First in the Service

Using war to sell your products has worked very well for tobacco products.

Very politically incorrect in this day and age, but cigarettes were issued by governments all around the world in the daily combat rations for soldiers up until the early 1960's.

"Walk a mile", 1944
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Afro chart

Back in the early 1970's, the "afro" hairstyle was all the rage for trendy African-American males, proudly displaying was they thought was their own cultural heritage.

Choose your own stlye with this lovely wall chart.

"Afro chart", 1972
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Short? Just lie

"A girl likes to look UP to her man..." - what a load of rubbish.

The solution for men of short stature. Lie about it and get some "Elevator Shoes".

"Elevators", 1964
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Homer Simpson is not amused

The greaseless Bobby Brown is a triangular sugary treat, cooked in an electric appliance using moulds.

It costs less to make and sells four times as fast than old-fashioned doughnuts. Easy to digest and toothsome. So the ad says.

But it ain't a doughnut. They've got the shape wrong. That's the reason after all these years, donuts are still round.

"Greaseless", 1931
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Female afflictions

A wonderful ad from the pre-"womens liberation" movement of the late '60s. The product is purported to relieve stomach acid discomfort ocurring from tension in everyday chores.

Women back then did things like "cleaning". Or "ironing". Very charming. No mention of "working in an office".

But including "punish" and "temper" has raised a few eyebrows around the editorial team - we leave you to guess the context of those ones.

"Magnesia", 1965
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