Figure 1.--America celebrated its Centenial in 1876. Boys were offered this marble shooter to boys. Notice the narrow brimmed, rounded crow hats and long pants.
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Figure 1.--America celebrated its Centenial in 1876. Boys were offered this marble shooter to boys. Notice the narrow brimmed, rounded crow hats and long pants. |
Shooting marbles were a popular game for boys. Marbles were relatively inexpensive, so virtually every boy could afford to
play. In fact, it was probably more common for boys from humble than rich families. I'm not sure just when American boys began shooting marbles. It is clear that it was common by mid-century and probably muc earlier. A 1876 advertisement promoted a marble shooter, as a Centenial celebration item. America celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1876. The adverising industry and modern marketing were clearly well in place by the 1870s. The as also suggests that ordinary marble shooting was already well established. The boys in the ad wear narrow brimmed hats with rounded crows and long pants. The ad also suggests that ordinary marble shooting was already well established.
Shooting marbles were a popular game for boys. Marbles were relatively inexpensive, so virtually every boy could afford to
play. In fact, it was probably more common for boys from humble than rich families. I'm not sure just when American boys began shooting marbles. It is clear that it was common by mid-century and probably muc earlier.
A 1876 advertisement promoted a marble shooter, as a Centenial celebration item. America celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1876. The whole year was an outpouring of patriotic spirit in America. Many products were marketed as part of the celebrations.
The adverising industry and modern marketing were clearly well in place by the 1870s. The 1870s was not the first appearance of such advertising, but it was becoming increasingly common.
The boys in the ad wear narrow brimmed hats with rounded crows and long pants. HBC is not sure how common long pants were for boys in 1876. Kneepants were becoming increasingly popular at the time. HBC believes that the drawing may reflect the artist's boyhood memories when he played marbles, more than accurately depicting what boys were commonly wearing in the 1870s. In this casr the ad was meant to appeal to boys rather tan mothers, so depicting fancy cl;othing was not needed.
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