The automobile was still in its infancy, and the United States was no where near as dependant on oil as it is 100 years later in 2009. H. C. Phelps was a master of persuasive advertising, encouraging his customers to “cut out the middleman” and buy directly from him via the United States Postal Service.
Purchasers of the 1910 model were assured they were getting the up-to-date models, not shopworn ones that had sat in third party displays waiting to be sold. Even then, this mode of transportation had its “lemons” it seems.
Can’t you just imagine your ancestors excitement when their new well-built buggy arrived at the post office? With 125 styles to choose from, it would have taken all winter just to decide which one to buy!
Source: Learn more about “The Carriage Trade” by Thomas A. Kinney at Google Book Search.
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Paula Hawk\\\´s last blog post..Kreativ Blogger Award
Thanks Paula, I appreciate the recognition. I don’t usually have time to participate in memes, etc. but I did put you in my blogroll.
Twitter: webduck
I remember seeing an ad similar to this as a clip out in one of my great grandmother’s scrap books. I don’t remember the company offering the deal but I know it was quite similar to this one. Later this week I am going to inquire about it. I believe her father bought one of these things and to my recollection she said it was of poor quality. Regards!
I think it’s fascinating to see how much advertising has stayed the same. I mean, how they priced things, the “come on” and inducements, etc. I guess they had shoddy workmanship even in the “olden days”.
Twitter: webduck