Vintage metal tin full of Poslam Ointment and its original Poslam Paper
Packet. A 10-cent trial packet. c. 1928

It is nice to know a little back ground information about a particular item …
that is part of the pleasure of collecting. One should always know something
about their vintage treasures.

This is an interesting two-in-one offering … that contains a small metal tin,
that was a trial size of Poslam Ointment and its Poslam Paper Advertising
Packet. Poslam was said to be an aid in the treatment of Eczema, pimples, and
many skin issues and it stated that it would help clear up the complexion.

The tiny metal tin is full of Poslam. The front of the tin states: 10-cents,
Poslam, relieves itching and burning of Eczema, Local treatment for Acne
Pimples. Emergency Laboratories. New York & London.

The back of the Poslam tin states: Poslam, Directions: Apply twice daily
directly to parts affected. Emergency Laboratories, New York & London. Made at
the laboratories at New York, USA.

Poslam may have at first been made in New York? … It is not known for sure …
but a factory in Jersey City New Jersey is listed as having made Poslam.
Sometimes in the past, numerous companies did a little “creative advertising”
to make their products sound bigger and more impressive than they were. It was
impressive for a company to state that its product was made in its New York
Laboratory … New York in the early part of the 20th century was (and still is,)
an impressive city … and saying that a product was manufactured in a laboratory
sounded scientific and sanitary ... and it was more impressive to state that a
company had offices in New York & London … which made a company appear to be
global. Before big pharmaceutical companies came into existence … early skin
treatments and beauty products were made by pharmacists in the back room of
their drugstore and a few pharmacists, because of their successful products,
became well-known, wealthy, and established small factories to manufacture
their products in large quantities to sell to the masses of consumers. A few
individuals in life simply sold their home-made Elixirs that they claimed to be
almost magical because they were said to be a cure all for almost anything …
they simply made the snake-oil-salesman a modest amount of money and enabled
him to not have to work at a real job.

The Poslam paper advertising packet states: Poslam, antiseptic, soothing. is a
valuable aid for and usually affords relief in burns, scalds, cuts, abrasions,
pimples, bruises, blisters, insect bites, stings, poison ivy, sun burn, chapped
skin, hives, itching feet, piles. As well as the more serious skin disorders.
Poslam should be in every medicine cabinet and emergency kit.

Directions: Apply twice a daily to parts affected. For full directions see
pamphlet enclosed (sorry but there is no pamphlet available with this offering.)

Contents: 10-cents trial box Poslam. For full directions see circular. Made at
New York, USA.
It was distributed by Emergency Laboratories New York & London.

For those that collect metal tins and paper products this is a nice rare find
since this offering contains both the metal tin (full of its ointment,) and the
paper packet that the tin came in. … Paper products are usually thrown away or
they simply deteriorate over time due to various conditions that they were kept
in which affected them. This paper packet has a fold in the middle, otherwise
it is in very good condition for a paper item that is close to 100-years old.
It is amazing that it has survived over the years.

Both items are nice collectors find for those that collect vintage metal
advertising tins, vintage paper advertising products, and those that simply
collect vintage products that are related to the beauty industry.

Each vintage cosmetic has a unique and interesting story of its own.

This product was kept in the makeup case of famed Hollywood makeup artist Ben
lane for use on the film actors and actresses that he worked on in Hollywood
during the Golden Age of Hollywood movie making.

Mr. Lane was the former Director of the Makeup Department for R.K.O. Pictures,
Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, and Warner Brothers Pictures and Warner
Brothers Television. He was a makeup artist on a variety of classic films such
as: The Good Earth, Gunga Din, Show Boat, and countless other films of the
Golden Era of Hollywood. His last film before his retirement was the 1981
lovable classic film “Annie.” He was one of the original founders of the Motion
Picture Makeup Artists Association (MPMAA,) which later in 1937 became the
IATSE - Local 706, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Guild in Hollywood (the Film
and Television union.) He was also a member of the Society of Makeup Artists
(referred to as SMA on screen credits,) and an Honorary Lifetime Member of the
International Society of Makeup Artists (also referred to as ISOMA – it is an
International Association of Makeup Artists.) See the ISOMA Internet website:
http://isomacosmetics.com/honors.htm to see pictures of Mr. Lane working and to
read more about Mr. Lanes wonderful career under the heading on the left
titled: ISOMA Honors.

Mr. Lane had a large unique collection of vintage Max Factor, Miners,
Leichner, Steins, Chass. D. Hess, Zauder Bros, Warner Brothers, Westmore's of
Hollywood, Chesebrough-Ponds, Colgate, Cutex, DeVilbliss, Don Juan, Dorothy
Gray, Edna Wallace Hopper, Harriet Hubbard Ayers, Kurlash, Charles of the Ritz,
Lady Ester, Lilly Dache, Marie Earle, Llouis Philippe, Luxor, Naylon by La
Cross, Nu Masca, Park & Tilford, Ruth Rogers, Krypolan, Ben Nye, Bob Kelly,
Hazel Bishop, Revlon, Maybelline, Shiseido, Mark Traynor, Makeup Center, Custom
Color Cosmetics, ISOMA Cosmetics, and many more.

Mr. Lane also had other rare cosmetic products that were related to the beauty
and film industry in his collection from his many years of working as a makeup
artist in the entertainment industry of Hollywood ... such as face foundations
from the 1935 Elizabeth Arden “Screen & Stage” Cosmetic line (few people today
know that this line existed after Elizabeth Arden spent millions of dollars
manufacturing and promoting it, in. her quest to be the new Max Factor of
Hollywood .... or the Elizabeth Arden of Hollywood. Ben Lane was one of
Hollywood’s premier makeup artists during the Golden Age of Hollywood movie
making.

This is a nice addition for the vintage collector of cosmetic products and for
the vintage collector of cosmetic movie memorabilia or for those that love
items from a bygone era.

If vintage cosmetics could talk ... they would reveal amazing secrets and
stories.