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- Trade Card for Furniture and Carpet Store, Rudden's Instalment House, 1870-1900 - In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.

- 1870-1900
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for Furniture and Carpet Store, Rudden's Instalment House, 1870-1900
In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- Advertising Poster, "Ford- I Bought It Today the R&L Way," circa 1925 - In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. Manufacturers quickly adopted the new poster style to advertise their products. This poster promotes the R&L Time Payment Plan to buy a Ford Model T vehicle. A novel concept, the National Bond & Investment Company probably offered its time payment plan through Ford dealerships.

- circa 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Poster, "Ford- I Bought It Today the R&L Way," circa 1925
In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. Manufacturers quickly adopted the new poster style to advertise their products. This poster promotes the R&L Time Payment Plan to buy a Ford Model T vehicle. A novel concept, the National Bond & Investment Company probably offered its time payment plan through Ford dealerships.
- Advertisement for the 1925 Ford Model T, "Within the Means of Millions" - This advertisement, showing factory workers going home from work in their Ford Model T automobiles, illustrates the democratizing effect this low-priced car had on American society. By pricing the car well under $1000 in 1908, then regularly lowering the price -- to a surprising $290 by 1925 -- Henry Ford had brought the automobile within the reach of ordinary Americans.

- 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for the 1925 Ford Model T, "Within the Means of Millions"
This advertisement, showing factory workers going home from work in their Ford Model T automobiles, illustrates the democratizing effect this low-priced car had on American society. By pricing the car well under $1000 in 1908, then regularly lowering the price -- to a surprising $290 by 1925 -- Henry Ford had brought the automobile within the reach of ordinary Americans.
- Advertising Poster, "Have Fun with a Ford- Pay While you Play," circa 1925 - In 1913, new car financing became possible with the start of sales finance companies. Car manufacturers realized the opportunity to broaden their market and sell cars to consumers using credit. Henry Ford resisted selling Model Ts on credit, which created opportunities for others. This 1925 poster advertised a finance company that made loans to Ford buyers.

- circa 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Poster, "Have Fun with a Ford- Pay While you Play," circa 1925
In 1913, new car financing became possible with the start of sales finance companies. Car manufacturers realized the opportunity to broaden their market and sell cars to consumers using credit. Henry Ford resisted selling Model Ts on credit, which created opportunities for others. This 1925 poster advertised a finance company that made loans to Ford buyers.
- Advertisement for the Ford Model T Runabout, "For the Young Business Man," 1924 - The efficiencies of the moving assembly line enabled Ford Motor Company to cut manufacturing costs for the Model T. In turn, this allowed Ford to decrease sales prices. By 1924, customers could buy a basic two-seat Model T runabout for as little as $265. That low price made the T attractive to young business professionals just starting their careers.

- 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for the Ford Model T Runabout, "For the Young Business Man," 1924
The efficiencies of the moving assembly line enabled Ford Motor Company to cut manufacturing costs for the Model T. In turn, this allowed Ford to decrease sales prices. By 1924, customers could buy a basic two-seat Model T runabout for as little as $265. That low price made the T attractive to young business professionals just starting their careers.
- 1924 Ford Model T Advertisement, "How Did He Ever Get the Money to Buy a Car?" - In 1923, Ford Motor Company launched the Ford Weekly Purchase Plan in response to the increasing popularity of buying cars on credit. Customers made payments to a bank in the amount of five dollars a week until they accumulated the price of a new Model T. It was unsuccessful because customers could just as easily open their own savings accounts.

- 1924
- Collections - Artifact
1924 Ford Model T Advertisement, "How Did He Ever Get the Money to Buy a Car?"
In 1923, Ford Motor Company launched the Ford Weekly Purchase Plan in response to the increasing popularity of buying cars on credit. Customers made payments to a bank in the amount of five dollars a week until they accumulated the price of a new Model T. It was unsuccessful because customers could just as easily open their own savings accounts.