1940: General Electric Radios Catalog Brochure - Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Company

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1940 General Electric tri-fold type catalog brochure showcasing its new models from that time. The brochure has a fold-out structure so that there is a half-poster side, a full fold-out poster side, and three individual folded panels.

The brochure is stamped as having been provided to customers of Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Co. likely of Worcester, Massachusetts. The Stamp reads "Electrical Appliance Dept. Dial 4-4121 3rd Floor Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Co."

The 3-panel is about 10" wide x 6.5" tall. Half-foldout size is 10" wide x 13" tall. Fully folded out is 20" wide x 13" tall.

The brochure is printed in brown ink on somewhat glossy white paper. One of the themes or slogans of that time is "PLUS VALUE" and that logo appears throughout the brochure.

The lead single panel reads:

"NEW 1940 GENERAL ELECTRIC RADIOS - SUPER BEAM-A-SCOPE - No Aerial! No Ground Connections! TELEVISION - Audio or Phonograph KEY - MORE FEATURES... TUBES... PERFORMANCE... BEAUTY"

The back panel is stamped with the department store information and also reads:

"See The GE 'House of Magic' - New York - San Francisco - 13-9623 - 750-M-6-39 - WHEN REPLACING RADIO TUBES SPECIFY GE PRE-TESTED RADIO TUBES"

The other back panel shows off a series of "Carryabout" portable radios:

"Take Your Programs With You Wherever You Go! NO AERIAL! NO GROUND! NO CONNECTIONS OF ANY KIND! SELF-CONTAINED POWER SUPPLY!"

And includes specifications for models HB-402, HB-403, GB-400 and the HB-408 Radio-Phonograph.

The inside 3-panel foldout asks the buyer "Before You Buy Any Radio":

"X-RAY IT INSIDE AND OUT FOR THESE PLUS-VALUE FEATURES:

New Super Beam-A-Scope - New Television Audio or Phonograph Key - New Dynapower Speaker - New Super-powered Receiver Chassis - New G-E Tone Selector - New Floodlighted Station Finder - New Sight Angle Visualux Dial - New Feathertouch Tuning - New Improved Tone Monitor Circuit - Glamorous Cabinet Styling - ONLY G-E RADIO HAS THEM ALL"

The half-poster (6-panel) foldout shows off four of the floor or cabinet models, "More For Your Radio Dollar". Models H-87, H-77, H-116 and H-625.

The full poster (12-panel) center foldout features some table models, record players, and radio-phonograph combinations. Table models H-400, H-500, H-510, H-520, H-600, H-634, H-640, H-73, H-610, H-620, H-630, H-631, H-632, H-633, and GB-401, a Farm Battery Operated Radio.

The record players include models GM-11 and HM-3. They are advertised as "WIRELESS RECORD PLAYER - NO WIRES, NO CONNECTIONS TO RADIO"

For the Radio-Phonograph Combinations, there are models H-78, H-118, H-79 and H-638. 

There's also an automobile mode: GA-62.

The slogan at the bottom of the center foldout intones: "LET YOUR EARS AND EYES DECIDE"

Resources that may fill out the history or context of this piece:

The Collector's Guide to Antique Radios by Marty and Sue Bunis

Adventures in Electronics publ. by General Electric

General Electric Radio Service Notes for 1935-1939 publ. by General Electric

Radio Service Guide Volume III: 1946 to 1961 publ. by General Electric

THE ABC'S of Radio, Written So You Can Understand It publ. by General Electric

America's Largest Electrical Workshop publ. by General Electric

Most-Often-Needed General Electric Radio Diagrams and Servicing Information by M. N. Beitman

Radios of the Baby Boom Era, Volume 3 (General Electric to Monitoradio) publ. by Prompt Publications

Wireless: An account of the general principles underlying the modern magic of Wireless reception by C. L. Boltz

His Master's Voice in America: Ninety Years of Communications Pioneering and Progress by Frederick O Barnum III

Empire of the Air: the Men Who Made Radio by Tom Lewis

Radio Troubleshooter's Handbook by Alfred A. Ghirardi

Riehl & Clark's New Improved Jacquard Machine - Philadelphia Pennsylvania - Piano Punchcard System Advertising Sheet

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"Established 1850. Riehl & Clark's New Improved Jacquard Machine.

For Simplicity of Construction it has no equal. No Complicated Parts to Wear out.

We are satisfied it will give better satisfaction than any machine in use. In use by all first-class Establishments.

The unvarying satisfaction which this machine has given to all customers, convinces us it is the best JACQUARD MACHINE now offered for sale in this country. We do not claim anything but a First-Class Machine, nor are our prices high, but we do claim for the Machine as being an absolutely reliable one, and made from the best of material and with the best workmanship. It needs no description to explain its construction--a glance at the engravings will explain everything, and convince you that such a machine, so constructed, must outlast any style now in the market.

We would also call your attention to our PIANO CARD PUNCHING MACHINE, which has had the largest sale of any machine of its kind. Cumber Boards, Lingoes, and Mails, and everything that pertains to JACQUARD MACHINES furnished at short notice.

Address, RIEHL & CLARK, 1130 and 1132 Charlotte Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA."

5 3/4" x 9 1/4". There is a diagonal notch cut from the bottom left side. There is nothing printed on the reverse.

An identical advertisement still hangs in the shop in Philadelphia. Likely from the late 1800s or maybe early 1900s. Riehl & Clark later became Henry Riehl and son on 4355 Orchard Street.

Resources that may fill out the history or context of this piece:

Looms and Weaving by Anna P. Benson and Neil Warburton

The Jacquard Machine, Analyzed and Explained by Emanuel Anthony Posselt

Passages from the Life of a Philosopher by Charles Babbage

Treatise on the Art of Weaving by John Murphy

The History and Principles of Weaving by Hand and by Power by Alfred Barlow