To those receiving this blog for the first time we hope you’ll enjoy the variety of discussion and information included. If you wish not to receive it just send an unsubscribe below or by return e-mail. Lots of different opinions and thoughts. Collectors of Carder Steuben Glass (whether or not members of the Carder Steuben Club) are a wide range of collectors, so many different types of discourse or opinions rise and fall. What follows is one of a series of writeups supplied by a Carder Steuben Collector who has assembled a massive paper collection. Hope you will find it interesting.

ADVERTISEMENTS
By Bob Mueller

In the early 1900’s it was a very different world. There was no internet or television. Most businesses relied on print media to advertise with things such as flyers, catalogs and magazines. When businesses the likes of Steuben Glass, which were located in small rural areas, faced getting the word out it was quite a challenge.

In 1904 Steuben Glass produced its first catalog type advertisement call “AURENE”. It was a very brief history on Aurene Glass. This would be the last Steuben advertisement until the mid 1920’s when a catalog called “The Charm of Colorful Steuben Glass” from the Wanamakers Department store in Philadelphia was printed.(seek link below) The last shape number in this catalog is a 6299 vase.

At the same time in the mid-1920 Steuben advertisements began showing up in ladies magazines, such as House & Garden, House Beautiful, and one or two others (Harpers) that would feature a wide a variety of types of Steuben Glass. (See link below)

One advertisement would feature inexpensive pieces, and another Rouge Flambé and cut glass. Then in the late 1920’s Steuben Glass produced another catalog entitled “Steuben Glass Gift Book” showing acid etched piece, decorated Aurene and cut glass, not seen in their first catalog.(see link below)

One other way a company promoted was to get associated with other department and specialty stores that would sell their items. Such stores were Marshall Fields in Chicago, Watts & Sons in Milwaukee and Wanamakers of Philadelphia and New York City . These upscale stores would feature examples of limited edition Steuben Glass designed to be sold to their upscale customers, while intended at the same time to draw in the everyday customer for the more popular priced items.

Mr. Carder being the business man he was knew that competing head to head with Tiffany Furnaces in New York City was a difficult challenge. He responded by focusing his sales efforts on the best department stores in other regions of the country where Tiffany wasn’t as dominant, such as the Great Lakes .

Another place Mr. Carder promoted was through trade papers. In my paper collection I have 15 to 25 articles from trade magazines that are only 3 or 4 paragraphs long, telling the reader what Steuben Glass would be coming out with in the next week or so.

All this shows how in the days before electronic media means were available, companies could find ways to get their products to market. Yes, Mr. Carder had to not only know how to design, invent, set standards and then manufacture his art glass, but he also had to be a proficient promoter.

http://www.kddk.com/alans/ADVERTISEMENTS.pdf

Bob Mueller
Osseo , MN
March, 2009