Details
Contributor Compton & Co., printer.
Title Your home is not complete without the Missouri Steam Washer. The best washing machine in the world. Johnston Bro's. St. Louis. Philadelphia. [graphic] : There are more Missouri Steam Washers sold than all other washing machines in the world combined.
Publisher St. Louis : Compton Litho Co
Publisher MO. St. Louis. 1884
Date 1884
Physical Description 1 print : chromolithograph ; sheet 13 x 9 cm (5 x 3.5 in.)
Description Trade card for the small portable washing machine invented by George D. Ferris and marketed by Johnston Bros., "General Agents for the United States." Depicts two male fairies, one white and one African American, presenting a "Missouri Steam Washer. Pat'd. May 1, 1883" to a white woman who stands over a washboard in a wash tub. Steam rises from the tub filled with clothes. The African American fairy, portrayed in racist caricature with orange wings and attired in blue pants with suspenders, pushes in the metal washing machine on a dolly, while the other fairy points to it. The African American fairy image was often used in newspaper advertisements for the machine that operated through placement on a family cook stove, internal perforated steam tubes, and a crank to keep the clothes in motion during washing.
Notes Title from item.
Date from copyright statement: Copyright 1884.
Contains five testimonials, including one by G. R. Brandt and Harry E. Brandt (Hurricane Laundry, 232 New Street), Philadelphia, Pa., printed on verso.
Purchased with funds from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation.
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Subject Johnston Bros.
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons.
African Americans in advertising.
Fairies.
Laundry.
Pointing fingers.
Racism in popular culture.
Washing machine industry -- Missouri -- St. Louis.
Washing machine industry -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Washing machines.
Genre Chromolithographs -- 1880-1890.
Trade cards -- 1880-1890.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| trade card - Johnston [P.2013.35.1]
Accession number P.2013.35.1