Back to School in 1964

Today's post takes us back to the year 1964 as the summer was winding down, and students were preparing to head off to college.

   The window display above featured the talented illustration work of Emil Grilli who was Denholms primary in house illustrator and sign painter.  Grilli also did work for various other retailers in Worcester such as Barnards, and Ware Pratt.
   Back then most stores had all of their signage painted by hand or used a printing machine to make the various sale and sizing signage (usually 5x7").  The role of the in house illustrator would be to paint out the larger signs used in window display (called copy strips), floor advertisements, directional signage, as well as props for the windows and interiors.  This is an art form that has long since passed with the invention of larger screen printing machines, as well as vinyl letters applied to the glass. 
  Mr. Grilli was a talented commercial artist, sign painter and sculpture, and his work is still collected by admirers of his talent.

Till the next quick post, I hope that you enjoy the rest of your summer!
  

Retro Charge Cards

Today many of us carry around a host of charge cards which fill up our wallets.  The cards nowadays are 2"x 3 1/2" plastic cards which all of us are familiar with.  Before the early 1970's charge cards were small metal cards which employees would insert into a charge press with carbon paper to make an imprint.  In today's post I have a few examples of old Denholms charges along with the respective case for carrying them.  Do you remember these?

 

And when the billing time came due, you probably received one of these in the mail.