Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: oils

"Russian Army Harness Oil Blacking. For harnesses, carriage tops &c. Apply with sponge or cloth and rub thoroughly after application. Manufactured by J. M. Nash, Gray, Me." I wonder whether J. M. Nash was hoping that the apparent popularity of Prussian Army Harness Oil Blacking would help him sell his similarly named Russian Army Harness Oil Blacking (I suppose you could say that it was an imaginary advertising war fought between the Royal Prussian Army and the Imperial Russian Army ). I haven't uncovered much information regarding Nash's Russian Army variety, but nineteenth-century advertisements, like the following newspaper ad from the Meriden Daily Republican (Meridan, Conn.), Oct. 9, 1883, p. 4, touted the Prussian Army brand: "Prussian Army Harness Oil Blacking keeps the harness from freezing and cracking. Softens without injuring. Oils without gumming. Blackens without cracking. Guaranteed pure and free from all acids. P.A.O. Co., 258 Washington St., Boston, Mass." The typeface used here for "Oil Blacking" also appears in another handbill. See the lines for "Dry Goods" and "Brennan Store, 36 State St." on Heavy Failure Dry Goods (below).

A rather macabre message on a National Refining Company "boy with slate" label that advertised En-Ar-Co Motor Oils and White Rose Gasoline.