I'm a Specialist Sung by Frank Crumit (1931)

The 2020 Corona Virus has caused a simple thing like TOILET PAPER to become worth it's weight in gold. This little song from 1931 reminds us how lucky we are to even have indoor plumbing!

A Store That Is No More: Ames Department Stores

A Store That Is No More:  Ames Department Stores

Empty Ames store in Seabrook, NH (3/27/11)

Founded: 1958
Bankrupt: 2001
Stores Closed: 2002

From the Ames website in 1996:  "It all began in 1958 when two Connecticut brothers, Milton and Irving Gilman, opened their first store in the closed Ames Worsted Textile Co. mill in Southbridge, MA. Since then, Ames has grown into the nation's fifth-largest discount retailer with annual net sales of $2.1 billion. "

From the Ames website in 1998:  "Ames' original business strategy was radical: bring discounting to the underserved smaller towns and rural areas of the Northeast. Ames’ broad product mix, discount pricing and convenient shopping hours were enormously popular with customers.

Ames’ success spurred an aggressive growth period from 1978-1988. Combining a new store building program with acquisitions of other discount chains such as Neisner Brothers, Kings and G.C. Murphy, Ames grew to 450 stores by 1985.

The 1988 acquisition of the 392-store Zayre discount division, however, brought a sharp reduction in profitability, and Ames filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in April 1990.

After successfully emerging from bankruptcy on December 30, 1992, the company returned to profitability in fiscal 1993 and operating performance has continued to improve.

Under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph R. Ettore, a 36-year retailing veteran, management is focusing on targeted expansion (Ames acquired 155 Hills stores in December 1998); maintaining a customer-friendly environment with appealing merchandise presentations, customer service, and strict chainwide operational and financial controls."

From the Ames website in 2001:  "Ames is a regional, full-line discount retailer with an associate base of 21,500 and annual sales of approximately $2.7 billion. Ames operates 327 stores in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West"

An AMES price tag on a Matchbox car

Robert Murphy Knife Company Ad 1936 - Ayer Massachusetts

This is a 1936 ad for Robert Murphy's knife company of Ayer, Massachusetts.  This company moved to Ayer in 1906, and stayed there until they were bought by Dexter-Russell in 2018. The Ayer factory was then closed after 112 years.  As of January 2020, the building is still standing next to the ex-Boston & Maine railroad crossing at 13 Groton-Harvard Rd, with new owners who are rehabbing it.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers Ad 1901

Smith & Wesson Revolvers ad from 1901... 118 years later, S&W is still headquartered in Springfield Massachusetts!  

The 1903 Crestmobile... Only $750!

Back in 1903, you could buy a Crestmobile for just $750.  Adjusted for inflation, that would be approximately $21,160 today.  While this ad does not say where their factory was, their main office was at 193 Broadway, Cambridge MA.  I wasn't able to pinpoint #193 on modern maps, but finally located it on a 1930 atlas (marked with a red star).  

NECCO Wafers... and Pineapple Loaf? (1921)

The recent history of Necco (New England Confectionery Company) is a sad example of business in Boston (where, in my humble opinion, physical real estate is worth more than lost manufacturing jobs, rail infrastructure, and history), but many Americans are still familiar with Necco Wafers, which were originally invented in 1845 and brought under the Necco banner after the company was formed in 1901.

As we can see in this 1921 ad, in addition to the famous wafers, Necco also offered a Pineapple Loaf, consisting of "wedges of juicy ripe pineapple imbedded in cream... chocolate coated". 

Both could be had for 5 cents.