Back to school is almost here and while it has been a long time since I have been an official student, I still get many flashbacks of the days leading up to the first day back.

So for today’s post I’m going to do a collection of vintage back to school advertisements from 1920s -1960s to maybe bring back your own memories of the first day back (please share them in the comments section below).

Let the fun begin!

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.

Back to School Vintage Advertising

1920s-1960s

1954 vintage ad for Blue Bell long wearing clothing for the entire family. “It’s Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!”

1950s Vintage Back to School Ad: 1954 Blue Bell Long Wearing Clothing For The Entire Family "It's Back To School~In Bright Sturdy Blue Bells!" Vintage Ad

Source: Etsy

1954 vintage advertisement. “Save on Back to School Specials at Rexall Drug Stores!”

We have a:

Zipper Binder
Lead Pencils
Wrist Watches
Pocket Watch
Lunch Kit
School Bag
Handkerchief Package
And so much more!

1950s vintage ad: REXALL DRUG STORES Original 1954 Vintage Extra Large Black & White Print Advertisement - September Back to School Sale

Source: Etsy

A variety of “tastefully appropriate” apparel for young schoolgirls (7-14) from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog.

A variety of "tastefully appropriate" apparel for young schoolgirls from the Fall-Winter 1923 Sears catalog. 1920s fashion illustration of young girls in school clothes

Source: Tumblr

1940s ad. “I hate to go back to school” says our blonde character. Why? Because she does not look good and her smile is not great. But don’t worry Listerine and a makeover will make everything better!

I am enjoying the 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles in this ad (even though the messaging is from another time).

1940s vintage ad: Listerine Toothpaste Ad: I Hate To Go Back To School ! from 1940's. Featuring 2 young women discussing how to have the boys like her.

Source: eBay

1962 back to school national Bellas Hess catalog. I remember all I wanted when I was younger was a plaid skirt. Cute look on our 1960s teen.

1960s vintage ad: 1962 Back To School National Bellas Hess Catalog featuring a young woman in 1960s fashion for school

Source: Flickr

1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape “It’s Time To Buy Back To School Supplies!”

Original 1955 Texcel Cellophane Tape Magazine Ad. 1950s Vintage Back to School Ad.

Source: Etsy

1936 Back to school dresses for Girls – 1930s companion Butterick sewing patterns advertisment.

Source: Etsy

1946 Phillip’s Milk Of Magnesia print ad. “Back To School; Back To Work”.

1940s vintage ad: 1946 Phillip's Milk Of Magnesia Vintage Print Ad Back To School Back To Work

Source: eBay

1960s back to school advertisement. An outstanding large vintage french poster showing two happy, well dressed children eagerly returning to school, replendent in their new clothes, school bags and equipment.

1960s vintage advertisement for back to school featuring two school kids running

Source: Etsy

1940s vintage ad. Heading back to college? Make sure you shop at Harry W. Joseph in West Phila for your campus styled Arrow shirts.

1940s Harry W Joseph Mens Store Arrow Shirts Back To School vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s going back to school…..loans advertisment. This ad made me chuckle so I needed to add it to the collection.

1950 Going-back-to-school Loans Debt Advertising Poster Vintage ad

Source: eBay

1950s ad for Woolworth’s School Pencils & Pencil Cases.

1950s ad for Woolworths school supplies.

Source: Pinterest

1930s vintage ad. School wear for Girls from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938 (not a fall ad but a new year school ad).

School wear from Grace Brothers, Broadway, Sydney 1938. 1930s fashions for young girls.

Source: Pinterest

1940s newspaper ads for Cripe Town Talk Bread – “Back To School, Take a Lunch”.

1940s vintage ad for Cripe Town Talk Bread - Back To School, take a lunch

Source: eBay

Just what every teen wants…to dress like their whole family for back to school. 1962 Minnesota Woven ad.

1960s vintage ad for Minnesota Woven, 1962 featuring a 1960s family in back to school clothes

Source: grayflannelsuit.net

Hope you enjoyed the collection of back to school advertising. Share in the comments what your favourite ad was or a story about your own back to school experience.

Further Reading:

Vintage Advertising 1920s – 1960s (archived blog post)
Vintage Back to School posts

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

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.

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.

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.

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!

Source: Period Paper

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!

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.

Source: Etsy

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

Nice Legs Bob Cummings!

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!

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

Tag: vintage advertising