Lysol Advertising, 1913 and 2013

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, May 14, 1913: Nothing much doing, but the doing of rubbing, scrubbing, etc.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

The previous day Grandma wrote that she hoped to finish washing the kitchen ceiling “by tomorrow.” Hopefully she finished washing the kitchen ceiling and moved on to other tasks.

Did Grandma use Lysol? It’s amazing that it’s been around for more than 100 years.

The Way to get Real Lysol is to buy it in one of these three packages—never in bulk

By merely insisting on these original sealed bottles, you are sure of getting the real antiseptic and germicide, Lysol, itself.

Your physician will tell you it is important to get real Lysol, because imitations sold as Lysol and for Lysol, but which are not Lysol, may be crudely made, uncertain and unsafe in action, even positively dangerous—you can’t tell. But you can tell this—Only Lysol itself has the unique antiseptic, disinfectant and germicidal quality that have made it the standard product for over 20 years.

Three Sizes

25¢, 50¢, $.100

Sold by druggists everywhere

Look for Signature of LEHN & FINK on the Label

The value of the genuine Lysol is proved by its use as an antiseptic and disinfectant in practically every hospital in America. Nothing so completely destroys disease-germs, prevents infections, removes odors and makes the whole house sweet and clean. Your druggist has Lysol in original bottles (with full directions) which protect you against substitution and make Lysol’s use easy and convenient.

Write for Interesting Lysol Booklet

Full of helpful hints and listing the many uses of Lysol in the home.

Address

LEHN & FINK

Manufacturing Chemists

103 William Street, New York

The small words in the logo underneath Lysol say “better than carbolic acid.”

2013 Lysol Website

I compared the information on the current Lysol website with the hundred-year-old ad. Some of the ad lingo is similar—and some different. The website headlines say:

Lysol—kills 99.9% of bacteria

Introducing Healthing

Cleaning is hoping you’re killing germs, Healthing is knowing it. Stop just CLEANING. Start HEALTHING.

SPRING INTO ACTION. SPRING INTO HEALTH.

Old Postcard from a Piano Store

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, March 29, 1913: Ma and I went to Milton this morning. The chief object of which was the buying of me a graduation dress. It is a plain white batiste to be trimmed with lace insertion and edging. I got some other things besides. Ma bought a piano. I’m so glad for now I can learn to play.

Caption: Patience Personified

I recently visited the Roller Mills Antique Center in Lewisburg and found this old post card that advertised a piano store in Milton. Did Grandma and her mother buy their piano from C.A. Bennage?

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

What a fun shopping trip!—It’s amazing that Grandma and her mother bought BOTH a graduation dress and a piano on the same trip.

A piano is a major purchase. In this era before women’s rights, I’m surprised that Grandma’s mother was able to make a purchase of this size without her husband coming along. Even today, I think that both spouses would generally be actively involved in making a purchase of this size.

Old Bestyette Raincoat Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, March 15, 1913: We had company today. Didn’t think at first they’d come, for it was so rainy.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

I wonder who visited the Muffly’s. Does company refer to one person, a couple, or a family with children? Did any of the children wear Bestyette rain capes or slicker coats to stay dry?

Does company refer to one person, a couple, or a family with children? Did any children wear Bestyette rain capes or coats to stay dry?

Source: Ladies Home Journal (October, 1913)

Bestyette Rain Coats

Yes, it is difficult to tell a good rain garment from a poor one. The eyes or fingers cannot tell whether the garment is waterproof or not. That is why you should buy Bestyette raincoats that are made by an old established concern, the New York Mackintosh Company, and sold with the famous

Bestyette Guarantee: “Satisfaction or a new garment free.”

The Bestyette process of waterproofing is a secret way of treating and applying live new rubber to the fabric so that it is absolutely waterproof and won’t dry or crack from age or usage.

Bestyette Garments are strikingly stylish, correctly cut, and well-tailored. They cost but little more than the inferior, unknown, unguaranteed kinds. Made for men, women, and children. Here we illustrate two of our “hits” for the little folks. Every child should have one. Cheaper than doctors’ bills—better than umbrellas which break or get lost.

The Famous Bestyette Storm Cape $3.00 up

The famous Bestyette Storm Cape is made of genuinely good rubberized material of a soft, silky finish—fitted with a roomy plaid-lined silk hood, and tied at the neck with dainty silk ribbons. It envelops the child from head to feet. In tailoring, fit, and all the finer points of finishing, the Bestyette is far superior to cheap, unguaranteed imitations. Colors guaranteed fast: cardinal, navy, golden brown and tan. Sizes 4 to 15. Price with free School bag, $3.00 up.

For Boys and Girls Bestyette Slicker Coat $3.50 up

The Bestyette Slicker coat is a great favorite with boys and girls. It is made on mannish lines and affords perfect protection against driving rain and piercing winds. It is absolutely waterproof and wonderfully durable—made of special double material, treated by the Bestyette process. It won’t dry, creak, or leak. Sizes 4 to 14 years. Price $3.50 up. (Sou’ Wester Hats, 50 cents up.)

If your dealer cannot supply you with Bestyette garments, we will. Write for Booklet.

NEW YORK MACKINTOSH CO.

39 2. 32 Street New York City

School bag free with each Bestyette storm cape.

This bag is waterproof and contains two compartments, one for carrying school books, the other for carrying the Bestyette storm cape.

Wooltex Spring Coat Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Sunday, March 9, 1913: Went to Sunday School this afternoon. It was so nice out. Felt most too warm with my jacket on going up.

Wooltex

The W. BLACK COMPANY

Designers

Wooltex Coat $15.00

Model 2249

An Extraordinary

Demonstration of Wooltex Value.

A handsomer coat for general service could scarcely be designed at any price than this model, No. 2249. It comes in whip cords, diagonal worsteds, find fancy diagonals, and a variety of fancy worsteds. Trimming is with inserts of self or contracting color broadcloth, and with buttonholes and invorine buttons to match inserts. Price but $15.00.

There are a few woman in every city who are always “well-dressed”.

They are not always the richest.

Go see the Wooltex spring models and know why so many of them wear Wooltex coats and suits.

The Store That Sells Wooltext Coats, Suits, Skirts

(Source: Ladies Home Journal, April, 1913)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

The online Weather Channel forecast for McEwensville for today is a low of 31° and a high of 52.° Sounds like a nice day—though still jacket weather. It may have been a just a little bit nicer on this date a hundred years ago.

1913 Shoe Styles

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, February 22, 1913: Mother and I went on a shopping expedition this morning. I doubted whether we’d ever get to Milton. The train was late, and it looked rainy. Ma got me a gray jacket suit, two waists, one is silk, and a pair of shoes which I think I will keep for graduation.

1913 shoe — All shoes from a Red Cross Shoe advertisements in Ladies Home Journal (April, 1913, October, 1913)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

It sounds like a fun shopping expedition. The shoes must have been very special if Grandma planned to save them for graduation.

Grandma and her mother probably rode the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg, and Berwick train to Watsontown. There was a flag stop at the feed mill near their farm. They probably then took the trolley to Milton. According to my father, Grandma used to call the train the Sweet, Bye, and Bye because you never could tell when it would come.

Packer’s Tar Soap Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, February 15, 1913: Was so disappointed this morning. Thought perhaps Ma would go shopping this morning, but she didn’t.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

What did Grandma want to buy? . . hmm. .. Teens “need” trendy shampoos, cosmetics, and grooming supplies.

Maybe Grandma wanted beautiful hair and needed Packer’s Tar Soap.

Source: Ladies Home Journal (May, 1913)

1913 Victor-Victrola Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, February 5, 1913: Nothing very much for today. Went up to practice this evening.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma was going to be in her class play, and went back into McEwenville in the evening for play practice. (She probably had to come home after school to help milk the cows.)

Grandma obviously appreciated whatever culture was available in her small rural community. I recently found this advertisement for Victor Victrola’s in the March 15, 1913 issue of a farm magazine called Kimball’s Dairy Farmer.

If there is any place where a Victor-Victrola is needed and sure to be appreciated, it is in the homes of the farmers—in your house.

You haven’t the opportunities city people have for attending the theatre, opera, and musical concerts—and yet you have real need of such entertainment to rest body and mind after your day of toil.

And you can have it with a Victor-Victrola in your home. You can enjoy the world’s best music, sung and played by the same great artists who entertain the large city audiences.

You can hear whatever kind of music you like right now.

You don’t have to wait until you feel you can afford a $100 or $200 instrument—any Victor-Victrola you choose as the instrument for your home will play every record in the Victor catalog, and will give you almost as perfect music as the Victor- Victrola XVI, the instrument by which the value of all musical instruments in measured.

Any Victor dealer in any city in the world will gladly demonstrate the Victor-Victrola to you and play any music you wish to hear.

Write us for the handsome illustrated Victor catalogs.

Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N.J.

Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal, Canadian Distributors

Victor-Victrola XVI, $200, Mahogany or quartered oak

Victor-Victrola X, $75 Mahogany or oak

Victor-Victrola VI, $25, Oak

Victor-Victrola IX, $50, Mahogany or oak

Other styles $15, $40, $100, $150

Victor: “His Master’s Voice”