The billboard (Jan-June 1899)

THE BILLBOARD Hi t§ rif lit |41 I' ■ U.i ■ i*f' ill B Who 'Tis Items. March. 1899. As I am in receipt of a great many inqui- ries through the mail in regard to "The Dis- tributer^ League." of New York City, I have investigated same as far as possible, and have obtained, possession of a list of their mem- bers, examined it very carefully, and find that they have not the name and address of one prominent man in the business. In fact. I have never heard of any of the persons whose names appear in this list. They are all new ones. The list may be genuine, but 1 doubt it. As far as the reliability of "The League" is concerned, I believe that any one who pays them money will only waste toe amount expended. There are numerous other concerns that advertise for distributors, and all that I have ever investigated have oroven to be rank frauds. Distributors should steer clear of all such. In the first place they are what distributers call a "one man's con- cern," and are of no benefit to any one ex- cepting the projector. Why do they not give their names instead of the titles of "Distrib- utor's League," or "Advertising Bureau," and many other names under which they choose to sail? Their members have nothing to say in regard to how the business should be conducted. There is no account given of how the money is spent. There are no con- ventions held. .No one knows now much money is received within the year, or wheth- er it has been spent in the interest of the members. If I were a distributor, I would not join any crganization in whien I could not have a voice or something to say regard- ing the disposal of the money paid into .the treasury. I should want to help elect the officers or managers of the concern. During a conversation with one of the prominent ad- vertisers of the United States the other day, I asked him what he thought of these differ- ent concerns. He saidr "Whenever we re- ceive a list of members outside of the I. A. D., first we file it away with what we call the "suckers" list." The expression is strong enough to warn any one not to tamper with any of the concerns referred to. ' Geo. Kellermann. of Edwardsvilie, 111., re- ports that he has made contracts with six different firms. Mr. Kellermann Is one of the recent additions to the I. A. D.', and from information received regarding- him, we feel sore that advertisers who have contracted with him will get the best of service. I notice in the March issue of "The Bill- hoard" that Mr. George W. Vansyckle, Man- ager of one of the best known advertising agencies in the United States, gives Will A. Molton, of Cleveland. O.. a pretty bard "rap on the knuckles." Mr. Vansyckle fully un- derstands how to "get back" at an opponent. He also has a reputation of being among the best hustlers in the business. John Morrow & Co.. of Springfield. O., are making a house-to-house distribution of their advertising matter in Cincinnati; also a large number of window displays. The dis- tribution is practically a test of what house- to-house distributing can accomplish without the assistance of any other advertising. I inquired of one of tbe leading druggists here the other day. and be informed me that h? was having quite a number of calls for "KID-NE-OIDS." and that the indications were favorable for a good sale on same. Secretary Steinbrenner states that he has every reason to believe that the attendance at the coming convention of the L A. D. will be the largest gathering of advertisers and distributors ever brought together. He says that he will push tbe Association in the in- terest of the members, and will send out a thousand invitations to advertisers through- out the United States. As advertisers are very much interested in the I. A. D.'s method of doing business, they will undoubtedly ac- cept the invitation, and if impossible to at- tend personally, they will send a representa- tive. Mr. Chas. Bernard, representing the I. A. D. at Charleston. S. C. reports that they are already getting the advertiser interested in their service at that point. -Mr. Bernard is a thorough business man. and knows bow to get the attention of all possible patrons. I predict that he will make it very interesting for his competitors, and that it will be but a short time until he will practically control everything at Charleston. Mr. Rudolph Bauroth. official corresoondent of "The New York Pharmaceutical Era" for Cincinanti, is a bright, intelligent young man. The Cincinnati news is verv iatorestln" giving ail the latest drug news that it is pas- sible to obtain. The Excelsior Advertising Co.. of New York City, is looking for "suckers." Distributors will please take notice and save their dollars. The above named firm is a rank fake Mr. H. A. Taylor, of Oil City. Pa., is call- Ling tbe attention of the advertisers to his ■ having Joined the I. A. D.. with the following 'well written appeal: Office of H. A. TAYLOR. BILL POSTER. TACKER & DISTRIBUTOR Oil City, Pa.. March 6, 1899. To My Prospective Patrons: Having been elected a member of the In- ternational . Association of Distributors, and as the services of its members are guaran- teed by this Association. I solicit your work for this section. I will personally attend to all work. My prices are very reasonable for this hilly locality. My motto isr "Honest Work at Honest Prices." The population of Oil City and burroughs is 20,000, and 3.000 pieces will cover the resi- dence portion. My bill boards are in the most conspicuous places in the city. Kindly .put me on your list' Write me for terms. ■ H. A. TAYLOR. Blizzard Block. Oil City. Pa. It might be well for other recruits to get out something similar. Mr. Jos. Iioyii. Third and Broadwuy, Kay- ton. O., representative of Williams Bros.' "9 O'clock Tea." for tbe State of Ohio, will sample all the towns and cities in Ohio this season, and. would be pleased to hear from distributors. He has been furnished with an I. A. D. list. Don't rorget the place anil date of the next convention of International Association of Distributors. Cincinnati. July 18-2IV. at the Emery Hotel. I notice that there has been a vast' im- provement in house-to-house distributing in Cincinnati this season. I find that certain parties who had formerly been.- doing very poor work have improved their services very much. It is about time that these distrib- utors realized that they must do good work in order to hold patronage in Cincinnati as one certain agency does about nine-tenths of the work, and by their good service will scon have all of it. I will mention no names, as this is not intended for a free "'ad.'" "Messrs. Kearns &.Strong, cf Ann Arbor Mich., recent additions to the I. A. D.. have Just made a canvas cf the business houses in their city, advertising the fact that taey had become members of the I. A. D., and that their services were 'guarantee!.. .While out in the suburbs the other day I chanced to come across a boy distributing a circular. The boy was doing the wcrk faith- fully , and- bonesUjv.and .-thj 8 --beiBg--8 iH .*--H-- rare occurrence. I thought the matter should receive mention. • strongly, and my word for It. you will win in the end. Substitution will scon bn a thing of the past. The I. A. D. revised list will be mulled to advertisers promptly on April 1st. Mr. Chas. Bernard, bill poster ut Savannah, flu., and Charleston. S. C. has established a circuit of towns in the South for which lie solicits work and sublets to the bill posters and distiibutors. Mr. Steinbrenner handed mo the instructions for distributing which Mr. Bernard sends out. saying. "1 consider these instructions as the best I liuve ever seen, and any one who could not follow them should never attempt distributing. The In- structions read as follows: DISTRIBUTING. This is a dilTcrciit class of advertising from bill posting, but is equally as Important and should be done with the same care and at- tention. Distributing means the placing of circulars, books, samples, etc.. in residences, tenements. Hats and all places occupied by families or individuals who would be l'." r to c-e or purchase the goods so advertised: if the matter you are to distribute is books, circulars or printed matter of any kind bo very careful to carry in a bag or basket so it will not be soiled or damaged; take the first street on one side of town and go from house to house: work each street and cross ..street-in rotation, uutil- you have completed the town: do not miss a single house or fam- ily, only leave one piece, (book or whatever P. B. OLIVEX The following rates for sign tacking is is- sued by the Illinois State Bill Posters' Asso- ciation, which we think is all right: CARD AND TIN .TACKING. 4x8 to 5x14. equals TO square inches,. 1 cent each. equals 108 square inches, l'A equals 144 square inches, 2 equals 180 square inches, 2>i 5x14 to 6x18. cents each. 5x18 to 6x24, cents each. 6x24 to 6x30, cents each. 6x30 to 12x18, equals 216 square- Inches. ?. cents each. _ For odd work figure, price nearest to above in square inches. Tacks to be furnished by the advertiser. CLOTH BANNER SIGNS. 7x6 to 14x11. 154 square inches. 2 cents each. 14x6 to 21x28, 588 square inches, 3 cents each. In a conversation with a druegist t**e ctb*»r ' day, I purposely drifted on the subject of substitution, asking him the question: "Do you substitute as much as ever?" He prompt- ly replied: "No; the advertisers are educat- ing the people to take nothing but what they call for: consequently, we find it very diffi- cult to persuade them that something else is 'just as good, or better.' Besides this, some persons become very indignant when told this, and we thereby loBe a customer." Now. Mr. Advertiser, when writing your circulars be sure to touch on this point of substitution it may be) at each house, unless there be more than one family, then one to each fam- ily: if the door or window is open, caret! put it inside, or if closed, slip under door or in mail box or back of door knob, so it will fall Inside when the door Is opened: If any occupant of the house appears in sight hand it to them, politely requesting them to look it over, or at least make a pleasant remark that will leave a good Impression: in passim; through gates or doors invariably close and fasten just as you find them. Never under any circumstance throw a single piece of advertising matter on the street, sidewalk, lawn or any place where It will blow swpv or be trampled in tbe dirt; never hand to peo- ple on the streets or to children: after you have worked the residences thoroughly, watch all the farmera wagons and put one In each wagon under edge of cushion or in some po- sition where it will not blow away and will be noticed. Never put any In the business houses unless you are specially instructed to do so. then lay them on the counter or hand to some occupant of the nlnce, never throw on the floor or on steps in doorway. If you have samples to distribute, such as soan, baking nowder.. stove nollsh. pills and vari- ous kinds of goods, which is a method now adopted by many manufacturers to Introduce and advertise their goods, you will get special instructions In most chkph how the samples are to be distributed, but In all cases ob- serve these general rules: Samples should Invariably be handed to sonio grown person In tho house, never to children, especially If It be samples of pills or medicine or any kind: work the streets In rotation same as with books or circulars, do not mil* a house or a family, but Instead of the front door go to the side or rear door, knock and when the lady •if the house or servant appears politely hand them the sample. Inform them in a pleasant manner what the article Is and Unit you have been requested to bring them a sample hop- ing they will give It a fair trial; always be polite and pleasant, If you meet with re- buff or objections take It pleasantly, endeav- or to deliver tbe sample and your mission Is completed. Alter you have made several illa- ti ibutions In your town your visits will bu welcomed, you will learn just how many fam- ilies theie arc In each house, how many cir- culars, books or samples you need to thor- oughly cover tbe town wltbout wasting any. Take a personal interest In tbe results that your distributing will bring, find out what merchants, diug stores or other business places sell tbe goods that you are advertis- ing, tell the merchants when you make a bittiibuiion to advertise some article.they handle, please notice the results and tell you whether the distribution creates a demand fur the article, if they acknowledge a bene- fit endeavor to get a testimonial letter which you can show to advertisers who may hett- tate to try your services. Remember that at all limes your work is subject to inspection and that one careless or bad job or distribut- ing is almost sure to be discovered and will luin your future business. Tacking up tin signs, cards and banners is also a branch of your business which requires careful atten- tion, Caids, signs, etc., that are to be tacked up. should be put on tbe outside of stores where the goods are sold, on fences and otber public locations along traveled streets and highways: they should always be placed above the reach of boyB who seem to delight in tearing down all tbac can be reached. These rules will apply to bill posting and dis- tiibuting generally, but are issued and ex- pressly apply to each and every contract made by The Bernard Advertising Service, and it is distinctly understood and agreed upon that any neglect of duty laid dawn in these rules or any waste ot advertising mat- ter or failure to comply with directions for posting or distilbutlug will void payment of any claim for services on such contract. CHAS. BERNARD. Messrs. M. P. Sprenger. of Poughkeepsle. N. Y.. and Chas. A. Chapman, of St. Johns- bury. Vt., recently made application and were accepted as members of the I. A. of D. The Secretary informs me that he has never dur- ing his term of office had more satisfactory reports regarding applicants than those gen- tlemen. Letters came in thick and fast from prominent business men and very favorable regarding Mr. Sprenger. and one party in re- ferring to Mr. Chapman declares that "were advertisers to look a hundred years, they could not obtain a better or more honest man to do their work in St. Johnsbury than Mr. Chas. A. Chapman." The I. A. of D. is daily adding good material to tbe already long list, which now numbers over four hun- dred, and when a member is found not to be worthy of a place with the others he is drop- ped, and no further attention is paid. him. Is this not a proof that the Association is rapidly mounting the ladder of success? Tbe following new members have been added since Mnreh li't: L. G. Jones. Anniston, Ala. iiatesville Advertising Co.. Batesvllle. Ind. Ed. R. Thuston. Union City. Ind. John Winkelraan, Columbus, Neb. M. F. Sprenger, Poughkeepsle. N. Y. George W. Blake, Nstrona. Pa. fhas. A. Chapman, St. Johnsbury, Vt. Tho*. Pierce, Dyersburg, Tenn. Marinette & Menominee Bill Posting Co.. Merinette. Wfc. J. W. Palmer. West Superior. Wis. Tbe strong feature of the booklet distrib- uted from houRe to bouBe is Its freedom from environing advertisements. The advertiser has his reader's entire attention—has it ex- clusively, for the time being—just as much, test as fully as if he was face to face with him, engaged In conversation. - This feature of the booklet is of far more Importance than the casunl advertiser Is willing to concede. It can not be over-emphasized or dwelt upon at too great length. Get the booklet Into the house. Thereafter whoever picks It up gives you his or her un- divided attention. This latter you hold as long as you interest—to the end. If you ha>e written well and Illustrated graphically. Every distributor who can possibly spnre the time and monev should attend the meet- ing of the I. A. of I), at Cincinnati, July 18 21) next. The meeting will be held In the large banquet room of the Hotel Emery, .which Mnnnger l.nke Hunt has tendered for the occasion. The officers of the Aswclatlon par- ticularly want unattached distributors to. at- tend this meeting. I. H. THOMAS, of Tltusvlllo, Pa.. Is highly recommended. A very useful novelty In the shape of a mailing esse will soon be placed on the rnnr- ket by THE SAMPLE ORDER AND COIV MAILING CAHD CO.. of Albany. N. Y. Mell order houses and advertiser* who dis- tribute samples will find It a great boon. The Right Hon. James Ilrlce, M. P., in a recent address at the University College. Llv- ernool. suggested a systematic training in what he called "The Art and Mystery of Ad- '•"Hislne-." Among other things hr» said: "Advertising has now become so extremely Important a part of our commercial life, that It would be very derlrable If something could be done to reduce It to a science, so as to enable the young merchant to know In what way his money expended for advertising could be used to tho grentesl advantage, 4 OIMSTMINT • CONOUCTID IT A Sign Painters' Organization The tliue will hardly ever come when the sign painters of the United States will organ- ize Into a permanent and representative buoy. There have been suveial attempts made, but all have, like tho last attempt, resulted In rallure. The chairmanship of the propdsed alliance was uot.of my seeking, nor had 1 any part in appointing the. committee-of hi - luugeinents.. .When 1 was. appointed chair- man, although it'was against my "vUhes. I concluded to see if anything could be. done, but soon found but that it was one of those Impossibilities. None of the leading men. such, as "Hale, O'Brien, etc.." were tnteraste 1 In it. The persons who only teemed to tie-- interested were boys Just starting out. and bums who ihought that It would increase their chances of getting work. I hardly thought It possible, nor. do 1 think it ever will be possible to organize the sign pointers. There must be a use for an organization, or there must be an object to accomplish before an organization "of men Interested in attain- ing that object. Sign painting Is a trade in which there is more or less skill exhibited, and if an organization is to be effected for the purpose of regulating wages, it will be a flat failure, for sign painters employed rv a contracting master are usually paid accord- ing to their ability. What it would be so- daily is all there, is in .an organization. Notes. Of late there has been a great deal of paint talk going the rounds about that old sign at Harper's Feny. All who read paint lit- erature know all about it. So there is no use repeating it. The society who published the item received a number of letters from men claiming that tbey or a friend painted it. and also that they knew the peculiar composition that has withstood the ravages of time and weather for 40 years. The secret, of course, was for sale, :prov!ded -a- price would be: al- lowed, that their dignity would allow them to accept, and was commensurate with the worth-of. the product. Nothing wrong about, this. It was a legitimate business proposi- tion: The funny part of it' was, they all lo- cated the sign at Historical Harper's Ferry. Va., while the Harper's Ferry In question is a small town In Illinois, not far. from Chi- cago. Figures won't lie, they say; but liars will sometimes figure. Hlnney & Smith are making a paint which is particularly intended for stenciling on cloth. This paint is made in several colors. It Is ground In some kind of oil in paste form, but possesses the peculiar characteristic of mixing with water. Besides its use as a ' stencil paint it may be used for a variety of purposes by the sign writer. It makes an excellent paint for scenery, and for show cards and for all signs that are not too much' exposed, to the climate. Don't ask us how it Is made, for we don't know; the prepara- tion being a secret with the manufactur- ers. Every sign painter has a stumbling blork. In that there are one or more letters of-the alphabet which are difficult ror him to make. The only way to overcome this deficiency is to practice on the letters until he gets them. The best and quickest way to learn sign painting Is to have u board in his shoti in the shape, of ,a bulletin board and practice on It with water colors. Some essay to learn letter forming on a,small surface with a -peu- '•H- While something may be learned in this manner: yet by practicing on a full- Hzed board he becomes, acquainted with the actual work, In tlze, and also In coloring. A little iwell directed practice on the full- Hzed board will do more for the,student in gaining an expertness than any amount of pencil practice. NOTICE—On account of so much other work, the Exemplar Sign Works arc not. at present, advertising letter patterns. How- ever, we continue to fill orders. It is not our Intention to drnn the buMtu»«s. Hence If ""y""" wants patterns, their orders will be filled promptly. Mr. Lew C, Hill, an expert on brushes. M>ys. brushes.should imver be put in wuter before they arc used. In fact, they should not be. put In water at all. Do what we will we cannot change the character of the brls- lies. Th.y arc porous, and it Is dangerous lo put- a brush Into water and allow it to soak up a lot of.water, they put It in water and seal up the pnres. lie mys more brushes (ire spoiled by the mistaken notion that palm- ers have of soaking them In water before lin- ing, th nil by any other cause. If the -hair In a brush, becomes loose, lay It In a damp Place for c few days when It will gcn-rei>- come alright. Never wash a brush with an aiKaii water. When a brush Is stamped "jet with glue, keep out of water." do as the directions say. Hevrry one should know thai water will rotten and oentiiclly dissolve vl <■ nnd yet people put brushes Hint are set with glue In writer and expect them to hold. A very nice way to keep brushes In good con- dition after being used Is to fill thorn wlin •ill; then wrap them In a piece of bladder nil cloth, rubben or some air tight material. A correspondent writes to know where to "Viiiii * , , ntt *; Ume described In last month's "Hlboard f,for making scrolls, etc. Jf there m such a tool manufactured, you will find It ill any general dealer in art and decorative The BiLLBOAftb materials, or they will gel it for tlicm. Call on-or-write, to'your'.'nearest, art material deal- er. ......' The llcsh color prepared by painters is the one that Is made by mixing English vermil- ion and French ochre. Yellow nn violet always presents a strik- ing appearance. So does gold leaf on a vio- let ground. The following are llaney's ruleB for let- ter Ing: (1.) Perpendicular and horizontal lines with their angles mutt be parallel. (2.) Curves must hold the same proportional relation *.o each other. 13.) Spaces between lines must be uniform and in ■■ proportion to the size and length of the lints. (5.1 The heaviest part of the curves should be a little heavier in the center of the swell than perpendiculars, as a Roman G at the swell of the sides Is heavier than tbe ooay of an I. They should always extend a little ImIow. and very slightly above the lines. («.) A true and well-proportioned Roman letter should have the main body four times as wide as the stems, or projecting points, and the length four times as long as the body .Is'" wide-; 17.) 131oi-k letters should have the horizon- tal and angular blocks a little narrower than the ptrpendlt ular ones. (8.) The Egyptian or' Gothic blocks are gov- erned by the same rules as the square blocks, except that they arc made without any pro- jecting- sums. (9.) Fancy letters must be governed by the I'lineiples of the standard letters after which they are modeled, and the most perfect way to make a fancy letter, for the beginner, is to first make a standard. Roman, block or Cothic. and then rub out and add. still pre- serving the general outline or character, and thus alter to any ornamental shape that may please the eye. r As quite a number of bill posters and dis- tiibutors use letter patterns, it seems well that they should have scnie instructions in their use. as a number are not sign painters, nor do they claim to be. A slant pattern, one that inclines either to the right or left may be used In two ways. One way is to draw them on a straight horizozntal line, in this wise they will lean. Another way is to draw them on a straight line extending diagonally across the Eurface. If the letters slant to the rieht. this line should be drawn commencing toward the left" hand bottom corner and ex- tending toward the rieht u"ner corner If the top of the letters lean to the left, the posi- tion of the line on which they rest should be reversed: beginning at the left hand upner corner and extending diagonally toward the right hand lower corner. The degree of ob- liqueness of this line is always determined bv the degree of slant of the letter. To get this line correct, determine about where vou want it. and take a full letter, such as H. L. K. etc.. and place it so the unrteht bars or lines will be perfectly perpendicular. This will make the ton and bottom of the letter slant- ing. Then take the chalk line and nlaee In such a position as to give the slant shown by the top or bottom of the letter, and snan a line diagonally acrrss the board. If-the slant of the letters are alt*alike, as they should h". by placing them so that all parts of th<-ir bottoms will touch this diagonal line will make the upright line perpendicular alid tin- tops and bottoms slanting. If the tides of straight, full letters, such as I. M, II the left side of K and u. etc.. are not straight up and down, when the edge of their bottoms are placed so as to touch the line all along there is something wrong. The line is not drawn at the right angle or the letters do not all stand alike. Or course, the tides of A V. Y, W. and such letters, the sides will not be perpendicular, but they should be plactd ?° a l' •£*■'£ PO'" 1 " at the bottom will just touch the line, they will come all right if cut right. Shading in perspective Is easily done. After the letter is outlined, slip the pattern cithi r to the right or left; which ever side you wish to shade. Also slip it down about as far as It extends to the side. Some make the side and bottom shades even. Others make the bottom shade the wider. Either is correct for the shade depends on the thickness of the board from which the letters are supposed to be cut. and the position of the person by wbomthe supposed letter cut from the board Is viewed. Shading letters is then imitating with paint, a letter cut from a block of wood. It is not so. some writers will say. how the light would strike it. but how the observer sees it. To illustrate this, cut out a letter say from an inch board, and place it on th« wall higher than your head. By standing at one side of it you would only see one tide- edge, or one bottom edge of the lines togeth- er with all the face. You can put yourself in such a position that the side edge will show broader than the bottom edge, and vice versa After the pattern Is placed in position for shading mark the outside edge of each line only. Not Just the outside, or the portion of the edge which fails beyond the face of the letter, but the outside edge or all the lines. I he middle stem of such letters as R p H etc. will be shaded. Then connect the ends of the lines by a line drawn diagonally to the extreme corners of the letter. When the let- ters are curved on any part, trace the curve rf the shade with tbe pattern so the lino touches the face. Never cress a line when drawing an outline for the shade places; the Cotton U« It- Kansas City, Ft Scott •& Memphis'and Iron-Mountain Kail- roads. ■ ' ■ "Our work, though artistically executed and well done, can be had at a nominal price If you have auy such advertising in this sec- tion we will be glad to coirespund with you Very truly yours. "CRESCENT SIGN CO." Sign Painters. Anton C. Fry. of the Scioto Sign Co.. Ken- ton, O.. was a "Billboard" caller March 3 Mr Fry was in quest of a hustling solicitor to handle brs line of advertising novelties in Cincinnati. JULIAN CHURCHILL, of Avon. III., wants the address of Chas. J. Strong, a sign painter, last heard of in Cincinnati. E. E. Roberts, of Clinton. la., makes wall E1 . s ".?. and advertising a specialty. He says I like "The Billboard" verv much and it ■s always a. welcome visitor at my shop." THE CRESCENT SIGN CO.. of Jonesboro Ark., are soliciting work from National ad- veitlsers with the following circular letter- "Gentlemen—It may be of some Interest to you to know that we are prepared to paint all kinds of signs on bill Doaros and that we have some of the finest locations In this and adjeinrng counties. "Among our locations may be mentioned the junctions of several railroads at several The Longest Billboard In the World, so It Is Claimed. kin X P"? 1 ! 8 " * Photograph of the longest bill board in the world on this page It dc- , n £!. ,t \. tne Amerta B»I Posting Company °f .K! tt S >m l- a,,a is loeateo * °" Second Ave at the Tenth street bridge, in that city It is 1260 feet long and 10 feet high, and has a capacity of 1440 sheets of paper. It is on fr,-*"."' 8 ?* Iine aud il '» claimed (justly, we LoaVd' inlhe w^orM. '-^V^^t-Hne bill At the time it was photographed it bore the largest stand in the world. In regard to thlt ttand. popular James Geary, the well-known thowman writes as follows- ""««n „Z5f/ mer . l,an Bi " Posting Company re- ?hf if „^ e . to Blve you Stalls pertaining to the stand of paper put up by them for Pick- ering's Furniture House. The pictorial paper E«™ U „ rDiED S d £ y W - J - Morgan; the type P b^ ?„™ ga ." * Co ' As "^rds to the idea. I James Geary formerly manager or theaters Pa? U ™°, k" Y "-Toronto. Cari: Pittsburg! Pa.. Columbus, O.; Allegheny. Pa;; Ft Wayne. Ind.: Grand Rapids. Mich.: Geary's Co. Circus. Geary's Stock Co.. etc.. and now ' Co., Pittsburg. Fa., suggested to post the largest stand or paper in the world. To give you a slrght idea of the volume of business Four years ago Pickering was rated'as the sixth furniture house in this city. At that time my theater at Ft. Wayne. Ind was destroyed by fire and I went broke i w! t r w a k. en .k U f b ., m0 . ney to set ,0 P'ttEbnrg. f thought that if show ideas were infused into mercantile Ife it would win. I commenced to work for Pickerings on a week's trial. C D.- Hammond gave me a bucket of paste and one cuire of blank paper. I knew nothing about sign painting (a fellow being broke will take desperate chances). ; started out on the outskirts. During, the day I posted some ten »^^ V ? P»* sheets." With my little brush and paint pot 1 marked (not painted) "YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD AT PICKERIN^s-TOR- MTURE AND CARPETS. COR. TENTH * PENN AVE.. PITTSBURG." WellI It wal ^?k » Ut J" ad a i ew show gags mixed up with It, such as: "You can't play in my yard unless you buy from Pickering:" "Just tell «.*!? that you saw me at Pickering's." etc Well, that was four years ago. To-day Pick- ering has three regular painters. We have more fences and dead walls than all other advertisers combined. One regular bill poster doing country work. The American Bill Port- ing Company generally nut out two thout'and sheets spring and fall, listed SO and BO days We also do the city and all burgs within a ladlus of fifty miles of Pittsburg, wi^h .-i courier 300.900 each spring. 20O.fluo each f»ll PHI boards, printer's ink and pai"t have placed Pickering's Furniture House the lead- er Hi Its line. I THE LONGEST BILLBOARD IN THE WORLD. Property of the American Billpostfog Company, Pitfcburg, Pa.