Larkin Company Trade Catalog, "My Larkin Clubs Earned These for Me," circa 1912

Summary

John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.

John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.

Artifact

Trade catalog

Date Made

circa 1912

Subject Date

circa 1912

Creators

Larkin Co. 

Place of Creation

United States, New York, Buffalo 

Creator Notes

Published by the Larkin Company in Buffalo, New York.

Collection Title

Trade Catalog Collection 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

87.3.53.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Ink
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 16 in

Width: 10.125 in

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