Trade Cards

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Here's a scan of die-cut Rockford folding trade card. I wonder if the copy would make wives rush out to buy Rockford watches for their husbands, or would they just toss the card in the trash? Did the advertsising genius who came up with the line keep his/her job for long?
http://members.aol.com/gfrauen/rtrade.jpg

Greg

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Here's a scan of die-cut Rockford folding trade card. I wonder if the copy would make wives rush out to buy Rockford watches for their husbands, or would they just toss the card in the trash? Did the advertsising genius who came up with the line keep his/her job for long?
http://members.aol.com/gfrauen/rtrade.jpg

Greg

[Rick White]

No, But I bet a lot of guys with uh....(thinking of politically correct way to say this) a lot of guys who were married to woman whose appearance was somewhat challenged bought the watches. It reminds me of a lot of ads we have today. Buy car be cool, buy shampoo be beautiful,buy beer get supermodel, buy watch and when they call your wife plain, quickly whip out your watch for others to admire, just to show you have taste in some matters.... When I look at a lot of older ads they seem so transparent to me a modern consumer, but they sure worked then.Modern jewelers are just as ad driven. Look at the diamond industry during the last 70 years or so. If a fella doesn't buy his intended a rock the size of Gibraltar that isn't so many times his month salary he surely doesn't love her.A diamond is forever or time never erases a Rockford watch charms. Take your pick. :wink:

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Rick White

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Rick,

Your points are well reasoned.

As for the card itself, in my experience it is rather uncommon (for example, I've seen as well as owned many more of the rather pricey Oct. 1910 Rock. calendar card). It is part of a set of die-cut folded cards that were probably issued around
1900-1905.
Some of the
others are a lemon, coconut, and sugar beet. I don't know how many different ones there are in the set.

Cheers,

Greg

[rrstd]

Greg,

Those watch companies from Illinois must have been short on advertising budgets.

http://www.awco.org/archive/Lucke/RL016AurTC.jpg


Rhett

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[rrstd]

Here's a couple of the Rockford Cards Greg mentioned.


http://www.awco.org/archive/Lucke/RL017rocbeatout.jpg http://www.awco.org/archive/Lucke/RL017rocbeatin.jpg

http://www.awco.org/archive/Lucke/RL018roclemout.jpg http://www.awco.org/archive/Lucke/RL018roclemin.jpg


R

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[Greg Frauenhoff]

Rhett,

As you're probably aware, some ephemera collectors refer to the Aurora trade card as the "ugly lady card". It wouldn't surprise me to know that the lady was the wife of a company big-wig, but who she was is unknown. For what it's worth, in the poster sized version of the Aurora card she's not quite so "ugly", though no raging beauty to be sure.

Greg

[Rick White]

Greg, I was thinking that myself. Her husband probably owns a Rockford. :wink: I've seen the lemon Rockford cut but not the Beet version. Thanks for putting them up Rhett. Any other vegetables??? Or is all the fun over?

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Rick White

[Steve Maddox]

The image on that beet is pretty racy. It makes me wonder what's on the peach?

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Steve Maddox
President, NAWCC Chapter #62
North Little Rock, Arkansas

[Rich]

Mister Frauenhoff:

You have the bare-faced gall to state publically:

"some ephemera collectors refer to the Aurora trade card as the 'ugly lady card'..."

How dare you speak so ill of Mummy! Especially after you abandoned her so cruelly once your evil appetites were satisfied.
Sir: You are no gentleman!

Signed: Ivan O'Roarer
(aka The Masked Avenger)
===========================

http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/mad.gif

Posted on behalf of the above-signed by:

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'Rich'
#149591



[This message has been edited by Rich (edited 04-11-2002).]

[Greg Davis]

My, how our sensibilities change over time. My guess would be that both the Rockford and Aurora models were considered quite fetching in their time. Of course, today we are accustomed to the heroin-chic, ultra-thin supermodels with their bony faces and paper-thin lips, all painted with so much makeup that you would never recognize (or admire) the model if she stepped naked and dripping from a shower.

Ah, but that's the beauty of ephemera. It reminds us of the way our standards have changed. Standards of beauty are among the most dynamic.

We may never go back to a time when the Aurora model will be considered beautiful. And like as not, in twenty years we will look back on pictures of today and cringe at the way we look now. My guess is that bony faces and paper thin lips will no longer be in style . . . but who knows what will replace them.

So keep the watch ads of today in a safe place for 50 years and amuse yourselves again when the time is right.

- Greg

[This message has been edited by Greg Davis (edited 04-12-2002).]

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Here's another Rockford card.
http://members.aol.com/gfrauen/rkcrd.jpg

I'd call it the "ugly man" card, but this might cause a stir on the board.

To the best of my knowledge, it dates to 1880-1882.


The companion to this one has a guy waving from a train. He made it on time because he bought a Rockford watch.


Greg