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Aug
2021

Vintage Lawn Mower Advertising 1920s-1960s

categories: Vintage Advertising

I am a woman of multiple jobs, and one of them is cutting the grass at the building I live in.

While doing this job I have noticed that I am ALWAYS being stared at by all kinds of people walking down my street and I don’t know why?

As a follower of my blog, you may think it’s because I’m all dressed up in a cute vintage outfit with my hair done like our 1940s woman in the photo below, but that is just not what I look like. It’s far too big of a job to ruin a good vintage hair set or outfit, so grubby clothes it is. Anyways I have taken to waving at people when they stop and stare and it’s now become a fun game HA HA!

Vintage Image of a women dressed like a pinup mowing the lawn.

For today’s post I am going to run with this theme and share vintage lawn mower advertising from 1920s to 1960s and some vintage photos I have found of people cutting the grass.

Hope you enjoy this post!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Vintage Lawn Mower Advertising 1920’s – 1960’s

Brief History of the Lawn Mower:

Formal lawns with neatly manicured grass began appearing in France in the 1700s, tended to by grazing animals or hand-cut with shears and scythes. In 1830, Englishman Edwin Bear Budding was granted the patent for the first mechanical lawn mower, based on a tool used to uniformly cut carpet and comprised of a series of blades around a cylinder.  

Nearly 40 years later, the reel lawn mower came to the United States. Initially made to be horse-drawn, Elwood McGuire of Richmond, IN designed the first widely popular human-powered push lawn mower.

In 1902, Ransomes of Ipswich, another English company, produced the first commercially purchasable lawn mower powered by an internal combustion gas engine. 1919 brought the first gas powered lawn mowers, manufactured by Colonel Edwin George, and gang mowers, those with multiple sets of blades, to the United States (Source).

The Vintage Advertisements & Photos:

I’m thinking that maybe I SHOULD revise how I look when I cut the grass. Loving the look on our 1950s woman in this Eclipse Lawn Mower 50s Original Magazine Print Ad.

Eclipse Lawn Mower 1950s Original Magazine Print Ad,

Source: Etsy

Summer activitiy in the 1950s. A young woman sitting in typical 1950s garden chair holds her feet up so her partner can cut the grass just where she is sitting. Sweden May 1959.

Summer activitiy in the 1950s. A young woman sitting in typical 1950s garden chair holds her feet up so her partner can cut the grass just where she is sitting. Sweden May 1959

Source: Almay.com

Atco Motor Mower ad, 1922 featuring a Woman in dress pushing a motorized lawn mower. 

Atco Motor Mower ad, 1922 featuring a woman in 1920s outfit pushing a lawn mower.

Source: Flickr

“It’s the mower of tomorrow…today”. 1958 vintage lawn mower ad for Victa Automatic featuring a boy dressed up as a spaceman.

1958 vintage lawn mower ad for Victa Automatic featuring a boy dressed up as a space man

Source: Pinterest

1940s vintage postcard for Minneapolis, the city of beautiful homes, lakes, parks and Toro Mowers. The postcard features 3 pretty 1940s pinup’s with those Toro lawn mowers.

City of Beautiful Homes, Lakes, Parks and Toro Mowers. Linen Advertising Postcard 1B-H57, (1940s)

Source: Flickr

1956 Worcester vintage advertisement, “Take a long look at Worcester. It’s 8 Ways Better!”

1956 Worcester vintage lawn mower advertising

Source: eBay

A color ad advertises Norrahammar’s modern lawnmowers. A young woman mows the grass wearing a 1940s summer house dress. Norrahammar’s mill was owned by Husqvarna and they manufactured not only lawn mowers but also mangels, stoves, ovens etc. The advertisement was published in 1944.

Advertisement in the 1940s. A color ad advertises Norrahammar's modern lawnmowers. A young woman mows the grass wearing a summer dress. Norrahammar's mill was owned by Husqvarna and they manufactured not only lawn mowers but also mangels, stoves, ovens etc. The advertisement was published in 1944.

Source: Classic Picture


A stylish woman mows the grass with an Norrahammar brand lawnmower. The picture is from the 1940s.

Woman mows the grass with an ancient Norrahammar brand lawnmower. The Norrahammar brand and mill were bought by Husqvarna and then operated empty. 1980s. The picture from the 1940s

Source: Classic Picture

1930 black and white print ad for the Coldwell Lawn Mower Company of Newburgh, New York. “New motor lawn mowers that will win and hold your enthusiasm!”

What a boring ad. Yawn!

1930 black and white print ad for the Coldwell Lawn Mower Company of Newburgh, New York. "New motor lawn mowers that will win and hold your enthusiasm!"

Source: Period Paper

1920s photo of an older woman pushing her lawn mower around in the yard.

1920s photo of an older woman pushing her lawn mower around in the yard.

Source: Pinterest

1958 Lawn Boy Auto-Mower “Supplies It’s Own Push!” Vintage Print Ad. LOVE the Lawn Chair!

1958 Lawn Boy Auto-Mower "Supplies It's Own Push!" Vintage Print Ad

Source: Etsy

1956 Parker Lawn Sweeper Ad. “Sweep it clean…sweep it green”.

1956 Parker Lawn Sweeper Ad featuring an illustration of a man cutting the grass and his family near by

Source: Etsy

1953 Lawn Boy Lawnmower Ad. I am really enjoying the colours in this advertisment, they really catch your eye.

1953 Lawn Boy Lawnmower Ad

Source: Etsy

“Yard care is a picnic”. 1960 Porter-Cable Mark 24 Suburban Riding Lawn Mower photo vintage print Ad.

Nice Legs Bob Cummings!

1960 Porter-Cable Mark 24 Suburban Riding Lawn Mower photo vintage print Ad

Source: eBay

1952 Vintage Ad for Wizard Power Mowers. Fertilizes as it cuts! How super!

Side Note: Take a look at the our lovely ladies feet. They look very small compared to the rest of her body. Don’t you agree?

VINTAGE 1952 WIZARD POWER LAWN MOWER FERTILIZER MOM PUSHING MOWER AD PRINT

Source: eBay

1954 Homko Push Button Lawn Mower with a remote control! WOW! I could sure use that!

1954 Homko Push Button Lawn Mower with a remote control

Source: eBay

What a cute ad! 1956 Choremaster Division Lawn Mower.

1956 Choremaster Division Lawn Mower Vintage Print ad

Source: eBay

Question time: Do you cut the grass at your home (or work) or does someone else do it? If you do, do you like it? I will be honest, it’s good exercise and I don’t mind it that much. Share any of your thoughts in the comments section below, I love to hear from my readers!

FURTHER READING:

Liz


Jul
2021

Carrie Munn-1940s & 1950s American Fashion Designer and Socialite

categories: Vintage Fashion, Vintage Fashion Designer

Carrie Munn….Fashion Designer & Socialite. Have you heard of her? I had not until 20 mins ago when I was browsing Etsy for 1950s vintage dresses and came upon one of her creations, a 50s tailored blouse and circle skirt with military inspired embellishments. GORGEOUS!

1950s Fashion: 1950s Ensemble by Carrie Munn. Tailored Blouse and Circle Skirt with Military Inspired Embellishments.

Source: Etsy

Now what does one do when they don’t know something? They do their research and that is exactly what I did! I had to know more about the designer who made this beautiful outfit.

Unfortantely there is not a lot of information on Carrie (AKA Mrs. Orson Munn) but we do have photos of some of her designs, society images & vintage advertising.

Let’s take a look!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Note: If you click on an item and it is no longer available, don’t fret! The websites I have provided are updated daily with 1000’s of new & vintage items. Just do a quick search and see what you find.

Carrie Munn-1940s & 1950s American Fashion Designer and Socialite

1951 Vintage Image of Fashion designer Carrie Munn in 1950s Dress of her designs in a vintage ad

Source: Wikidata

Background on Carrie Munn

Mrs. Munn was best known for her feminine designs, which featured billowing skirts and slim waists and used lace, sequins and ribbon. She also designed ready-to-wear clothes.

Here is a 1952 Cigarette Ad featuring Carrie Munn in one of her designs. STUNNING DRESS!

1950s Vintage Ad for Fatima Cigarettes featuring an image of Fashion designer Carrie Munn in one of her 1950s evening gowns.

Source: eBay

Caroline “Carrie” Nunder was born in Buffalo in 1898 and in 1924 married Orson D. Munn, who was the editor and publisher of Scientific American magazine until he sold his interest in 1947. Mr. Munn died in 1958.

In 1942, without any formal training in fashion design, Mrs. Munn opened a dress shop, Carrie Munn, at 640 Madison Avenue. Among her most popular designs was a quilted tapestry skirt decorated with sequins.

Mrs. Munn was known for her parties at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which featured shows of her most recent designs (Source).

She passed away in 1984.

The Museum at FIT call’s Munn’s work “derivative” of Dior and Balenciaga (Source).

Fashion designer Carrie Munn (Mrs. Orson D. Munn) in a 1951 advertisement for Utica and Mohawk Cotton Mills, Inc.

“I live on Park Avenue…I sleep in Utica”

1950s Advertisement: Fashion designer Carrie Munn (Mrs. Orson D. Munn) in a 1951 advertisement for Utica and Mohawk Cotton Mills, Inc.

Source: Wikimedia

Press photo from the 1920s of Mrs. Harold Wall, Mrs. Orson D. Munn (I think she is the one on the right), Mrs. WIlliam Fleitmann in incredible 1920s dresses, hats and shoes. Another very fashionable photo. (Available as of July 27th, 2021 HERE)

1920s Vintage Photo: Press photo from the 1920s of Mrs. Harold Wall, Mrs. Orson D. Munn, Mrs. WIlliam Fleitmann in incredible 1920s Dresses, hats and shoes. Another very fashionable photo. (Available as of July 27th, 2021 HERE)

Source: eBay

1932 Press photo of Mrs Orson D Munn at Southhampton Long Island NY in the most FANTASTIC 1930s outfit (love it!). (Available as of July 27th, 2021 HERE)

1930s Photo: 1932 Press Photo Mrs Orson D Munn at Southampton Long Island NY in 1930s beach pajamas

“Society Matron at Southhampton….

New York…Mr.s Orson D. Munn, popular society leader, as she appeared at Southhampton, Long Island, where she is a prominent member of the fashionable summer colony. July 30th, 1932.”

1930s Photo: 1932 Press Photo BACK. The front features Mrs Orson D Munn at Southampton Long Island NY in 1930s beach pajamas

Source: eBay

1950s Photo of Mrs. Orson Munn (seated L) and Mrs. Bruno Graf (seated R) posing in a fashion show with their grand daughters, daughter and daughter-in-law.

I am unsure if the dresses in the image are a Carrie Munn Creation (but I’m thinking they are).

1950s Vintage Photo: Mrs. Orson Munn (seated L) and Mrs. Bruno Graf (seated R) posing in a fashion show with their grand daughters, daughter and daughter-in-law. All the women are wearing 1950s dresses

Source: Getty Images

1950s Photo of Socialite Mrs. Orson (Carrie) Munn, escorted by Earl Blackwell, director of celebrity service, arrives at the fashionable first night of the Metropolitan Opera House tonight.

Mrs. Munn wore a gown of golden beige moire with an immense skirt of unpressed pleats. Over it was fitted jacket of the same fabric with deep mink cuffs. Gold and diamond jewelry and a golden lacquer coiffure completed the ensemble.

Television carried the glossy opening night spectacle to 32 theaters throughout the nation (Source).

1950s Vintage Photo showcasing 1950s fashions. 1950s Photo of Socialite Mrs. Orson (Carrie) Munn, escorted by Earl Blackwell, director of celebrity service, arrives at the fashionable first night of the Metropolitan Opera House tonight. Mrs. Munn wore a gown of golden beige moire with an immense skirt of unpressed pleats. Over it was fitted jacket of the same fabric with deep mink cuffs. Gold and diamond jewelry and a golden lacquer coiffure completed the ensemble.

Source: Getty Images

Carrie Munn Fashion Designs Examples

1950s Woman’s Evening Ensemble: Dress and Slip. WOW! The back is even more stunning then the front.

1950s Fashion: Woman's Evening Ensemble: Dress and Slip c. 1950s Designed by Carrie Munn, American, 1898 - 1984
1950s Fashion: Woman's Evening Ensemble: Dress and Slip c. 1950s Designed by Carrie Munn, American, 1898 - 1984

Source: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Elizabeth Parke Firestone, wife of tire magnate Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., cultivated a refined sense of fashion. Her fashion choices not only reflected her years of interest in clothing design and collaboration with world-renowned couturiers, but also highlighted her family’s social standing.

Firestone wore this jacketed dress — by American designer Carrie Munn — to her 25th wedding anniversary celebration at New York’s Ritz Hotel in 1946.

She would go on and wear several of Carrie Munn Designs.

1940s Vintage Dress-Firestone wore this jacketed dress -- by American designer Carrie Munn -- to her 25th wedding anniversary celebration at New York's Ritz Hotel in 1946.

Source: Arts and Culture Google

Here is the dress that was under the jacket. YOOZA!

Elizabeth Parke Firestone at Her 25th Wedding Anniversary Celebration with Daughters Martha and Elizabeth, June 25, 1946 (Source).

1940s Vintage Photo: Elizabeth Parke Firestone at Her 25th Wedding Anniversary Celebration with Daughters Martha and Elizabeth, June 25, 1946

Source: Henry Ford Museum

Satin Jacquard Evening Dress with Diagonal Stripes, about 1947.

This garment was owned by Elizabeth Parke Firestone. She is shown wearing this dress in photographs taken by Cecil Beaton for Vogue Magazine in very late 1949 or early 1950. Elizabeth also wore this dress at a party for her eldest daughter, Elizabeth (Source).

1940s Fashion: Satin Jacquard Evening Dress with Diagonal Stripes, about 1947

Source: Digital Library Wayne Edu

1940s Photo: Elizabeth Parke Firestone is shown wearing this and another dress in photographs taken by Cecil Beaton for Vogue Magazine in very late 1949 or early 1950

When I look at this next dress, all I can think about is SPRING! What another knockout 1950s Dress! Don’t you just love the flowers on the skirt? How creative!

1950s Fashion: Carrie Munn 1950s Vintage Dress Green with Flowers. Spring Dress

Source: The museum of fine arts, Houston

1941 Vintage Photo: In The Carrie Munn winter collection shown at the luncheon fashion show at the Waldorf-Astoria was this red wool dinner suit with small black velvet collar trimmed with jeweled buttons. With it are two black fox muffs worn as cuffs.

1940s Photo: 1941 vintage photo of a Model Wearing Hat and Long Suit with Fur Trim. The outfit is a Carrie Munn Design. Beautiful 1940s fashion.

Source: Getty Images

Carrie Munn, 1950s Beige, Cream and Pink Dress. Big fan of this combo!

1950s Vintage Dress by Carrie Munn -1950s Beige, Cream and Pink Evening Dress.

Source: Pinterest

Late 1940s, Carrie Munn Apron Gown. Another stunner of a Spring dress!

Carrie Munn Apron Gown 1940s vintage dress. The dress is ivory organza jacquard with the sleeveless boned bodice embroidered with a single large variegated pastel pink rose on a stalk. The circle skirt has two underlayers and the long apron with picot trim and two rows embroidered roses.

Source: Doyle.com

1953 Cocktail Dress. Black jersey sleeveless bodice with bib of black braid and cord, faille circle skirt, braid and cord decorated net apron. THE DETAILS! Fantastic!

1950s Fashion: 1953 Cocktail Dress. Black jersey sleeveless bodice with bib of black braid and cord, faille circle skirt, braid and cord decorated net apron

Source: Bidsquare.com

Why there is not more on this designer, I will never know. Her creations are beautiful and yet she is footnote on many pages (and it was a HUNT to find images of her designs).

Hopefully this blog post will help shed a bit more light on Carrie Munn to those, like myself who had no idea who she was. Special thanks to FabGabs who brought her to my attention.

Question time: Did you enjoy learning about this designer? Have you ever seen her designs in real life or even on the web? Share in the comments section below, I would love to learn some more!

Further Reading:

Take care!

Liz