1891, and what was probably one of Albany’s earliest advertising agencies was advertising “Brains To Let, For Advertising Purposes.” Delicious brains.
You’ll be shocked to learn that in the 1890s, there was scandal about the legislature. The water supply, however, was above reproach, thanks to the efforts of the Albany Steam Trap Company. “Every drop used there now for drinking purposes is as pure as if it trickled from ‘The icicle which hangs on Dian’s temple.’”
Baking powder wasn’t Albany’s only condensed and dry manufacture of 1891. We were also the home of Day’s Diamond Paste, the wallpaper paste that prevented moths and vermin in walls. Patented! More on The Diamond Paste Company.
As mentioned in the previous post, there was a bit of a fire at the Brandow Publishing house in 1891, just as “The New Albany” was set to roll off the presses. But not just presses and type were consumed in that conflagration . . . numerous innocent pianos died that day as well. And …
Just before the publication of the first number of “The New Albany” in 1891, Brandow Printing Company’s plant was consumed by fire. Type was made of lead then, and lead melts at a pretty low temperature, so when a printing plant burned, there wouldn’t be much left. But the sufficiently insured Brandow turned lemons into …
Not much advertising copy throws in a dig at Dutchmen these days, so for that alone this ad from the Albany Steam Trap Co., 1891, is worth a look. But it’s also a reminder of the Albany of yesteryear, the Albany that is known to be fastidious, the Albany that has no sympathy with humbugs, …
Can’t resist another ad from Thepure Baking Powder Company. Hoxsie agrees that ladies should know which baking powder retains its strength until used, and that the housewives of the land are fit to decide upon the proper course to pursue. 8.33 percent more leavening gas than the Royal! How much leavening gas would your baking …
Wow. From the land of overheated advertising copy comes this wonder from “The New Albany,” Vol. 1, No. 1 (and perhaps the only one) from Brandow Publishing, 1891. And right on the front page is this paean to the marvels of baking powder. “If there is any one product of the New Albany in which …
Had I mentioned that Albany was once the Piano City? I thought I might have. Once or twice. This ad from 1899 features only two of the numerous piano companies that operated here through the years, of which Boardman & Gray was the most prominent. The Lumber District may as well have been the Piano …
In 1885, you could take the Peoples Line up and down the Hudson, any day of the week. And from there, you could go just about anywhere. I want to go to there.