


Let’s see what the reverse says:

Next to a very detailed illustration of the “portable range” (which, frankly, doesn’t look terribly portable to me), we read:


Quaker Portable Range, 

     Over 40,000 now in use and
sold by every progressive
dealer.

     Send for circulars.


MANUFACTURED BY 
TAUNTON IRON WORKS. 
WAREROOMS: 
87 & 89 Blackstone St. Boston, Mass. 

Manager: W.H. SWANTON




2 comments:

Dashwood said...

Just how do you describe a six foot tall, cast-iron stove that weights 900 pounds as portable? Reminds me of the first "portable" computers which were fine if you had two horses and a she-ape to schlep it around for you.

Joseph Crisalli said...

Specifically a she-ape, as per the instructions which came with it.