Vintage 1914 Gimbels Beer Model Advertising Print

This photographic print, created by the Bain News Service in March 1914, captures a striking example of early 20th-century advertising at the Gimbels department store. During this time, Gimbels was one of the largest and most well-known department stores in the United States, famous for its innovative marketing strategies and extravagant displays. The image features a beer model, which was likely part of a promotional campaign to attract customers and showcase new products.

The photograph serves as an important historical reference, illustrating the marketing practices of the era and how department stores began to use visual imagery to influence consumer behavior. The clothing worn by the models reflects fashion trends of the time, providing insight into the styles popular in the early decades of the 1900s. This visual documentation also highlights the role of department stores as social hubs, where shopping was not just a transaction but a cultural experience, integral to urban life.

Such images offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of advertising and consumer culture in America. They reveal not only the products being marketed but also the societal norms and expectations surrounding femininity and fashion in the early 1900s. The Gimbels department store, through its marketing techniques, illustrates a pivotal moment in the development of retail practices that continue to influence how products are presented to consumers today.