Posted 6 years ago
mikeigotit
(504 items)
Here is an old I believe to be Advertisement for the Water wagon #23. It measures 9-1/2 by 14-3/4 inches. awesome colors. appears only mark is the letter H next to his cane and at the top written in pencil is mark unknown to me???? if any one knows the year this was published and for what company the info would be greatly appreciated.
My thinking is this is a prohibition era poster (c. 1920 - 1933). The idea here is that the gentleman is drinking a sudsy beer and is being encouraged to "get aboard the wagon". At that time, there was a popular phrase "get on the water wagon", meaning "stop drinking". This is also where the term "fell off the wagon" or "fell off the water wagon" originated.
The "23" designation was a reference to the wagon used not for water, but rather for spreading liquid manure or some other liquid fertilizer. Thus, if you don't get on the wagon and stop drinking, it will be the (bleep) wagon for you. Why the number "23" is on a wagon labeled Water Wagon, I couldn't say. A double entendre, perhaps ?
The interesting unknown mark could be either the artist, or the Temperance member who distributed the poster. Those members would often precede their name or initials with a "T" or incorporate a "T" into their initials (for "teetotaler"). Die-hard radical members would often "double stem" the "T" for emphasis. It could also mean absolutely nothing.
ALSO, NOTICE THE WORD 'aboard' is actually spelled ABROAD in the first line of the poem ?
RCassano Thank you for the Info !!!!