Larkin Company Trade Catalog, "The Larkin Home-Helper," circa 1910

Summary

John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.

John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.

Artifact

Trade catalog

Date Made

circa 1910

Subject Date

circa 1910

Creators

Larkin Co. 

Place of Creation

United States, Illinois, Peoria 

Creator Notes

Published by the Larkin Company Branch in Peoria, Illinois.

Collection Title

Trade Catalog Collection 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2019.0.3.87

Material

Ink
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Bookbinding (Process)
Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)
Green

Dimensions

Height: 9.75 in

Width: 8 in

Inscriptions

written on front: ca. 1910

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