Billboard advertising (July-Dec 1895)

BILLBOARD ADVERTISING is the Official Organ of the OHIO Bill Posters' Association. ; Bill Posters' Notes. The Rocky Mountain Bill Posters' Association embracing Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, which was projected by Jas. A. Cnrran of Den- ver, has been successfully organized. The California boys will make applica- tion to the Associated Bill Posters Asso- ciation for a charter at the next annual meeting. The Michigan Association is the oldest state organization in existence. Evidence of renewed interest is appa- rent among the members of the Minne- so'a Association. Pennsylvania is doing exceedingly well for a youngster. Kentucky will probably take in West Virginia and Tennessee at the next con- vention, in which event the name will likely be changed to the Central Bill Posters* Association. North, and South Dakota will organize shortly under the name of The Dakotas Bill Posters Association. The convention of the Illinois Bill Posters Association was the most success- ful ever h-ild. That prince of hustlers, R. C Campbell ought now to turn his attention to Wisconsin. New Hampshire will eventually be compelled to take in Maine and Vermont. These three states will eventually consti- ■ tute the North Eastern Association. By Laws, Article 2, Anuual Dues, Sec- tion 1: The annual dues for each mem- ber of the Association shall be in pro- portion to the population of the respec- tive city he may represent and in har- mony with the following schedule. For cities having a population of Under 50.000 - - $5-oo From 50,000 to 100,000 10 00 " 100,000 to 200,000 15.00 " 2. o.cco to 300,000 20.00 " 300,000 to 400,000 * 30.00 " 400,000 to 500,000 40 00 Over 500,000, - - 7500 Messrs. Scaue of Chatham and Price of Toronto, who have charge of the sub- ordinate Associations of Canada are in- clined to divide the Dominion into three separate districts, viz: West Canada, em- bracing Victoria, Assinboia, Northwest Territory, Alberta and Manitoba, Mid- Cana.la, including Ontario and Quebec; and East. Canada; Novia Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and New Foundland. The question of subordinate organiza- tion in the south is apparently as far off as ever from a successful solution. Just as we go to press a rumor reaches us that California will take in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.. The New Association will be styled the Pa- cific Coast Association. We have received numerous inquiries trom bill posters who wish to join the Association, if they will write to Mr. J. Ballard Carroll, 35 Beaver St, Albany, N. Y., he will give them all the desired in- formation. ODDS AND ENDS. What will keep paste from souring? Several inexperienced bill posters in the smaller towns are anxious to learn. There is great need of a name or te-m which will designate the employing bill poster as distinguished from his employ- ees. The term bill poster no longer fills the bill. You cannot call R. C. Campbell, 1. Ballard Carroll, Geo. M. Leonaid or James A. Curran bill posters They are employers of billposters, what is desired is a fitting appelation, which will define their calling. Billboard Advertising recognizing the necessity of a prompt decision in this matter has decided to put the matter to a vote of the craft at large. Fill out the following coupon and mail it to Bill- board Advertise g Cincinnati, O, so as to reach us by September 25th in order that the votes may be counted and the results announced in the October Editor of BILLBOARD ADVERTISING. In my estimation Is the best and most fittling appel- ation for the employing bill poster. SIGNED, ■■•■■•••••■••••■■■■■••••■■■••■•■■■••■■■•••■■•••I We offer the following suggestions, viz: I.— Afficheur; which is the French for an employing bill poster. 2 —Billboard Advertiser. 3— Poster Hanger. 4.— Placarder. 5.— Display Advertiser. 6. — Posting Advertiser. Any of the above would answer the purpose if universally adopted, but is altogether probable that something much more apt will be brought out by the vote. NEW YORK NOTES. Representative Edward A. Stahlbrodt, New York City, is sending - 'Armorside" Corset paper throughout the entire country. The firm is now having an eight sheet poster made s'milar to the one sheet used up to the present time, and of which 75x00 sheets was the num- ber printed. The whole of which has been posted daring the past four months. That is not very bad billing for a fi-m who only cater to the female sex. Mr Stahlbrodt, the Association's rep- resentative, also has the cortract to prist Curtice Bros Co., Rochester, N. Y., "Blue Label" Ketchup, sixteen and twenty sheet stands, throughout the country. Here is an opportunity where every bill pos'.er, who has anv pride in his boards, may show bis appreciati n of the class of merchandise he desires to advertise on bis boards, by giving this an excellent showing, and thereby en- courage other large firms to adopt bill posting in preference to other methods. You will always find plenty of work upon the billboards of a city whei e the paper upon_ the boards is well rubbed in and properly blanked. Bill posters must exert the same energy in making their boards presentable to the public, that is followed in all other business en- terprises. It is said that 20,000000 gallons of molasses, for which there is no market, is annually dumped into the rivers and hajcus of Louisiana, by the sugar plar- ters. There is a fortune waiting fcr the man who will clarify it by some cheap process. It would make au excellent substitute for pas'e. Fletch Terrell, of the City Bill Posting Co. Has erected some splendid tongue and groove boards in the v» ry best loca- tions in Paducah, Ky. The bill pos'ers war between the lead- • ing bill posting establishments and the theaters of Chicago, 111., has been the cause of cancelling a number of posting contrac's from the Hast No one feels sure whether or not his paper will re- main up one day or a week. President Campbell will be the largest loser on ac- count thereof. It is t»be hoped matters will soon be amicably settled, as Chicago is quite a bill posting center. John Napier, of Utica, N Y , is one of the modern and enterprising members of the craft. Memphis, Tenn., August 20, 1895.. Editor Billboard Advertising. Dear Sir :—Will you kindly pul>li:-h a formula by which paste can be made that can be used for commercial pur- poses and be kept for a long time No doubt if you do not have such re- ceipt, some one of your many read* rs may have a formula, and the discussion of the subject in your paper would prob- ably be of value to the craft. We have no trouble to keep paste for a few days, but have no receipt that will make paste that we can guarantee. Respectfully yours, Memphis Bill Posting Co. We have heard it said that the addi- tion of a small quantity of 'bluestone" will preserve paste indefinitely. Also that a small portion of corrosive subli- mate in each barrel or box of paste, if it has been thoroughly blended, will k eep it from souring. Some bill posters, too, simply depend on keeping the top of the paste level, that is as the paste is used to keep it smooth and even on top. Does any one know anything better. If so we wonld be glad to publish. sjggjj H. R. LONG. H. R. Long, one of the firm of Reese & Long, was born in Scranton, June 30, 1S67, and for a number of years was connected with his father in the furniture business. He began his theatri- cal career in the season of 1890, when he became advertising agent for the Academy of Music In August of 1893, owing to some difficulty with the bill poster, Mr. Long built his own boards and did the bill posting for his house until March 1, 1894, when he and J. G. Reese joined hands and bought out the old bill posting plant. Mr. Long has been a volunteer fireman for over eleven years, and is now foreman of the Popular Crystal Hose Co. of Scranton. It is worthfone's while to see Brother Long drop his "hod" of lithos when the alarm rings. ELDER, JENKS & RABORG ' ISxoelslor 9 Circus Paste BM L POSTERS' BRUSHE Made of Hard Wood heart; b»«t long Russian Bristle*, copper .wiled. The most Ptactical and reliable brush marie. Will not come apart. Used and recommended by Barnum.- Forepaugb and ■ he leading circuses and Bill Posters throughout, tbt United H tales aud Canada, Size u inch. Pr!ce $30.00 per doz. $3.25 Each. Extra Extra for Clrcusta $40 00 per Doz. $4 00 Each. ■tout C. 0.1). to all pans ol the Country ELOER.JENKS&RABQRG Brush Manufacturers 127 N. Fifth Street, Cor. Cherry, PHILADELPHIA. - 11 Distributors Chat. Office of Brown Chemical Co. Annapolis Junction, Md., August 13,1895. BILLBOARD ADVERTISING. Gentlemen :—We are in receipt of your copy for AuKust, and have read same with pleasure- I'lcase send the paper regularly hereafter to our Advertising Office, Annapolis Junction, Md., with '"ill for your subscription. Will you please give us the name of the secre- tary and the headquarters of the American Bill Posters' Association. Referring to your paper we note your editoral remarks advocating distributing being done through bill posters- We have been in this busi- ness for twenty-five years and have earnestly, persistently and consistently tried to do' busi- ness with the bill posters of this country, and shall be only too glad if, through the efforts of your paper, you can bring the bill posters up to the point of conscientious and fair work. We should like to do all our distributing through them, but past experience teaches us that unless they mend their ways and do the work fairly and honestly as directed, we can not give them our business. Recently we selected a list of twenty-five cities in the Southern and Southwestern States, sent our distributing and posting to the bill posters, and shipped at the same time other advertising matter to their care for our agents, who was to call and inspect their work and approve their bills for payment. In a great many cases, owing to the urgent requests of the bill posters, bills were paid before the agents arrived in the cities. You can well understand our chagrin and disap- pointment to have our agents report that in fully fi iteen per cent of the cities visited, quantities of our books which were sent for distribution, and as before said in many coses already paid for. were found lying around the bill posters' offices: showing conclusively, to say nothing of our loss in the value of the Iko'^s which were uot dis- tributed, that the work was carelessly and . wrongfully done. The posting, howtver, in a majority of cases was correctly done.. But in nearly every case the other .'advertising matter sent 'to their care had been opened, mutilated, and our attractive liangers taken off or given away to probably lo.ifing friends, and in one case hi one of the largest cities in the South, it is reported to us th it an agent from a competi- tive house passing along the suburbs of the city saw a bill poster making a fire. Out of curiosity he examined into what he was doing and actu- ally found him burning up a lot of our lithograph- ed sheets which cost us four cents each. If bill posters would do the distributing fairly and honestly as directed, advertisers would be only to glad too give them the work, because by so doing they would save the salaries and ex- penses of the travelers, who are sent out for the purpose of distributing pamphlets and inspect- ing the bill posters' work; and thereby have a great deal more money to spend with the bill posters and in advertising. If we could get a corps of efficient bill posters whom we could rely on in the Southern and Southwestern States, we would put out a million pamphlets four timesa year through them, and be perfectly willing to pay $2 per thousand for house to house distribu- tion, but we doubt exceedingly whethcr.we will ever be able to do this, except by sending our own men over the road. Yours very truly. Brown Chemical Co. Mr. Editor : Since the appearance of your flattering notice »n July and August numbers of billboard ad- vertising of The International Association of Distributors of North America our officers have received a great number of letters of inquirv froin all sections of the country asking for more particulars in regard to that association. The Association is entirely mutual in its work- ings—that is, the interest of one is the interest or all. Its object is to benefit, elevate and protect its members. Its membership is made up of worthy distribu- tors whose character and reliability has been en- dorsed by prominent citizens of their respective towns, and we do not want, and are not seeking for membership, any but honorable men. The unprincipled and dishonorable distributor, those who for selfish purposes have done so much in the past to debase the calling we do not want. Should any such, however, succeed In imposing on our officers and gain entrance to our nuks, their membership will be but temporary, a.* all applications are quietly investigated to prove the genuineness before being presented to our president for his approval, and any deception will be speedily discovered and as thoroughly exposed. Through the Association the reliable adver. User and members are brought together, and as confidence is established the latter is benefited by the work obtained from the former. But so shamefully have many advertisers been imposed upon by unprincipled distributors that the great majority of advertisers are slow about giving work to those who may apply unless recom- mended. It is this difficulty that the Associa- tion removes, and places each of its members be- fore the advertiser as worthy of his confidence. The international character of the Association is shown by a membership from every state and territory in the Union, and from Canada. While its popularity is rapidly on the increase, as is evidenced by the frequent applications for membership, the flattering notices of the press and the many letters received from advertisers, some of them the most prominent in the United States, requesting certified lists of our members from which to select distributors for the coming fall season—and in one of these letters the writer said, after examining many plans, he believed the one pursued by this Association was the more likely to give satisfaction to the advertiser. This Association offers more possibilities to Denver, Colo., August 24, 1895. Editor Billboard Advertising. Dear Sir:— In your valuable publication, issue of August, under "Distributors Chat," the arti- cle you have in that column hits the nail right on the head. I am more Mian pleased to see that you are taking the stand and grounds you have, on the subject of distributing, as surely it needs a good deal of attention, and you can not say or do too much to further the interests of distributing. Last fall the firm of 'Wells, Richardson & Co., Burlington, Vt, had distributing done here and a great many of their pamphlets advertising Paine's Celery were burned, I myself showed some of them to two different commercial agents where the paper was really set on fire and burned, out on Broadway, back of a lot of old buildings. Now that firm not only lost what they paid this distributor for putting out their work, as it was done by boys with no superin- tendent over them, but they also lost the price of what the books cost, and lost the good of what service they would have done if properly distri- buted, and we hope that you will keep on with the good work, and expose to the public parties who do not do their work right and faithfully. Distributing is good advertising, and there is none better, 'when properly done, as it goes posi- tively into the hands of the consumer, and I have no doubt but that the advertiser, as well as the :sffi5** 4 *-fC».iT-*;r«>_? ■-i£h'.SiJK«^iS-C; ■-.-'. , ■'•.'-."••.;; : : '- A DETROIT, MICH. BILLBOARD OWNED BY WALKER & CO. both the distributor and advertiser than any other froni the fact that it does not forget its duty to either. For in protecting its members as distributors, it also protects the advertiser by furnishing him the names of none but reliable men to do his work. And by a union of all bona-fide distributors throughout the country, into an organization such as the International Association is, would finally break down entirely the barriers of dis- trust that now exist on the part of many adver- tisers towards distributors, and rear in their stead confidence and good fellowship, to the in- finite advantage of both. I, therefore, extend to all honest distributors, every where throughout this country 1 an invitation to unite -with us in building and insuring the permanent establish- ment of an organization, whose influence for the benefit, elevation and protection of its members, will be second to none in this country, no mat- ter of what tra de or profession the other may be In union there is strength, and with a united brotherhood of bona-fide distributors, each with the motto, 'Terseverance, Honesty and So- briety," as his guide, the result of our efforts to gain the confidence of the advertising public will be only limited by the confidence we inspire in those who are our patrons Aug. 16, 1895. W. H. S. distributors and bill posters throughout the United States, will praise you for the good work that your valuable publication is doing. Yours very truly, James A. Cu&ran. A small boy, who was giving out circulars on Sixth avenue, handed me seventeen at once. "I shall report you," said I severely. He stuck out his tongue and ran around the corner, shedding circulars at every step. Moral: Do. your advertising in the .news papers. Polly Fry. Readers—'What do you think of this, clipped from a New York newspaper of August 17th. I infer the lady was right in her story, but the moral is plain. "Have youi circular distributed by reliable men not boys." Reliable distributors should join the Interna tional Association of Distributors of North America. One member in every county of the United States wanted. For particulars send two cent stamp to Thos. K. Durboraw, Brandy Sta- tion, Va. BUFFALO CHIPS. Editor Billboard Advertising : A funny thing- happened here in an advertise- ing way not long ago. An embryo advertiser wished to put on the market a new brand of potato chips, and thought he would drop the name they are generally known by and call them Buffola chips, but after he got his posters up, some friend who once lived out West ex- plained to him what a Buffalo chip was, and the disgusted man went back to Saratoga. To fully appreciate the predicament' of the gentleman one ought to talk with a fellow who crossed the plains in early days. * » * The advent of Buffalo Bill and his Wild West aggregation on the 19th and 20th. and the great crowds that thronged to see him was a glowing tribute to the posters, the press and the popu- larity of this brave border hero. Nearly 100,- 000 pleased people patronized the performances, and they were drawn there by the finest work in advertising ever witnessed, the paper put out was excellent, the posters and lithographs were everywhere, but the press agent should receive : the largest share of merited praise—his nerve was superb. *** The character and extent of the circulation of Billboard Advertising surprised a Fuffalo concern that had a little ad in your last issue. The replies came in so thick and fast, and from such a wide range of territory, that one of the firm expressed himself to me thusly: "I'd like to say that that paper is out of sight, but on thinking of my mail I can't, so I guess I'd better say its strictly in it as an advertising dissemina- tor." *** The Adage, of this city; is getting out a Postal Bulletin designed as a hanger for country post offices, and for public places in cities. It can be issued at a small cost, and as it has twenty spaces on the sides for advertisements, in the hands of a truster it is a money making scheme. Distributors and bill posters who are good on soliciting, or who think they are, should send them a stamp for sample. *** The big heart of the bill poster is proverbial, and vre are proud of the generous act of Charles M. Whitmeir, of the Buffalo bill posting firm of Whitmeir & Filbrick. Out near his country seat the zealous people of Brocton wished for an or*an for their Sundry school, and our good natured philanthropist came forward with $25 to start the fund. *** Printers' Ink, the New York journal for ad- vertisers is printing weekly a prize advertise- ment written in praise of that petite but piquant publication, and judging by the mediocrity of the four that have appeared some of the hill posters who slung their quills so gracefully in your last number would stand a good chance of winning. A sterling silver case is to be present- ed Christmas to the one who is thought to have written the bestad of all *.* The greatly improved appearance and the large advertising patronage displayed in your August issuewas thecauseof much favorable comment among the craft, in the printeries and by nearly everybody I met on a little trip to the Metropolis last week. And don't you forget it, those New Yorkers are sharp enough to discern a good hing when they see it. One bill poster said to me there was no kick coming on that kind of a paper, it was a good representative of the biz. Just what he meant I don't know, but may be the boys do. MARGIE. Buffalo, N. Y., August 27, 1S95. During the past month we have received a large number of letters from distributors, rela- tive to circulars received from so-caUed distribut- ing associations who guarantee work. Weave now investigating these companies, and in our next issue will give our readers the benefit of our information. . The Derma-Royate Company of Covington, Ky. and the Akron Chemical Company of Akron, O., are getting out large quantaties of distributing matter. § /VlbapyQity Bill po$tii^o, J. Ballard Carroll, Manager. Alt reliable distributors should hazv their names in our Classified Column, but each advertiser must send the proper re/ereuce before his ad. is inserted. 35 Beaver Street, ALBANY, N. Y.