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Snake Oil...Pabst's OK Specific

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Signs2739 of 49541940's or 50's Veedol sign1940 miller beer
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    Posted 11 years ago

    AboundingO…
    (24 items)

    This sign once began my collecting of Pabst's products...all snake oil. I once had a very impressive collection, including a marked shipping box made of wood, unopened sealed bottle...sadly, these are all gone, but this piece will never go away.

    When my dad was alive he worked for certain cement companies around here, before the one in 1970 sold out to another, he was manager. This sign was on his office door for as long as he could recall. Once they sold out, the new owners rebuilt the office, and dad got the door, with this sign. Dad died due to an accidental work injury while on the job, at the age of 72. This piece is literally priceless to me due to that fact.

    Pabst's Okay Specific had caused Pabst Chemical to be sued by the government for misleading the public. Pabst's Okay Specific didn't survive much past 1919.

    The frame is original, and the advert is on cardboard. It needs restoration and serious cleaning, but I don't trust anyone with this, plus the cost.
    I don't mind so much losing the other parts of this amazing history. I'm just glad I can share part of my dad's meaning to me in this one item.

    March 5, 2016, I had watched epuke and FB groups for anything OKAY related, and today I found a great little shipping box in one of the FB groups for sale. The gentleman and I messaged back and forth because I didn't feel I could afford it, and he had some of the info wrong so to help him better represent it and himself I gave information. He, seriously kindly, gave me a great deal that I could afford, and sometime late next week the box shown will join its sister advertisement. The beginning of a damaged life has begun.

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    Comments

    1. AboundingOddities AboundingOddities, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Jay. It brings back a lot of memories. I used to visit dad a lot at the plant.
    2. AboundingOddities AboundingOddities, 11 years ago
      cool...mom never brought any home. she worked at the local ammunition plant for a long time. You know how spirits can make things happen? once dad was run over they thought about flying him into Joplin mo or Wichita...somehow they flew him 10 minutes from me. I got to be the only to see him before the comma...and the only to sit with him a week later as we allowed his passing...a very tough man, but awesome good
    3. AboundingOddities AboundingOddities, 11 years ago
      The state was building a 4 lane from ft scott to kc, the company was pouring a bridge and another guy was to be kind of guiding them back and forth but he didn't show. since dad acted as rough shod he took over. one truck had no back up horn working and dad was having him wait for the empty one to pull out. he stepped behind the truck that was loaded and waiting and for some reason the guy decided to start backing. dad was run over by the fifth wheel. The first thing he said to the med-techs when they asked if he hurt was "well, yea-ah"...LOL. They had a collar on him when I was allowed in so he couldn't talk, but he smiled when he saw me and I let him know EVERYONE was on their way. You couldn't tell he had been run over since he was muscularly stout...we took over the hospital...LOL. I got the op to let dad know he had earned being my Granted Father. He and mom had put up a lot with me...I was proud to stand for him when he needed someone to the most. I could almost see his smile in the rooms corner as he let out his last breath..........I actually don't mind telling dad's story, Jay...the spirits always allow the Beauty to be felt when I do...Thank you for asking
    4. AboundingOddities AboundingOddities, 11 years ago
      Very true, jay...very true. Im not so certain that we have time to die...if we do, then I have beaten death over the head a few times...my daughter tells me I am too stubborn to die

      Mom's our Matriarch, even though grandma is too...and dad, well he was everything, and passed our Patriarch!

      We'll talk again on the phone and share further...Blessings
    5. SpiritBear, 9 years ago
      Very pricey for the time, too.

      Love the story.

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