BELIEVE IT OR NOT - INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER USED TO MANUFACTURE AN APPLIANCE FOR THE HOME.
Yes, the infamous farm tractor company was manufacturing a "dream" appliance for the 1955 American family. Not many families owned a home air conditioner in 1955 (mine did). International Harvester was one of many companies trying to change that problem.
This ad is from a June, 1955 Look magazine. The company started manufacturing air conditioners in 1948, they marketed the appliance to farm households and also non-farm homes. After WWII, farm households were a large potential market, since most farming communities had just been wired for electricity prior to the war. International Harvester sold the division to Westinghouse, a short time after this ad appeared, in 1955.
Posted below is a magazine ad for the International Harvester air conditioner.
As you can see above, International Harvester (Navistar today) is a Chicagoland company. They are a company that actually manufactures things in this country, as opposed to a foreign based manufacturing plant with 25 cent an hour employees. How novel of an idea, an American company actually manufacturing things in this country. Who knows, maybe this idea might catch on. Ah, no, it won't.
It will only catch on if the weak-kneed neutered politicians would ever change the laws, and make it less appetizing to manufacture items in other countries and then importing them to the U.S..
I tend to go off on tangents.
By the way, I.H. was located in Chicago for almost 100 years. Ten years ago, they decided to move to the suburbs. They are located in Warrenville, Illinois. Their headquarters was at 180 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. That was a tiny bit more prestigious of an address than 4201 Winfield Road, Warrenville, Illinois. Their choice!!!
As a side note, the company was planning on moving to the SUPER COOL ex-headquarters of Lucent Technology, located in Lisle, Illinois. The company didn't want to put up with the local poo poo (euphemistically speaking) and pulled out. Posted below is a photo of the SUPER COOL building they would have moved into.
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This ad is from a June, 1955 Look magazine. The company started manufacturing air conditioners in 1948, they marketed the appliance to farm households and also non-farm homes. After WWII, farm households were a large potential market, since most farming communities had just been wired for electricity prior to the war. International Harvester sold the division to Westinghouse, a short time after this ad appeared, in 1955.
Posted below is a magazine ad for the International Harvester air conditioner.
As you can see above, International Harvester (Navistar today) is a Chicagoland company. They are a company that actually manufactures things in this country, as opposed to a foreign based manufacturing plant with 25 cent an hour employees. How novel of an idea, an American company actually manufacturing things in this country. Who knows, maybe this idea might catch on. Ah, no, it won't.
It will only catch on if the weak-kneed neutered politicians would ever change the laws, and make it less appetizing to manufacture items in other countries and then importing them to the U.S..
I tend to go off on tangents.
By the way, I.H. was located in Chicago for almost 100 years. Ten years ago, they decided to move to the suburbs. They are located in Warrenville, Illinois. Their headquarters was at 180 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. That was a tiny bit more prestigious of an address than 4201 Winfield Road, Warrenville, Illinois. Their choice!!!
As a side note, the company was planning on moving to the SUPER COOL ex-headquarters of Lucent Technology, located in Lisle, Illinois. The company didn't want to put up with the local poo poo (euphemistically speaking) and pulled out. Posted below is a photo of the SUPER COOL building they would have moved into.
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Posted by Ron D at 6/15/2010 10:50 AM 
Categories: Pop Culture, Advertisement, Politics
Tags: Chicago companies vintage advertising advertising memorabilia 1950s memorabilia
Categories: Pop Culture, Advertisement, Politics
Tags: Chicago companies vintage advertising advertising memorabilia 1950s memorabilia
That is so interesting. I grew up in the Quad Cities area, where John Deere is located - my dad was with them for over 35 years. IH was the biggest rival. I'm passing this article on to my dad, who will get a kick out of it.
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