Mid-20th century Salesman Stimulator for hardware stores circa 1955. "Just TRY to remove them…"
PC-7 was (and IS) an epoxy mix that forms a bond which lasts! Affixed here is a golf ball, several pieces of plywood, a rubber stopper, a metal hook and a ceramic tile. All bond to a bottle of A-Treat soda bottle from Allentown, PA. Guess what? A-Treat is still being made too! They will celebrate their 100th Anniversary of thirst slaking in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania in a year or two. I hate to sully their reputation, but Wikipedia already has! In 1991, the company was the subject of regional news coverage when a smear campaign was launched against A-Treat as it tried to sell its sodas in NY. The campaign, which targeted African-Americans, claimed certain brands of carbonated beverages — including those produced by A-Treat — were actually manufactured by the Ku Klux Klan and contained stimulants that would "sterilize the black man". What???????? That's crazy…I guess the bottom end of the soft drink market is brutal.
As for PC-7, the bonding material which appropriated (or co-branded?) A-Treat Bottles, they were founded in 1954 and the goop still works. This survivor of the retail hardware industry proves it still does, even after more than 50 years.
PC-7 Epoxy Sales Stimulator circa 1955 Collection Jim Linderman
Hotpoint got their name from their first product, the electric iron in 1911. The hottest point was the point. They dicked around with General Electric for a while, but now it is fully owned by Indesit, an Italian company.
I have no idea why Hotpoint had to sell to GE when their marketing was as good as the goon above…(snicker) but his name was "HOTPOINT MAN" and he dates to the 1930s. They propped him up in stores to keep the kids busy while Mom and Dad bought modern appliances, and I think they sent a few home too. Gee...a doll you just couldn't help to love.
Hotpoint Man was designed by Joseph Kallus of Cameo and today he is pretty rare apparently, so i'll just make do here with his head. Kallus was a sculptor and designer who is associated with the Kewpie doll.
"In 1916 Kallus himself founded the Rex Doll Co. to produce composition Kewpie dolls, as supplies from Germany were halted by the war. These dolls were distributed by Borgfeldt, who controlled all production rights to Kewpie dolls and figurines. With permission from Borgfeldt, the Rex Doll Co. also made a line of composition Kewpie dolls that were distributed by the Tip Top Co., a distributor of carnival prizes." according to the website of the Cameo Doll Company
Well, the guy above ain't no Kewpie, so I guess Kallus could design cute AND creepy!
Believe it or not, and if you can believe Wikipedia, Hotpoint branded products are made by GE Consumer in Louisville, Kentucky. In the United States!
Head of Hotpoint Man Composition sales stimulator doll circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman
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