1886
IT HAPPENED IN…1886
May 1st over 100,000 workers across
the country struck for an eight-hour day.
Chicago policemen fired on strikers, killing four and
wounding others. The
Knights of Labor demonstrated against the murders and when a
detonated bomb mortally wounded seven policemen, the police fired
into the crowd causing more casualties.
There was much agitation for better working conditions, fewer
hours, and better pay.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated by President
Grover Cleveland.
Richard W. Sears founded a business that
ultimately became Sears, Roebuck & Company.
Cosmopolitan
magazine was founded.
In Atlanta, pharmacist John S. Pemberton
introduced Coca-Cola, a headache and hangover remedy containing
cocaine (unregulated at the time), a cola nut extract, and fruit
syrup, and advertised as an “esteemed brain tonic and intellectual
beverage.”
Hires added “FOR 1886” at the top and repeated this typical newspaper advertisement’s format and text on the backs of the following series of four trade cards ordered from an unknown printer:
(Figure 1886-01, newspaper advertisement)
(Figure 1886-02, trade card
series, fronts)
Hires ordered this beautiful trade card from Cosack &
Company in Buffalo, New York, a publisher who advertised they were “The
only lithographic house in New York printing and publishing advertising
specialties…(with) over fifty million cards constantly on hand.”
(Figure 1886-03, acrostic
trade card, front)
(Figure 1886-03, acrostic trade card, back)
Note the acrostic verse on the back of the card, with
the first letter of each line spelling out HIRES IMPROVED ROOT BEER.
This card also advertises Hire’s as “THE BEST BLOOD PURIFIER IN
THE WORLD,” a very bold claim indeed!
A cardboard wall hanger was also produced using the
same trade card image. This
self-framed version of the sign still has the hole at the top used for
hanging the sign.
(Figure 1886-04, self-framed,
cardboard wall hanger, 12.0” x 16.0”)
During 1886 Charles Hires also utilized a trade card
published by Gast Lithograph and Engraving Company of New York City.
Similar to the Cosack & Company card, this one also featured a
young girl holding a carton of Hires’ Improved Root Beer.
(Figure 1886-05, trade card,
front, 6.5” x 5.0”)
(Figure 1886-05, trade card,
back, 6.5” x 5.0”)
This extremely rare sign features the same image of a
young girl, enclosed in a metal frame marked HIRES’ across the top, and
ROOT BEER across the bottom.
(Figure 1886-06, framed sign,
18.0” x 15.0”)
This small advertisement was placed in The Druggists Circular and Chemical Gazette, an industry trade magazine.
(Figure 1886-07, trade
magazine advertisement, 2.5” x 2.5”)
Charles E. Hires Company sales for 1886 were listed
as 83,728 bottles.