2016 July – Fading Ad Blog

Ridgewood Social © Sarah Feldman (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)

Instagram video by Sarah Feldman while riding the J Train going towards Myrtle/Wyckoff station.

The uncovering of these ads was brought to my attention two weeks ago by Sarah Feldman of the blog Ridgewood Social where they were posted for the first time in an effort to glean information from the public. From research that was conducted by Anne Broecker and Ron Rayher, these signs were apparently painted around 1919. Various sources point to this as the probable year they were created.

As found on the Brownstoner website – Brooklyn Eagle, 1904

According to The Brownstoner, The Long Island Business School, located at 143 South 8th Street operated from 1899 to 1921, so this sign would have been painted the just a few years before they ceased operations.

Furniture World, Volume 50, No. 1275 – Thursday, September 4, 1919 – (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)

The Deutsch Brothers Furniture Store specialized in Grand Rapids Furniture and also sold clothing and phonographs. According to September 4, 1919 edition of The Furniture World Magazine:

The Brooklyn store of Deutsch Bros., at 1480 Broadway, suffered by a serious fire which started in the basement December 18 and considerably damaged the stock on three floors. Damage is estimated at $30,000.

On the website Collectors Weekly, one commenter under the screen name DizzyDave stated in a comment six years ago:

They were located in Chicago, and apparently closed sometime from 1920-1927 due to bankruptcy from a fire in their warehouse. It is later noted that the Deutsch Brothers were commissioned in 1961 by Jacquelyn Kennedy to design furniture in the Louis XV style for the East Room of the White House.