Small appliance and housewares research materials, 1870-2016, bulk: 1900-2016
Part of collection: Marshall B. Johnson research collection of industrial design and housewares (2268)
Dates
- Creation: 1870-2016
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1900-2016
Scope and Content
This series consists of the historical materials relating to the various company histories that Marshall compiled throughout his career. Subseries A contains histories, ephemera, and photographs relating to the various companies. This group includes materials on all of the small, forgotten companies that were merged with or absorbed by the larger companies whose names survived through the years.
Subseries B, C, and D contain published sources of information on the various appliances and subjects of interest to Johnson. Subseries E are files on museum exhibitions and other museums Johnson visited and, in some cases, worked with. Subseries F contain the information Johnson compiled on various collectors and clubs for the appliances of interest. Subseries G are files and binders of photographs of the appliances and other items that Johnson had collected while researching particular products.
Subseries H are 65 ink on drafting linen production drawings (18"X24") for Wear-Ever's regular line of aluminum cookware products. These include drawings for coffee pots and perculators, tea kettles, pitchers, ricers, and several kinds of pans.
Subseries I are 203 ink on drafting linen production drawings for Wear-Ever's Kensington Ware line of aluminum giftware. While many of them were designed by Lurelle Guild, the drawings only note who drew them.
Subseries J are the actual small electric and hand-operated appliances, tools, and razors that Johnson collected to study while designing his products.
Extent
From the Collection: 78.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
General Note
Some drawings included as part of Subseries I include a page reference to Paula Ockner and Leslie Pina's book, Art Deco Aluminum: Kensington (Atglen, Pa. : Schiffer Publishing Ltd.), 1997. The pages referenced generally include more historical detail of the piece shown in the original drawing; a photograph of the finished piece, and/or a print of the item's patent. A copy of Ockner and Pina's book may be found here in Hagley's Library.
Related Names
Subject
- Hamilton Beach, Inc. (Organization)
Creator
- From the Collection: Johnson, Marshall (Person)
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository