-40%
Texaco 6 Panel Color Ad for Sloan-Ashland Sabre-Jig Saw With Response Card 1965
$ 3.03
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
Up for sale is a cool vintage advertisement and purchase offer sent by the Texaco Oil Company to its national credit card holders. Texaco offered its credit card customers the opportunity to purchase, on easy installment terms, a Sloan-Ashland Heavy Duty Sabre-Jig Saw, complete with 7 different blades and a poly-pak storage case. The price was "only" $ 31.50 (plus state and local taxes, as applicable) to be charged to the credit card in six monthly installments of $ 5.25. As an inducement, buyers would also receive a battery operated warning beacon and flashlight. This item was called "a gift" that the buyer could keep even if s/he decided to return the saw during the 15 day money-back guarantee period. The offer expired on October 31, 1965 and the introductory letter states that responses were required within 60 days, so I would suspect that this ad was distributed in August, 1965, possibly as an insert in the monthly credit card bill.The Sloan-Ashland Heavy Duty Sabre-Jig Saw was powered by a 1/2 H.P. 3.5 amp GE Universal Motor that could drive the blade at 4800 strokes per minute. The ad claims that it could cut through 6 x 6 inch lumber, 6 inch logs, plastics, metals, and "even 2 inch steel pipe"! Although the ad copy does not mention the model number, the illustration of the saw shows that it was Model 1710.
This auction is for a lot that includes
BOTH
of the following:
Item #1 (of 2)
: A brochure advertising the features of the saw and of the offer to purchase using the Texaco National Credit Card. The brochure folds out to six panels (3 tall x 2 wide) and is printed in color on both sides. When folded, the brochure measures a little under 7.5 inches wide by a little over 3.25 inches tall. When unfolded, the brochure measures about 14.75 inches wide by about 10 inches tall.
AND
Item #2 (of 2)
: A response card on which the customer could enter his/her credit card number (really!), billing name and address, and shipping name and address. The reverse side was pre-addressed to Texaco Gift Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois with NO POSTAGE REQUIRED. This card measures about 7.75 inches wide by about 3.5 inches tall.
Texaco was founded in 1902, in Beaumont, Texas, as the Texas Fuel Company. In the 1920's, it became the first US oil company to sell its gasoline nationwide under a single brand name. The earliest Texaco credit cards were actually issued in the 1920s and were made of cardboard. It has been stated that the early Texaco offerings helped establish the standard wallet size for credit cards. The brochure I am selling has the slogan "TRUST YOUR CAR TO THE MAN WHO WEARS THE STAR". The jingle containing this famous rhyme made its debut in 1962, just 3 years before the items I am selling were issued.
According to an obituary in the April 9, 1986 issue of the
Chicago Tribune
, the Sloan-Ashland Company was founded by Albert Sloan. He grew up in Chicago (Fenger High School) and started work as a shoe salesman. Eventually, he applied his sales skills to printing, design, packaging, and advertising. The obit credits him as saying: "Any man with common sense and dedication can become a millionaire or a leader in the Senate. Of the two qualities, dedication is more important." I also found a front page article in a 1960 issue of
Billboard Magazine
in which the Sloan-Ashland was described as "Chicago's giant direct mail house". That article concerned how the company would begin marketing a package that included a stereo phonograph, records, and a membership in a disc (record) club. Sloan-Ashland also marketed power drills and other tools, as well as sewing machines.
Please see above for complete description of condition and for photos. Sold as is.
Attention US Buyers: I will ship by USPS First Class Letter (a letter, NOT a parcel) or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.