100 Years Ago - Beech-Nut Peanut Butter

Now you don’t think of the name Beech-Nut when you talk about peanut butter, but 100 years ago the company’s products included everything from ham to chili sauce.

Beech-Nut was established by Raymond P. Lipe and Dr. John D. Zeiley in the Mohawk Valley town of Canajoharie, NY in 1891. It started out as the Imperial Packing Company, producing Beech-Nut ham and for the company's first seven years it principally produced ham and bacon.

In 1899 the company was incorporated as the Beech-Nut Packing Company and Beech-Nut engineers patented the first vacuum jar that could remain intact in transit. The company gradually expanded its product line into peanut butter, jam, pork and beans, ketchup, chili sauce, mustard, spaghetti, macaroni, marmalade, caramel, fruit drops, mints, chewing gum, and coffee.

The Boy Scout references in this ad probably tell you it came from Boy’s Life. I can’t honestly imagine feeding a hungry troop of Boy Scouts on peanut butter and crackers. I think you might have a revolt on your hands!

Back from the Cold

Celebrating the end of my cold with a particularly militant ad for Smith Brother's cough drops snipped from the pages of a November 1919 issue of Boy's Life. I remember the Boy Scouts are supposed to be prepared, but I didn't know they were "soldiers of public health". I can't get past seeing a kid in scouting gear and gold-and-blue neckerchief standing on the corner glowering and saying "Hey bud, healthen up!"