State Historical Society of Iowa

"Valuable Invention!" Advertisement, 1885

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This document from 1855 is an advertisement for a new cultivator with numerous testimonials from farmers as to its value as an agricultural tool.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Dana, C.H., "Valuable invention!. Dana's premium cultivator ... [West Lebanon, N. H. 1855]," 1885

Description

This 1855 advertisement has two parts. The first part by the manufacturer makes claims about their new cultivator, while the second half contains testimonials from farmers confirming the claims. The claims about the device make the point that it is a time-saving device that does the work of multiple men. 

Transcript of "Valuable Invention!" Advertisement

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What selling points does the manufacturer give for calling his invention "Valuable" in the advertisement? Do the testimonials support the claims? Why or why not?
  • What are the common opinions given by farmers in their testimonials about this device? How would you categorize what they say? What kinds of themes are repeated in the farmer testimonials? What correlations can be made between the testimonials for this product and the Baker's Plowing Machine Advertisement?

Citation Information

Dana, C.H., "Valuable invention!. Dana's premium cultivator ... [West Lebanon, N. H. 1855]," 1885. Courtesy of Library of Congress