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March 2005
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31,
2005
≈ Larry Baranovic
We've gone from knowing
next to nothing about this wonderful
artist to knowing
quite a bit, thanks to the inventor of the George Foreman
Grill. We'll post details in the coming days. In the
meantime, this illustration by Larry for Wayne Coach
courtesy of Bob Johnson in Arizona.
≈ The Four Hundred for
1955
The elite of the
world's motordom bow to the sophisticated Packard Four
Hundred. The opulence of the more formal Patrician
is sparked by a liberal dash of spirit. The Packard
Four Hundred is admired equally by country clubber and
first nighter. In locker room conversations, it's discussed
with all the excitement of the long wood or crisp iron
shot. In the theatre foyer it's spoken of with the enthusiasm
reserved for the birth of a new star. The suburbanite
who seasons country living with urban spice will find
the Packard Four Hundred easily adapts itself to his
way of life . . .
The alternate title here could
be "Circling the Drain." The majestic 1955 and '56
Packards were the last of their breed before the
company's merger with Studebaker and two years of
shrunken, badge-engineered cars.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27,
2005
≈ The Pride of Willow
Run
Tens of thousands
of visitors have gasped to see raw steel roll in at
one end of Willow Run—and to see precision-made Kaiser
and Frazer cars roll away at the other end of the smooth-flowing
production line . . .
Henry J. Kaiser's Kaiser and Frazer
automobiles, born in the booming postwar market,
were contemporaries of the Tucker, although unlike
that ill-fated car hundreds of thousands were made
before the Kaiser nameplate disappeared in 1955,
after a merger with Willys.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25,
2005
≈ Chiaroscuro Chrysler
Expect to be looked
at . . . admired . . . and envied
— when you get behind the wheel of this gorgeous, sleek
and smart Chrysler Convertible Coupe. You'd have to
look very far indeed to find interiors of greater swank
and dash than those of the '55 Windsor Deluxe
. . .
Another of Larry Baranovic's moody,
lush and luscious illustrations for Chrysler. The
only place we've seen his work is in the company's
mid-'50s sales catalogs and ads.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH
23, 2005
≈ Lucky You!
Congratulations are
in order! And the owner of this newest Oldsmobile masterpiece
is sure to receive his share! Here is distinction. The
exclusive Accent-Styled Body by Fisher commands immediate
attention, instant recognition. You travel in all the
comfort and luxury that the most exacting craftsmanship
can provide. The Rocket T-400 Engine, teamed with Jetaway
Hydra-Matic, is ever-ready with a more-than- confident
answer to the demands of modern travel . . .
Poolside with the 1957 Oldsmobile
Holiday 98 Starfire Coupe and an idealized landscape
somewhere between Arcadia and Monterey. Love the
glass house.
≈ Victory Over Dampness, 1944
Always under pressure
. . . often under fire . . . the U.S.
Army Signal Corps handles the monumental task of restoring
disrupted telephone systems and setting up new ones
for the Armed Forces. On the fighting front the Signal
Corps saves precious time by using Davison Protek-Sorb
to keep splices dry and lines free from trouble
. . .
Illustration by George Giusti (1908-1991),
whose work often showed the human hand in a surreal
setting.
≈ Plaskon, 1938
Plaskon is among
the most versatile of molded plastics, being widely
used for appliances, radio cabinets, refrigerator parts.
Plaskon has a permanent lustre, unlimited color range
. . .
The painting shows a Wakefield
"Commodore" illuminating reflector, which at a diameter
of 26.5 inches was the largest plastic molding ever
produced.
MONDAY, MARCH 21,
2005
≈ Tomorrow's Tug Boat
Remember the name
Bohn—a major source for light alloys, which more and
more are going into a wide variety of products. Bohn
Aluminum & Brass, Detroit 26, Michigan.
You never imagined that in 1946
Bohn would foresee the Tug Boat of Tomorrow? Haha.
You are silly!
SATURDAY, MARCH 19,
2005
≈ Deeper and Ever Deeper!
Spang Pipe has been
used in every phase of petroleum operation since the
discovery of oil in America in 1859 . . .
And no smoking afterward.
≈ Merrier-Go-Round
Aluminum and magnesium
painted in gay and gaudy colors can add considerably
to the gala appearance of Merry-Go- Rounds in a post-war
world. By lightening construction, these alloys can
decrease the cost of operation . . .
Of course you can hardly walk out
the door these days without tripping over a magnesium
merry-go-round, but once upon a time the refrain
on everyone's lips was: "What this country needs
is streamlined carnival rides!"
FRIDAY, MARCH 18,
2005
≈ Possible Tractor
of Tomorrow
Amazing new developments
in every branch of industry will mean the much wider
use of light alloys fabricated by Bohn.
From 1947 comes another eye-popper
from Bohn Aluminum's seemingly endless catalog of
futuristic renderings, airbrushed by what looks
to have been an extremely talented 10-year-old.
≈ Atlantic Clipper, 1938
From aviation illustrator
Charles Hubbell, a sneak peek at the Boeing 314, which
as Pan Am's "Clipper" flying boat was the first airplane
to offer scheduled trans-oceanic passenger service.
(Previously the only aircraft offering passage between
Europe and America were zeppelins, which stopped flying
after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.) The Clipper,
which was the largest passenger plane of its day (three
levels capable of carrying 74 first-class passengers
and a crew of 10), ended service after only three months
in operation when war broke out in Europe in September
1939. Only a dozen Clippers were built; the last was
scrapped in 1951. After its merger with Ramo-Wooldridge
in the late 1950s, Thompson Products, which commissioned
this illustration, became the T in TRW.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005
≈ Mars Snooper
Are you an engineer?
Arma needs key men to augment a broad research program
in missile guidance and space technology. As designer
and developer of inertial navigation systems for Titan
and Atlas ICBMs, Arma provides a stim- ulating atmosphere
where creative talents can develop . . .
≈ Atomic Pulse Rocket
The Atomic Pulse
Rocket could transport payloads to the Moon at $6.74
per pound, less than one quarter the prevailing air
freight charges over equivalent distance . . .
≈ Space Cowboys
ARMA, now
providing the inertial guidance system for the Atlas
ICBM, is in the vanguard of the race to outer space.
For this effort, ARMA needs scientists and engineers
experienced in astronautics . . .
≈ "For Cushioned Comfort"
Just imagine if your
last sight on this earth was of the
Knapp Shoes car bearing down on you. From the 1960s,
an accident scene photo from Salem County, New Jersey.
Caption on back: "Upper Penns Neck fatal. Pic by Dave
Trostel for UPN Police." The car is a 1960 Chevrolet
station wagon.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH
16, 2005
≈ Carbecue
From the 1950s, a
crash scene photo showing the aftermath of a head-on
collision between two ragtops, a 1955 Chevrolet and
1956 Cadillac. The Cadillac, which has a New Jersey
tag, burned. No word on fatalities, but it doesn't look
good. Back then, the "crumple zone" was pretty much
the entire car.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15,
2005
≈ Bohn Boat
With the changes
foreseen in the world of tomorrow, the modern ship will
also undergo a complete transformation. Light alloys
have been responsible for so many wonders, no one can
foresee the wide uses to which they may be put
. . .
SUNDAY, MARCH 13,
2005
≈ Retro Rocket
Authorities predict
that aircraft designs of tomorrow will be of the advanced
rocket type. The new rocket models will permit much
higher speeds at much higher altitudes. Thus new developments
which require light alloys keep opening up avenues for
improved products. When peace comes, Bohn metallurgists
and engineers should be helpful to you in designing
your products for tomorrow . . .
SATURDAY, MARCH 12,
2005
≈ The doorbell rings.
It may be friends,
dropping by for a visit. Or, you may open the door
on the unexpected, and find yourself facing a gun.
The "doorbell" technique has long been a favorite with
holdup men. It catches you off guard, makes you, your
family and guests easy prey for robbery. One way to
protect yourself is to install a door chain and make
callers identify themselves before you open the door.
But even this is not foolproof. The surest way
to protect yourself against loss from "unexpected callers"
is through insurance . . .
FRIDAY, MARCH 11,
2005
≈ Look Out for Those Clouds!
YOU'RE skimming straight
for the horizon! A warm wind
softly fans your face as you soar to the crest of the
hill. And stretching below you are ribbons of roads,
trees that dwindle to pencils . . . Watch
out—or you'll bump into one of those big, billowy
clouds! You're driving a 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr, mister,
and that means you're riding high!
≈ Salute to Memphis, 1943
Details concerning
the type and performance of aircraft soon to roll out
on our runways at the new McDonnell Plant in Memphis
are, of military necessity, restricted. But you may
be sure that these aircraft will play an important role
in hastening the day of victory for America and our
Allies. That's our job in Memphis, now. But one
day, when victory has been won and peacetime transportation
is resumed, the old river city will become an important
ocean port—in the Ocean of the Air . .
.
≈ Brass for the Two-Edged
Sword
Yes, oil is a mighty
two-edged sword that carries double cutting power in
attacks on the enemy today. For it is a source of both
gasoline and synthetic rubber. And to keep refinery
production of these two vital materials at the keenest
edge of efficiency, tons and tons of copper alloy heat
exchanger and condenser tubing are required .
. .
THURSDAY, MARCH 10,
2005
≈ SUPER-SERVICE, 1943
A super service-station
of tomorrow: Automobiles will be serviced on the ground
floor—helicopters on the roof. After Victory, the Bohn
organization will turn its attention to a wide variety
of new developments like the one above . . .
Artwork by George W. Walker, who
would go on to become styling chief and vice president
of Ford Motor Co. Lettering above the service bays
reads: REPAIR, WASH, LUBE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH
9, 2005
≈ New World for Sale
SOMEWHERE .
. . closer than you think . . . there's
a bright new world awaiting you . . . with
a wind that's soft
and nights that are like friendly velvet robes. And
there's
a thrilling car to whisk you in ease and comfort to
this land
of warmth and sunshine . . . give you the
smoothest
fun-flight to summertime you've ever known. It's that
exciting new traveler, that sleek, flashing thoroughbred
. . . the 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr!
MONDAY, MARCH 7,
2005
≈ 1965 Scrabblemobile
Your air conditioner,
television and other appliances are just the beginning
of a new electric age. Your food will cook in seconds
instead of hours. Electricity will close your windows
at the first drop of rain. Lamps will cut on and off
automatically to fit the lighting needs in your rooms.
Television "screens" will hang on the wall. By 1965,
you will need and have much more electricity than you
have today . . .
SUNDAY, MARCH 6,
2005
≈ The Archive
Housekeeping update:
Posts for the current and previous month will be on
this page; anything older than that gets trundled off
to the Plan59 Archive.
Links to which can be found at the top and bottom of
the page. Please, no food or drink in the Archive, and
no loud talking.
SATURDAY, MARCH 5,
2005
≈ The Sweethearts' Pal
From a 1953 sampler
of calendar proofs comes this uncharacteristically chaste
illustration by pinup artist
Art Frahm, who was a pioneering investigator into the
effects of
celery and gravity on waistband elastic.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3,
2005
≈ TV in the Trees, 1962
The first large-screen
portable TV you don't have to plug in. (It's all
transistor—no tubes.) This portable television really
earns the right to be called portable. An amazing rechargeable
Energy Cell makes it independent of electric outlets.
That's why it's right at home in the modern tree terrace
illustrated.
≈ Vibrasonic
An unusual word
you should understand before buying a stereo hi-fi.
Most of the sounds from a stereo do not go directly
from the loudspeakers to your ears. The notes are "bounced"
off walls, ceiling and floor. So what you hear is actually
what engineers call reflected sound energy. This is
why it's important for you to know about Vibrasonic.
It is a special sound system you will find only in Motorola
stereo hi-fi. No matter what the acoustics of your room,
a twist of the Vibrasonic dial and you can be sure of
hearing music rich in tone, exactly as it was played
. . .
≈ Herman Miller Time
From 1961, another
in the series of architectural fantasies painted by
Charles Schridde
(who also illustrated the 1959 Imperial brochure) for
Motorola's "Lively Art of Electronics" campaign. To
the left are a pair of George Nelson "coconut" chairs,
designed for the Herman Miller furniture company in
1955. They retail nowadays for $3495.
Gulp.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH
2, 2005
≈ Home James . .
. Junior!
HE QUITE forgets
that sweet, lingering look she lavished on Pinky Hodgons
when he cut in on her favorite waltz. And it
no longer matters that he was really pretty ragged on
the rumba . . . For it's a velvet night,
spattered with stars . . .
And no queen of old ever entered her carriage with a
more regal manner than his lovely lady of the evening
as she steps into Dad's 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr .
. .
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