1941
IT HAPPENED IN…1941
The Supreme Court upheld the federal law
prohibiting employment of children under 16 in mining and
manufacturing, and children under 18 in any dangerous occupation.
Religious training in public schools was declared
unconstitutional.
Germany invaded Russia and it appeared the
U.S.S.R. might fall by year end.
On December 7th Japanese forces
simultaneously attacked Pearl Harbor, Guam, Wake Island, the
Philippines, and other strategic points in the Pacific Ocean.
Americans were outraged and Congress declared war against
Japan the next day.
Three days later Germany and Italy declared war against the U.S.
American industry immediately geared up for full-scale war
production. The
government prepared to curb prices and limit production, with
civilians convinced these restrictions were the price of winning the
war.
The Office of Price Administration was created to
manage war time rationing.
Federal tax increases were imposed as a wartime
revenue measure.
Although the industry was threatened, soft drink taxes were not
enacted.
Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio hit safely in
56 consecutive games.
Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydroelectric plant
in the world, went into operation.
Mount Rushmore was completed after 14 years of
work.
Bob Hope broadcast his first USO radio show.
Commercial television broadcasting began in the
U.S. at NBC’s New York station.
The movie
Citizen Kane, directed by and starring Orson Welles, premiered
in New York City.
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded
“Chattanooga Choo Choo,” the first gold record.
Newly introduced products and inventions included
Dacron, Teflon, electric blankets, and Cheerios breakfast cereal.
The soft drink industry faced shortages of sugar,
cork, tin, and cardboard.
6,309 U.S. soft drink bottling plants were in
operation. Per capita
consumption was 133.6 bottles.
This folding, paper “Hires Book Mark and Reader’s
Data Sheet” was copyrighted in 1941 by The Bingham Company in
Philadelphia, and published by the Charles E. Hires Company.
These book marks were apparently produced for promotional
distribution thru schools and libraries.
(Figure 1941-01, Hires Book
Mark and Reader’s Data Sheet, back and front)
(Figure 1941-01, Hires Book
Mark and Reader’s Data Sheet)
These three magazine advertisements ran during the spring and summer of 1941.
(Figure 1941-02, magazine advertisement)
(Figure 1941-03, magazine advertisement)
(Figure 1941-04, magazine advertisement)
These five advertisements ran in the Baltimore Sun newspaper during May, 1941.
(Figure 1941-05,
Baltimore Sun
newspaper advertisements, May 1941)
(Figure 1941-05.5, magazine
advertisement, 2.5" x 6.0")
(Figure 1941-06,
Life,
May 26, 1941)
(Figure 1941-07, magazine advertisement, July
1941)
(Figure 1941-07.5, magazine advertisement)
(Figure 1941-08, magazine advertisement, July
1941)
(Figure 1941-09, embossed tin
sign with blackboard, 15.0” x 29.5”)
(Figure 1941-10, Life, October 13, 1941)
(Figure 1941-11, tin door pusher, item # 559-W, 11.5” x 3.5”)
These three colorful, die-cut, cardboard bottle
toppers each feature flower images.
(Figure 1941-12, die-cut,
cardboard bottle topper)
(Figure 1941-13, die-cut,
cardboard bottle topper)
(Figure 1941-14, die-cut,
cardboard bottle topper, 5.0” x 7.0”)
(Figure 1941-14.5 cloth soda
jerk cap, right side, folded)
(Figure 1941-14.5 cloth soda
jerk cap, left side, folded)
(Figure 1941-14.5 cloth soda
jerk cap, front view, unfolded)
Hires’ 1941
Football Schedules booklet contains 40 pages listing game schedules
for 262 intercollegiate teams, each team’s 1940 scores, and space for
users to log 1941 game results.
In addition, the National Football League’s 1941 schedule was
included.
(Figure
1941-15, 1941
Football Schedules, front cover)
(Figure
1941-15, 1941
Football Schedules, inside front cover)
(Figure
1941-15, 1941
Football Schedules, centerfold)
(Figure
1941-15, 1941
Football Schedules, inside back cover)
(Figure
1941-15, 1941
Football Schedules, back cover)
This series of small advertisements ran in the Baltimore Sun newspaper during late 1941:
(Figure
1941-16,
Baltimore Sun newspaper advertisements, late 1941)
(Figure
1941-16.5, newspaper advertisement, 2.5" x 6.25")
(Figure 1941-17,
Life,
December 8, 1941)
A slide opened and closed this six-pack carrier.
Note the “With Real Root Juices” wording is separate from the
Hires R-J logos.
(Figure 1941-18, Masonite
six-pack carrier, top, 8.0” x 5.625”)
(Figure 1941-18, Masonite
six-pack carrier, bottom, 8.0” x 5.625”)
By late 1941, the U.S. soft drink industry was
increasingly experiencing the effects of a wartime economy.
Much of the cork used to line crown caps was imported from
Portugal and North Africa, and in short supply due to limited
trans-Atlantic shipping.
Likewise, bottling machinery and spare parts became increasingly scarce
as war material manufacturing took precedent.