Art Deco

"Sliced Butter-Nut Bread. Convenient for toast, for sandwiches, for table use. It's made with milk." The greatest thing since sliced bread!? I've used the phrase but never knew that sliced bread was an innovation that only dates to 1928. This Butter-Nut Bread sign, probably used in stores in the late 1920s or early 1930s, uses sliced bread as a selling point, suggesting that it's convenient for toasting, making sandwiches, or just eating at the table.

"Washington Athletic Club, Seattle, has the honor to extend to Ens. W. J. McTalley the privileges of the club for the period ending Dec. 2, 1941, at the request of US Navy, Darwin Meisnest, manager. K523." The Washington Athletic Club 's 21-story building with its art deco construction opened in downtown Seattle in 1930, and the club celebrated its eighty-fifth anniversary in 2015.

"Oscar L. Bussell, special representative, 23 E. Broadway, Eugene, Oregon, Telephone: Bus. 942, Res. 3274. California-Western States Life Insurance Company, home office, Sacramento. Safe. 1940. Inches."

A Hallowe'en Wish. May all the bats and ghosts and frights Bring jolly fun and laughter And fill your day with such delights You'll smile forever after!

"Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year. The Disques."

"Greeting with hearty good wishes for Christmas and New Year, Hazel Kelley."

May each new day bring something So friendly and so glad That each one in its passing Seems best of all you've had.

In spite of *NRA, FCC, NPS, CCC, PWP, RFC, FDRS, FHA, NFU, ECW, SPCW, AAA, and even with poll tax, gas tax, road tax, map tax, income tax, sales tax, thumb tax, and wise cracks, nevertheless we wish you a merry Christmas, Willis Treaster, Milroy, Pa. *Explanatory key in our shop. -------- These are some of the 1930s New Deal agencies and programs referred to above: AAA - Agricultural Adjustment Administration CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps FCC - Federal Communications Commission FHA - Federal Housing Administration NRA - National Recovery Administration RFC - Reconstruction Finance Corporation

"A back seat driver ain't no fun / But despite her scowls / you're the only one / Be my valentine." A mechanical valentine. The little lever at the back of the car moves mother's head up and down as she scowls away in the back seat.

The humorous multiple-choice postcard in the United States dates back to the early twentieth century when it was often called an "Australian ballot" (the early term used for a secret ballot , which was finally adopted by all states in time for the 1892 presidential election). Later, they were known as "busy person's correspondence cards" and "generic postcards." This version was printed on a colorful linen postcard for the 1939 New York World's Fair . The message and checkboxes appear in the center of the card, while nighttime views of fair buildings appear on either side, with the Trylon and Perisphere on the left and the Hall of Communications on the right. Greetings from New York World's Fair Dear: Wife, Husband, Sweetheart, Mother, Dad, Friend, Folks, Here I am at the world's fair: having a good time, making whoopee, doing the high spots. So far I have seen the: amusement center, various exhibits, music hall, fireworks, lecture halls. The fair is: exciting, thrilling, wonderful, amazing, dazzling, magnificent. I urge you: not to miss the fair, tell your friends, bring your family, bring your bankroll. I need: much more time, money, rest, loving, you. I am: lonesome, happy, homesick, thinking of you. I'd love to: stay on forever, have you with me, be with you, come home, visit you. Yours: with love, sincerely, forever.

"Hotel Adriatic. Nice."

"Empire State Observatories. Souvenir of visit to the most famous building in the world. 2886039."

"100,000 Population Jubilee, May 17, 1928. Allentown, Pa. Founded 1762."

"Campfire. The original food. Marshmallow and creme recipes. Campfire makes so many things just perfect! Campfire Marshmallow Creme. The Campfire Company. Campfire Marshmallows. The original food. Family package. Guaranteed fresh." The front and back covers of a small recipe booklet. To see the entire booklet, including the inside pages, take a look at Campfire marshmallow and creme recipes, ca. 1910s , which is part of the Szathmary Recipe Pamphlets collection at the Iowa Digital Library .

An Art Deco mechanical valentine (moving the cape causes the arms to move up and down) from the 1930s. Sort of scary--hope she was able to escape! You built a wall So fast and strong, But with my magic ray It won't last long!

An Art Deco mechanical valentine (moving the arm causes the eyes to move back and forth) from the 1930s. This reminds me of Slim Pickens riding the bomb down to the ground at the end of Dr. Strangelove . "Queen of the Universe" We seem so far apart-- Please aim your trusty rocket Directly for my heart! See also Magic Ray Valentine :