Post-Card Mimeograph

Object/Artifact

-

New Museum Los Gatos

Name/Title

Post-Card Mimeograph

Entry/Object ID

NU 2025.8.1-7

Description

A vintage device used to print postcards by hand. The kit includes the printing device, which is constructed from all steel parts painted beige, with a black ink roller, and is designed with an automatic feed function. The kit also includes ink, correction fluid, a small brush, a ball burnisher, and a packet of post card stencils, all contained in the original product box.

Collection

History Collection

Cataloged By

collectionsintern@numulosgatos.org

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Vari-Color Duplicator Co., Sears, Roebuck, and Co.,

Time Period

20th Century

Place

City

Shawnee

State/Province

Oklahoma

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Notes

Vari-Color Duplicators Co. made the mimeograph kit, Sear, Roebuck and Co. sold and distributed the product.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

On left side of the printing device.

Transcription

In All Correspondence Regarding This Article Always Mention Model Number 870.5929 Order Replacement Parts By Mail or Through Any of Our Retail Stores Sear, Roebuck and Co. U.S.A. Simpsons Sears Limited Canada

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Inscription

Location

On right side of printing device.

Transcription

SEARS

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Label

Location

On small bottle of Correction Fluid (Part 4 of 7)

Transcription

FLAMABLE Correction Fluid SEARS No. 4276 For best results rub lightly over error with smooth object, insert pencil between stencil and backing sheet---then apply thin coating of correction fluid, allow one minute to dry. re- move pencil and stencil is like new. Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Inscription

Location

On both shorter sides of the original box (Part 2 of 7).

Transcription

Sears UP post-card mimeograph Automatic Feed. Hand Ink. 3 5929

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Notes

On one of the short sides there is unknown information that was hand written: 43 Redd 1/16/743

Type

Inscription

Location

On the two long side of the original box (Part 2 of 7)

Transcription

Sears UP Quality Assured Office Equipment Post-Card Mimeograph Sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Simpsons Sears Limited. Made In U.S.A.

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Label

Location

On inner long side flap of original box (Part 2 of 7)

Transcription

Contents Sears, Roebuck & Co. #488 Merchandise Dept. #3 Postmaster: This parcel 2650 E. Olympic Blvd. may be opened for postal Los Angeles, California inspection if necessary. ORDER #M3302 M3303 777927 From 777928 777939 777849, 985501 Vari-Color (Unreadable). 650LBS. Duplicator Co. Mimeograph Manufacturers of Cat. #5929 Duplicators, Special Machines, Supplies ETC. 435-37 S. Lincoln Ave. Shawnee, OKLA. 74801 Return Postage Guaranteed

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed, Pen

Notes

In the bottom center of label "This should be in a museum" and the number 54 are hand written in pen. It also says "Fragile Handle With Care" above the label.

Type

Inscription

Location

Front side of Post Card Stencil package (Part 3 of 7).

Transcription

mimeograph Post Card Stencils Catalog No. 4275 Tower Reg. Trade-Mark Perfect all purpose stencil Equally good for typing or stylus work Sensitive to manual or electric typewriters Fits all standard heading postcard duplicators Manufactured from finest material available Easy on typewriter rollers and plantens Tower Quality at low cost Guarantee of satisfaction Sears, Roebuck and Co. (on bottom folded tab) 2 Dozen --- 4275 Postcard Stencils

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Mimeograph

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Duplicator

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Postcard

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Replication Equipment

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Writing Media

Nomenclature Class

Printing T&E

Nomenclature Class

Written Communication T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Printing device (Part 1 of 7)

Height

6-1/4 in

Width

8 in

Length

11 in

Dimension Description

Box (Part 2 of 7)

Height

9 in

Width

10-1/2 in

Length

12-3/4 in

Dimension Description

Post-card stencil package (Part 3 of 7)

Height

3/4 in

Width

4 in

Length

8 in

Dimension Description

Correction Fluid bottle (Part 4 of 7)

Height

2-1/2 in

Diameter

1 in

Circumference

3-1/4 in

Dimension Description

Ink tin (Part 5 of 7)

Height

2 in

Diameter

2-1/2 in

Circumference

7-3/4 in

Dimension Description

Ball burnisher (Part 6 of 7)

Length

6-1/4 in

Diameter

3/4 in

Circumference

1-1/4 in

Dimension Description

Synthetic brush (Part 7 of 7)

Length

6-1/4 in

Diameter

1/2 in

Circumference

1-1/4 in

Materials

Material

Cardboard, Steel, Wood, Glass, Plastic, Paper, Rubber

Material Notes

The printing device is steel and rubber, the box is cardboard, the post-card stencil package is made of card stock paper, the bottle of correction fluid is glass with a plastic top, the ink is in a steel can, the ball burnisher is made of steel and wood, the synthetic brush is made of steel and nylon bristles.

Condition

Overall Condition

Excellent

Overall Condition

Fair

Overall Condition

Good

Overall Condition

Very Good

Overall Condition

Very Good

Overall Condition

Excellent

Overall Condition

Fair

General Notes

Note Type

Cataloging Note

Note

There were unknown items found in the box that were not part of the original object set based on research. They appear to be some sort of card stock punch cards with rows of numbers. No indication of where they come from or when they were added to the original item set.