PICS ADDED!! Vintage Cosmetics?

B

Buckarooandco

Registered Guest
While it's not clothing, I was looking for something on a shelf, and I found an old rouge compact I must have picked up at a sale sometime or another. Cute little compact-gold toned, has Photo Finish and a Ribbon in Gold on a pink enamelled background.

Says Elmo, Phila PA, Made in USA, and "REEL RED" is the color. never been used.

Anyone have anyinfo on this stuff?
 
Decorative compacts can be very collectible, depending on how old, how decorative, and if they are a "big" name. I'm not familiar with which are and which aren't, though, but it sounds very pretty, esp. with the enameling. And pink is always good!
 
In the Ancestry.com newspaper database I found a 1937 PA newspaper ad for a Stearns store that had an "Elmo Shop" within their store. They advertised:

"Special Formula Cream is the outstanding achievement of the House of Elmo. The result of fifteen years of intense laboratory research, compounded of rich, nourishing oils, it is recommended to soften and lessen lines around the eyes, prevent crepey neck and firm the contours of the throat."

They also advertised an:

"Introductory set, $9.50 value for only $1 -- This marvelous introductory kit contains a special $1.00 size tube of SPECIAL FORMULA CREAM and special sizes of Elmo (???) Face Powder, Kohl-Mo for the eyelashes, with brush, ELMO Day Rouge and Elmo Lipstick, all for $1.00. Elmo Shop -- Street Floor"

Lynne
 
vintage cosmetics

Hi All,

Vintage cosmetics are my passion! I collect vintage cosmetics ephemera/packaging (e.g. commercial cardboard face powder boxes, advertising, hair net packages, etc.). Presently I have over 450 items. I'm familiar with the Elmo brand -- in fact some of their face powder boxes are very desirable due to the exquisite graphics. Do you have a photo of the rouge container?

Like most cosmetics, rouge became very popular in the 1920s when commercial cosmetics became available. Applying make-up was not done just to be more attractive, it was virtually a political statement.

If you have some specific questions, I'll try to answer them.
And thank you, Julie, for the plug for my blog Vintage Power Room (www.vintagepowderroom.com).

Best,

Joan
 
Here's the pics of it...

344213407.jpg


344213440.jpg


344213387.jpg
 
I've been out all day giving part of a "Hotel Horrors & Main Street Vice" bus tour of Los Angeles (which is great fun). So I'm just now sitting down to take a look at the rouge compact, which is a cutie. I have the Photo Finish face powder box. I'll post pics tomorrow. I was especially intrigued by the info that Lynne found in the Ancestory.Com newspaper database.

I seem to recall that a face powder called "Day Dream" has a Stearns label, and I'm wondering now if there is a connection or if it's a coincidence. I may also have some early examples of Elmo face powder boxes -- I'll check.

So many wonderful detours to take while researching this stuff. I'll see if I can come up with additional info about Photo Finish.

Joan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top