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ADVENTURELOUNGE


COME FLY WITH ME

The early aircraft designs on view at AdventureLounge will take you back, though not all in one piece.



ARE YOUR SCANS limp, lifeless, lacking pep and vim? Visit ScanTips for fast, safe, effective relief.



THE ART
of Josh Agle. Martinis, girls, guns. Think James Bond meets Jetsons at a tiki bar in Palm Springs.

 
 
 
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May 2005

CLICK ON ORANGE HEADINGS TO VIEW. SITE © 1999-2020

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2005

≈ Mystery of the Vanishing Hills

Pick out, just for fun, some lofty range that rises sheer and purple before you  . . .  and transform it swiftly, effortlessly into a plain! No motoring miracle, this — simply an everyday experience in the life of the lucky man who owns a 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr! For this fleet, hardy traveler sweeps you up the hillside or down the narrow glen with a sure, silent, steady flow of alert 12-cylinder power  . . .  gives you far more fun per gallon than you ever enjoyed at the wheel of a motor car!

We are taking off later today to explore the Mystery of the Vanishing Hills on our own, so there’ll be no updates for a week or so. In the meantime Patentroom webmaster Ken will be answering e-mail and stoking the boilers.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2005

≈ Push a Button  . . .  Calrod Heat!

Hotpoint Built-Ins for 1959: “Recipe Heat” Oven with
Roast-Right Thermometer  . . .  “Recipe Heat” Range with Super-Matic surface unit. With Hotpoint Calrod Recipe Heat, you have automatic controls for all your cooking!

We’ll never let Mom forget that night Dad took a bite of meatloaf and choked on a pearl.

≈ Beer Garden

You can get extra energy from products containing Barley Malt! Fun flavor is the start of all that Barley Malt adds to your enjoyment of beer and ale. Malt’s generous talents carry on from there  . . .  you get dextrins and maltose to aid digestion, maintain energy  . . .  B-complex vitamins and minerals, too.

This explains why the zinnias were always a little crooked. (Historical note: The artist here, Edward Augustiny, was at one time married to illustrator Joyce Ballantyne Brand, who went on to create the Coppertone Girl.)

≈ The Mark IV Continental

“Nothing is more simple than greatness.”

The quote, from Ralph Waldo Emerson, was the tagline for this ad illustrating the 1959 Continental Mark IV. The 1958-1960 Lincolns and Continentals were some of the largest — and strangest — cars ever to come out of Detroit.

≈ Moving Day, 1959

SHARING THE BIG MOVE to GMC Trucks is the handsome Wide-Side Pickup with its 50% greater cargo space and value-packed half-ton panel with seven-foot body. The moving van is the GMC 450, a versatile and economical tractor  . . .

The artist’s signature on this wonderful illustration is indecipherable. It starts with B and seems to end in “sci.”

MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005

≈ Big Blue

Autocar Trucks cost more because they’re worth more!

That’s all they wrote in this 1947 ad for the Autocar Company of Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2005

≈ American Brake Shoe

Inspired by the 1956 Chevrolet accessories catalog, we offer a Warholian take on the humble power brake in two of our favorite hex values, cherry FFOOOO and sky OOOOFF.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2005

≈ Big Red

“Look for the Red and Blue Truck” is the slogan of the Petrol Corporation, Philadelphia, the largest independent distributor of petroleum products on the Eastern Seaboard. “Look for the Red and Blue Autocar Truck” might well be the slogan, for Petrol relies on more than 200 of these Heavyweight Champions for essential home-front deliveries  . . .  Liquid loads are heavy loads, but Autocars are heavy-duty trucks. And heavy-duty trucks, tempered in the cauldron of war, are clearly the post-war trend  . . .

Another of William Campbell’s noirish illustrations for Autocar trucks, this one from the war year of 1944.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2005

≈ Holiday Coupe

Distinguished  . . .  Distinctive  . . .  Decidedly New!  The 1961 Oldsmobile Classic 98 Holiday Coupe has an appearance all its own — styling distinction that marks it as the finest. The new Skyrocket Engine offers deep reserves of near-silent power. And, of course, all models have, as standard equipment, new Hydra-Matic Drive featuring Accel-A-Rotor action  . . .  plus Roto-Matic Power Steering and Pedal-Ease Power Brakes.

From the cover of the Oldsmobile sales catalog, Miss Hydra-Matic Roto-Matic Accel-A-Rotor Pedal-Ease of 1961.

≈ The Imperial Sedan

Quite naturally, the luxurious, tastefully appointed interiors of the 1955 Imperial hold a special appeal for the feminine motorist; but men, too, are appreciative of this rich beauty and charm, which to them is a plus value, an extra that complements fine engineering and performance. Everything is in perfect harmony, in impeccable good taste. Rich fabrics and fine leathers are artistically and skillfully tailored over soft, deep, yielding cushions. The doors are wide. The windows are electrically operated. The front seat moves forward or back, up or down, at the push of a button. Center armrests, assist handles, entrance lights — everything is included for the convenience, comfort and safety of the driver and passengers.

Repeat after me, ladies: “Are the doors wide? The cushions soft and yielding? These windows — how do they work?”

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2005

≈ Imperial Newport for 1955

Rich pleated-leather and metallic silver thread fabric set the ultra-luxury motif of Imperial Newport interiors  . . .  in two-tone beige, red & black, gold & white, green & white, or blue & white correlated with exterior body colors. Distinctive new armrest ledges, integrated full length with the door panels, house the ash receivers and electric window-lift controls. Fold-down center armrest in rear seat  . . .

A selection from the enormous, beautifully printed and stunningly designed prestige brochure for the Imperial of 1955, the first year of that car’s renascence as something other than just a fancily trimmed Chrysler.

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2005

≈ Night Light, 1941

The hour is late  . . .  the driving, tough  . . .  the road, lonely. Then, through the cold, wet darkness shines a star . . .  the Texaco Star. Beneath its friendly light, a man waits to serve you  . . .  a Texaco Dealer, alert, capable, competent.
                                               ¶    ¶    ¶    ¶
He will offer you the comfort of his Registered Rest Room  . . .  set you straight on your route  . . .  clear that befogged windshield  . . .  adjust that bothersome headlight  . . .  or, supply one of those two famous Texaco gasolines, FIRE-CHIEF or SKY-CHIEF. He will protect your hard-worked motor with Insulated Havoline. Yes! All night long, throughout the touring season, in 48 States, Texaco Dealers offer you this vigilant all-night service. You will find it waiting for you this summer at convenient points all along the national highways.

From 1941, a reminder of those pre-Interstate, pre-GPS days when most highways were winding two-lane roads, and you needed a map — or directions from a service-station attendant — to get from one town to the next. The artist is the famed racing illustrator Peter Helck.

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2005

≈ Fine-Art Prints

In addition to our regular line of prints we’re introducing fine-art giclee prints on mould-made watercolor paper imported from France. C’est magnifique! Details are here; e-mail us for a quote. And: Congratulations to Ken on your MBA.

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2005

≈ Fun With Pop, 1953

It’s a tiny piece of metal and cork that costs only a fraction of a cent — the cap on a soft-drink bottle. This cap must seal in more than the flavor. It must also hold the carbonating gas, which may be under as much as 100 pounds pressure. The first metal crowns appeared in this country about sixty years ago. While they represented a tremendous advance over previous sealing methods, soft drinks would still occasionally go “flat.” It was not until crowns had been thoroughly engineered to find just the right thickness of metal, the right composition of cork, and the right adhesive, that they became completely reliable. In this development, Continental Can played an important part. The five plants of our Bond Crown & Cork division now turn out a big share of the more than 50 billion crowns the U.S. bottling industry uses annually  . . .

Once upon a time, kids, soda came in glass bottles, not cans. Instead of pop-tops, there were bottle caps lined with cork. Along with squashed cigarette butts, flattened bottle caps were literally part of the landscape. We miss ’em!

≈ Autocar, 1945

Autocar Trucks are superbly engineered for heavy-duty hauling. These famous, precision-built trucks cost more because they’re worth more! They’ve got the guts, strength, power, stamina — everything — that heavy-duty hauling has to have to lower costs. Airco will testify to this  . . .

Another of Autocar’s atmospheric 1940s ads, this one signed by Campbell, who would seem to be responsible for this one, too. First person to correctly supply us with the artist’s first name gets a free print. UPDATE: Joan Auclair wins the print. The artist is William Campbell, and his name is hiding up in the tree of “Heavy Tankage.” (At least it was hiding from us.) Thanks, Joan!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2005

≈ Nearer Than You Think!

SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN WORK AND PLAY. Tomorrow’s new modes of metropolitan transportation are nearer than you think! The monorail and the automobiles and trailer trucks of tomorrow couldn’t be made without the ferro alloys that exist today  . . .

From 1958, an illustration from the start of Vanadium Corporation of America’s futuristic ad campaign, which ran until 1960. Most of these were painted by the aviation artist Jo Kotula, although this one is unsigned. Shades of the Jetsons and the 1950 Studebaker.

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2005

≈ Heavy Tankage! (Prints Available)

For the ruts of War or the highways of Peace, Autocar Trucks are precision-built for the heaviest of heavy-duty work. Mile after mile, day after day, year after year, these famous trucks put on dependable, low-cost-per-mile performance and reduce hauling and delivery costs. Just ask Shell Union Oil Corporation. They know Autocar Trucks through long years of rugged use. Then follow the leaders, for they know the way!

Autocar, based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, was bought out by White Motor Car Co. in 1953 and moved to Exton. The name was purchased by Volvo in the 1980s and revived in 2001 by GVW LLC for its Xpeditor refuse-hauling line. UPDATE: Print options for this image are listed here. Eventually all of our print offerings will follow this format.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005

≈ Honk, Honk

We’re not the type to go around tooting our own horn,
but columnist/Dynamist Virginia Postrel has kindly
name-checked us in today’s New York Times and we
just had to share. Hi Mom!

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005

≈ Motor Owl

When you bang your shin on a chair in a dark room — you’ve located the chair. But that’s learning the hard way. How much simpler to have owl’s eyes — or turn on the light — and see where you’re going. Now scientists at Shell’s research laboratories have turned on the light — designed and built an engine with a cylinder entirely of GLASS  . . . which lets them SEE where the oil is, and just how it stands up to its job  . . .

It’s not easy illustrating lubricants, but in 1946 Shell attempted to meet the challenge with an ad featuring
you-know-who. Who. Who.

≈ When Victory Is Ours

ALL AMERICANS are confident that ultimate victory in this war is ours. When the same confidence in our post-war economy prevails, our future is secure. Pent-up demand for every kind of consumer good promises capacity business all ’round. That means more employment for all who wish to work, wage money aplenty for all who wish to buy. The manufacturers of Republic Rubber and Lee of Conshohocken tires believe in this natural sequence  . . .

From the dark days of early 1944, a dark illustration for Lee Rubber by the equestrian painter Milton Menasco.

≈ Castañetwork, 1944

The metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, one of the most colorful cities of South America, may be reached in a matter of hours by plane and instantaneously by radio. The opening of  a new post-war chapter in the history of Radio will help to enlighten all nations — lead to a fuller life for all peoples. To know your world neighbor is to understand your world neighbor!

During World War II, sales of many consumer goods, including radios, were suspended “for the duration,” with production going to the war effort.  Hallicrafters had no radios to sell civilians, just a dream of the Lady in Red.

≈ Tough Job, Tough Truck

And rugged Internationals have what it takes. In the last fourteen years civilian users have purchased more heavy-duty International Trucks than any other make  . . .

From 1946, a colorful ad for International Harvester, whose trucks now carry the Navistar nameplate.

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