#WarEffort

[curiouscatalog]

Falls, C. B. (Charles Buckles), 1874-1960. Books wanted for our men in camp and "over there". United States, 1918?

Poster WWI MISC .B66 E1-O

[formfollowsfunctionjournal]

An apprentice in the machine shop, arc welder training & adjusting the output of a motor generator, shown in his weldering outfit. NYA (National Youth Administration) Center, Brooklyn, New York. Fritz Henley, Aug 1942 #vintageworkwear #welding #weldinggear #weldingjacket #suede #weldingmask #ww2 #1940s #wareffort #workshirt #chambray #fitzhenley #apron #vintagephoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CDE0y44j0Ke/?igshid=1lfe11uai7px1

[sandyhookhistory]

Good evening, everyone, and Happy Valentine's Day! The 14th fell on a Sunday in 1943, and things were finally starting to look up from where we had been a year earlier. Americans can always find the best in even the worst situations, so the show went on with these lighthearted messages of affection, which span the war years. They may seem cheesy or lame, but during those dark days of 1941-42, and the climb out from them in 1943, we needed as many cute and lighthearted feelings that we could get our hands on. These are relatively small, and printed on generally rough and thin paper. Thusx they were easy to mass produce and easily mailed. As this is a mix of pre/early war through at least 1943 valentines, you'll see both the old WW1 helmets and the M1 "steel pots," WAACs (not WACs... yet), early jeeps, and prototype tanks. I'm sure that more than a fair share of these, and their counterparts, made their way through Fort Hancock during The War. Without a doubt, they would have been available at the Post Exchange. Enjoy, everyone! Happy Valentine's Day! 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #vintagestylevintagevalues #vintagestyleandvintagevalues #homefront #wareffort #vintagevalentines #vintageholiday #moralebooster #vintagejeep #vintagegreetingcards #battleoftheatlantic #theyrecute #oldvalentines #americanwayoflife #vintagecouple #vintagecouples (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coql0RRN-vT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[americanmachine]

I could say it’s been real. I could say it’s been fun. I cannot really say that it’s been real fun. Have you ever had one of those jobs where it was kind of cool to be a part of the process, but otherwise just really sucked for one reason or another? Glad to see these double Skip Tooth/Skip Space Splined shafts make like Elvis, and leave the building. 😎 #dontgoawaymad #justgoaway #butIjest #DOD #wareffort https://www.instagram.com/p/CBq9YfPJQPG/?igshid=1orfhuctzpj1t

[ultraman13]

#ww2 #wareffort in WW2 The American government estimated needed to raise $300 billion to fight both Japan and Germany and through Hollywood and war bonds they actually raised 800 billion!! https://www.instagram.com/p/B0KemlCnrwY/?igshid=kpn9fqgvshe8

[bygonely]

Scrap For Victory: During World War II Americans Contributed Scrap Metal To The War Efforts

[flagbearer]

A timeless message ⛽ Photo via @silodrome × #silodrome #ww2 #savegas #rollerskates #rollerskating #drivetastefully #wareffort #worldwar2 #bnw #bnwphotography #photography #vintage #retro #oldschool #gasprices https://instagr.am/p/CbKGnDRAymA/

[laurieschechter]

Actress Rita Hayworth participates in the scrap metal recycling campaign by donating her car’s bumper in response to the call for bumpers and other non-essential metal car parts for the war effort in Hollywood. Hayworth has also been selling war bonds. #oldhollywood #wareffort #ritahayworth #moviestar https://www.instagram.com/p/BqG007XHWez/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=x28031wadjbe

[malialaka]

Happy Veterans Day to all the Veterans out there, I thank you ❣️💪🏻🇺🇸💋❤️ Thank you to all the brave souls that have answered a higher calling to protect this country and our freedoms no matter the cost, no matter the opinion of others, they do what's right without Thanks and protect the free speech and rights we all so generously take for granted. I don't. Thank you for being more brave then I could, thank you for protecting our America❣️🙏🏻💪🏻👏🏻🙌🏻❣️Rosie's getting down to business today!! 💪🏻❤️ That one time when @sadielasalle_ asalle played tough to be the spokesmodel for www.imperialwelders.com PC: @bluedecemberpro 💪🏻 #neverthegirlnextdoor 💋❤️ #supportourveterans #veteransday #rosie #wahinetoa #chickswhorip #manawahinemovement #rosietheriveter #ww2 #hardwork #cosplay #spokesmodel #imperialwelders #girlswithtattoos #inkedgirls #vintagestyle #1940s #wareffort #pinupmodel #bayareapinup #picoftheday #inkedgirls #inked #supportthosewhosupportus #supportourtroops #godblessamerica #thankyou #grateful #proud #pinupsforvets #sadielasalle https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDtGp_HI6Z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hrayl2c021yk

[curiouscatalog]

Barney, Maginel Wright, 1877-1966. War gardens victorious. Washington, D.C. : National War Garden Commission, 1919

Poster WWI WGC .W37 E1

[waynelvslcy]

It's Veteran's Day. In September of 1943, while Desi was enlisted in the Army, Lucy and other Hollywood stars were doing their part for the war effort when they embarked on a 21 day, 16 city war bond drive tour. For the 25th anniversary of the introduction of War Bonds, Lucy briefly revisits those days as she narrates a 1966 promotional video and in these clips mentions the contributions of all those in the movie making industry who served —even the non-enlisted like her friend, Carole Lombard. Thank you to ALL who served! #lucilleball #victorytour #oldhollywood #veteransday #wareffort #1943 #paradeofstars #parade #warbonds #carolelombard #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck0z-biOg2d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[formfollowsfunctionjournal]

A worker at the Willow Run bomber plant installs screws in one end of a wing segment. A key chain clip secured at the lower section of his suspenders holds an ID tag for either the employee or a tool ID tag & a key possibly for a work locker. Washtenaw County Michigan. Ann Rosener, July 1942 #vintageworkwear #covertcloth #workshirt #slacks #trousers #pants #workcap #cap #hat #denim #chambray #saltandpepper #ww2 #1940s #wareffort #vintagestyle #ruggedstyle #vintagemenswear https://www.instagram.com/p/CC6eqpDjTcP/?igshid=1w39mcgksyl2o

[marlakeownphotography-blog]

I got to meet Mary Torres, an original Rosie the Riveter as part of the Valor Games Far West closing ceremony. Turning 95 in a couple days, she sure did make me keep up with her from behind the lens! After Pearl Harbor, Mary left her home in Pennsylvania fresh out of high school...waiting for her parents to go to church so she could run away to California to help the war effort. She walked four miles to work her first month in Sacramento and survived on saltines and fallen roadside orchard oranges while she waited for her paycheck. Wanting to do more than be an inventory clerk she quickly moved to Oakland where she became a welder in a shipyard. A true inspiration if you ask me. . . . . . . . . #marytorres #rosietheriveter #badassat95 #marlakeownphotography #valorgamesfarwest #coastguardisland #taskforceiso #havecamerawilltravel #adaptivesports #wareffort #journeymanwelder #shipwelder #inspirationalwoman #wecandoit #wwii #wonderwoman #womenmakinghistory (at Coast Guard Island)

[cloudpurpleoh]

Jersey knitters #wareffort #islandlife #differentisland

[steve-rogers-new-york]

“Gift Dressing” — Early 20th Century Gift Wrapping

Because today is my birthday, I thought I would do something vaguely birthday themed for today’s post. And seeings as I’ve already covered cards for Valentines Day, I thoughts a look at how gift wrapping looked in our time period would be interesting.

History

Victorian Beginnings While gift wrapping in one form or another has long existed throughout the world, in the west, the practice as we would recognise it got its start during the Victorian era. Initially, in the UK specifically, it was employed by the upper-class as a show of status and wealth, and the wrap was made from wallpaper material — dense and difficult to work with. The act of wrapping was an extravagant affair with elaborately decorate papers, ribbon, and lace. 

Wrapping at the Turn of the Century — 1900-1920 Over time both the material used and the intention behind the practice shifted. By the beginning of the 20th century, the paper used was light with bright colours — tissue paper was common for the first decade or so. More cost-effective manilla papers were also used at this time by stores to wrap purchases, and by the middle-class as a less ostentatious material with better coverage for gifts. This time also saw a shift in the British motivations behind wrapping — rather than showing wealth, wrapping was used to conceal the value of the gift from anyone but the recipient.

Advent of Modern Printed Gift Wrap — 1917 In America, the first company to supply gift wrap was Hy-Sill Manufacturing Inc, however, a change in materials happened in 1917 with the accidental discovery by the men who would become the Hall Brothers, and later the behemoth Hallmark. During Christmas that year, the brothers’ stationary store sold out of the then staple wrapping material of mono-colour tissue paper — gasp! Looking for a substitute to meet demands, they found in their inventory a stack of decorative “fancy French paper”. This paper was generally used to line envelopes for decoration, not for wrapping, but at 10c a sheet it was a hit with their customers and returned the following year to the same success. In 1919 the success of this new approach to wrapping paper saw the brothers producing and selling their own prints and the rest is history.

World War II Wrapping paper was one of the few exceptions to paper rationing towards the wareffort. It was decided that not rationing the material would contribute to keeping up morale. During this period, sales of wrapping paper incready by some 20% as a result.

Materials and Techniques

The materials used have expanded and come in and out of favour over the decades. Some of the materials that were available (if not necessarily popular) during the interwar period included:

Tissue paper: Most common material for the first two decades of the 20th century. It would come in single colour options, typically festive colours like white, green, and red. 

Printed paper: By the beginning of the 1920s, the Hall Brothers were producing their printed paper to customers and it proved a popular option. In 1919 they sold it for 25c for three sheets. The designs on printed paper changed in the 1930s and 1940s with the growth in Art Deco style — out were the florals and cherubs, and in were the repetitive and geometric patterns.

Manilla paper: A cheaper option, this plain brown paper was a favourite of stores to wrap purchases, and a viable option if the more fancy papers were out of your budget.

Newsprint: Admittedly, I didn’t see this mentioned in many of my research sources, but I feel it would be remiss not to mention it. As people still resort of newspaper as a wrapping material today in a pinch, I highly doubt that it wasn't utilised in the early 20th century.

Fabric: A wrapping style long used in Japan, this was another cost-effective way of wrapping a gift. I, again found little mention of its use, but in a pinch, it does need like an obvious solution to wrapping a gift. Where our boys ever employed it, I’ll leave to your best judgement.

Cellophane: Introduced in 1912, cellophane was used for wrapping candy, and grew substantially in popularity from 1928-1930 after it was made moisture-proof. It was used both alone and together with other wrapping materials.

Gift bags and boxes: An alternative to paper wrapping, and also reusable.

Beyond the types of material used for the wrapping, also worth noting are the products used to secure any wrapping — because scotch tape did not make an appearance on the scene until 1930!

Ribbon: An obvious staple of wrapping, even today, but prior to adhesive options, ribbon was more than just decoration. Ribbon was used to secure the paper and ensure that the gift remained securely covered. There is a particular skill to this.

Twine and rope: A less fancy alternative to ribbon, these served the same function.

Adhesive Seals: These were small, gummed seals that could be applied to wrapping paper. They worked in the same way as stamps, requiring the user to lick the back-side before applying it to the paper. From this description, they were tedious to use and had a limited life-time.

Wax: The same as one would use a wax seal to seal a document, they could also be used to secure gift wrapping, this it is a very fancy option. So fancy.

Hall Sheen Ribbon: A product produced by Hall Brothers in the 1930s to accompany their printed paper, this was a ribbon that stuck to itself and gift wrap when moistened.

Adhesive tape: Scotch Cellulose Tape was invented in 1930 by Scotch brand, which was a game changer when it came to gift wrapping. Prior to this, Scotch as introduced their adhesive masking tape for painters, but the 1930 product was the first waterproof, clear adhesive tape. It would be worth mentioning that the skills and knowledge needed to wrap without tape would have still been around long after tape became available, and would likely have been seen as a luxury, especially to anyone on a budget.

All the other embellishments: The fancier you wanted to go, there were also other adornments one could add to gifts, including bows, tassels, decorative seals and stamps, etc.

So how much would these items cost? While it wouldn’t reflect lower-cost retailers, both Loesers and A&S printed prices in Brooklyn Daily Eagle papers, which gives an idea of how much higher-end products would have put you out of pocket.

And then, there was always the ever-present option of getting a department store to wrap for you! 

Brooklyn’s Abraham & Straus department store (and likely Loesers as well) offered gift wrapping services — at ‘a small charge’. Obviously, this was intended for customers, but tell me you don’t believe Bucky could charm himself some free wrapping.

Image Sources

Woolworths ribbon, 1930s | Source Woolworths ribbon and wrap, 1930s | Source A&S and Loesers Price ad complilation | [1] [2] [3] A&S Wrapping Service ad compilation | [1] [2] [3]

This post has been sponsored by Patreon supporter Joanna Daniels —longtime, and beloved follower. She and I would like to dedicate the post to the loving memory of her mother Joan Daniels, who sadly passed away this past year and who is sorely missed. Spring has hit us and the days are getting sunnier, don’t forget to get out and enjoy it!