Vintage Art Deco Era Fitch's Dandruff Shampoo Department Store Display Sign MINT
Came from the estate of a hair and makeup collector. Frederick Walter Fitch was born January 28, 1870, at Burnside, Iowa to Lucius Henry Carey Fitch, a physician, and his wife, Mary Eleanor Epperson. Fitch wanted to be a doctor but without a high school education he was unable to enroll at the University of Iowa. He became a barber in Madrid, Iowa and developed hair formulas with the input of a man named Dr. Fitch Company in Boone, Iowa, in 1892, and also owned a barbershop. Fitch's first product was a hair tonic labeled Ideal Hair Grower and Dandruff Cure. " Later products included the "Fitch scientific scalp treatment. Fitch moved his business to Des Moines at 15th and Walnut Streets in 1917; this district, F. Fitch Company Historic District, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fitch Company sponsored a national radio broadcast, The Fitch Bandwagon, from fall 1938 to spring 1948. It had three different formats. The first featured many popular musical acts in its early years, including Cab Calloway, Ozzie Nelson, Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo. The second was a variety show starring Cass Daley that featured popular bands between skits.
The third and best-remembered version starred Phil Harris and Alice Faye for a single and final season; they later spun The Fitch Bandwagon into their long-running show, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. The company did well throughout the early 20th century and during World War II but saw a decline in sales after the war due to the loss of military contracts.
Fitch Company to Grove Laboratories in St. Fitch Company building is now owned by Exile Brewing Company. The condition of this sign is so excellent that it looks like it came out of a time capsule.
It's worthy of display in a makeup museum. It measures 20" tall and 14" wide.
Will take great care in packing. See my other signs from the same estate sale. Contact me should you have questions or comments.