Granite floor paint. Manf'd only by Acme white lead & color works, Detroit, Mich. [graphic].
Title
Granite floor paint. Manf'd only by Acme white lead & color works, Detroit, Mich
Description
Trade card containing two panels and depicting a contrived, racist scene of two African American women domestics talking to each other from the kitchens of the respective, separate homes in which they work. The women are portrayed with caricaturized features and speak in the vernacular. They are attired in head coverings, sheath dresses with rolled-up sleeves, aprons, stockings, and slipper shoes. The depicted kitchens contain a sink, pans stored on hooks or a shelf, and a stove. In the left panel, the woman frowns and holds a kettle in one hand and the side of her skirt in the other. She stands "like a monument" on a floor "painted tree days now" and marked with her footprints. In the background, a white man, his mouth open in a shocked expression, and attired in a suit opens the door to the kitchen. In the right panel, the woman dances with one leg raised and her hands on her hips on a floor with "hard 'nuf" Granite Paint. In the background, a smiling white man attired in a suit looks on behind an open door to the kitchen. Separating the panels is a column of red cans labeled "Granite Floor Paint." Acme White Lead and Color Works was incorporated in Detroit in December 1884, by H. Kirke White, A.E.F. White, and W.L. Davies. In March 1920, Sherwin-Williams of Cleveland purchased the company and renamed the brand Acme Quality Paints. The firm continued under that name into the 21st century., Title from item., Text printed on recto: G'way chile! Dis floor been painted tree days an now I'se stuck fas' like a monument, why dont you use de Granite Paint? Law sakes only painted las' night and dat Granite Paint am hard 'nuf dis mawnin fur a breakdown., Advertising text printed on verso: Granite Floor Paint. You have undoubtedly in your experience, had an occasion to paint a floor, steps or a piazza. If such is the case, the chances are that you realize that the same paint used for painting the exterior of houses will not answer to paint floors, yet up to the time we invented the Granite Floor Paint that was what must be used. There are three great faults with the paints heretofore used, namely: First, they require a long time to dry, which causes great inconvenience; second, they never dry perfectly hard, and consequently will not wear; third, cold water will stain, hot water blister, and soap will to a certain extent remove them. After many long and costly experiments we succeeded in perfecting the Granite Floor Paint, and present it to the public with the assurance that it has none of the above faults. It is sure to become as great a favorite as our other popular specialty, "Neal's Carriage Paint," which is prepared ready for use in eight beautiful colors, and renders the re-painting of a buggy possible at a cost of not to exceed one dollar. Acme White Lead and Color Works, Sole Manufacturers, Detroit, Michigan., Distributor’s name on verso: For sale by Thorne & Rogers, Troy, N.Y., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Acme [P.2017.95.1]
Fairbank's rock cordials, positive cure for all lung disorders [graphic].
Title
Fairbank's rock cordials, positive cure for all lung disorders
Description
Trade card promoting Fisher and Fairbanks' patent medicine Fairbanks' Rock Cordials and depicting a racist caricature of an African American man chef in the galley of ship. Shows the man portrayed with exaggerated features and attired in a white chef's hat; a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows; a red vest with gold buttons; a white apron; blue pants; and black shoes. He stands holding a spoon in his right hand and with his left hand holds a bowl that is filled with an unidentifiable pink food over a barrel that is being used as a table. He smiles and looks to a blond-haired white girl in the right attired in a pink hat; a black choker; a red dress; a white pinafore; white stockings with red stripes; and black shoes. She carries a doll costumed in a matching outfit and leans to look at the chef mixing. In the foreground on the floor are a pan, a pot with a bowl on top of it, and a spoon. In the background is a stove with a steaming kettle on it and a large chain. In the right, there is a barrel and next to it is a doorway through which we can see a sailor attired in a brimmed hat, a blue jacket, and pants. He stands on the side of the ship and looks through a telescope at the water., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Fairbanks [P.2017.95.62]