Details
Contributor J. Russell & Co., distributor.
Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.
Title The Universal clothes wringer [graphic].
Publisher Five Points, N.Y. : Donaldson Brothers
Publisher N.Y. New York. 1885
Date [ca. 1885]
Physical Description 1 print : chromolithograph ; sheet 9 x 8 cm (3.5 x 3 in.)
Description Metamorphic trade card promoting the American Wringer Company's Universal Wringer. Depicts a racist "before and after" scene with and without the product. The before scene shows an African American laundress "Dinah" wringing clothes by hand over a tub. She states in vernacular speech that "de wringing am awful." A white woman chastises her to "look at these torn clothes." She holds up a square shaped cloth with tears. A clock is visible in the background. The women are shown as bust-length. Dinah wears a kerchief, an open collared shirt, and her sleeves are rolled up. The after scene shows a smiling "Dinah," wringing laundry with a "Universal" clothes wringer under the happy gaze of her employer. The women reach a hand out to one another. Dinah wears a high ruffled collar shirtwaist with a bow at her neck, long sleeves, an apron, and kerchief. A clock rests on a sideboard in the background. The American Wringer Company was established about 1861 and operated until at least the early 20th century. The company often provided a clock as a premium to purchase their laundry equipment.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred from attire of figures depicted.
Text printed on recto: Oh mistis de wringing am awful, always tear de clothes 'spect dat I neber get through. What Dinah, six o'clock and not done yet! And look at these torn clothes. "What Dinah! Finished washing so soon! Why it's only three o'clock." "Hi golly! Mistis, been done dese two hours dis chile hab no more trouble, since you done got dis wringer. Neber tear de clothes neder.
Advertising text printed on verso: The Universal Wringer has the following points of superiority. 1. Rolls of solid white rubber. 2. Rowell's double cog-wheels. 3. Two independent pressure screws. 4. Double cogs at both ends of each roll. 5. Folding apron or clothes guide. 6. Rocking springs of wood and rubber.
Distributor's name on verso: J. Russell & Co., Dealers in hardware, carpenters' and machinists' tools, 23 Dwight and 23 Race Streets, Holyoke, Mass.
Gift of David Doret.
Library Company holds a duplicate copy with a variant distributor [113420.D].
Subject American Wringer Company.
African American women in advertising.
African American women -- Clothing & dress.
African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Clocks.
Equipment.
Equipment industry -- New York (State) -- New York.
Laundresses.
Laundry.
Racism in popular culture.
Genre Chromolithographs -- 1880-1890.
Metamorphic pictures -- 1880-1890.
Trade cards -- 1880-1890.
Associated name J. Russell & Co., distributor.
Printer Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Goldman Trade Card Collection -American [P.2017.95.6]
Accession number P.2017.95.6

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