This collection consists of 3D objects, including cans, sprayers, and diffusers, as well as ephemera related to DDT pesticide and insecticide in the U.S. in the mid-20th century.
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Bellows
- After 1826 – before 1930
Pesticide bellows with wooden handles, expandable leather pouch, and tip. Instructions attached to object.
- Manufacturer Bateman Mfg. Co., Mfrs. Agts
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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4 items
Standard Aerosol Insect Killer
- After 1870 – before 1972
Standard brand pesticide spray can with red and blue text on red, white, and blue label. Standard logo. Round red cap.
- Manufacturer Standard Oil Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Lee's Louse Powder for Poultry and Livestock
- After 1910 – before 1939
Lee's brand pesticide can with blue, white, and red text on yellow and blue label. Rooster graphic.
- Manufacturer Geo. H. Lee Co.
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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Mexican Brand Insect Fluid Label
- Circa 1910 – circa 1915
Printed bottle label for Mexican Brand Insect Fluid, depicting a woman using the product in a bedroom, with the tagline "What is Home without a Clean Bed."
- Subject Public health, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides, Toxins
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2 items
Cenol Bed Bug Destroyer
- 1920s
Cenol brand pesticide can with black and white text on orange and black label. Metal double screw cap.
- Manufacturer Cenol Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Cenol Moth-Proof
- After 1920 – before 1950
Cenol brand pesticide can with navy text on white and bright orange label. Large moth graphic. Metal screw cap.
- Manufacturer Cenol Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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Fly-Tox Manual Hand Sprayer
- 1920s
Hand sprayer with wooden hand pump and metal canister labeled "Fly-Tox" in red text on blue and white background. Round metal canister with screw cap attached to front end of sprayer.
- Manufacturer Rex Research Corporation
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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3 items
Flit Aerosol Fly and Mosquito Killer
- Circa 1923
Flit brand aerosol spray can with red, white, and blue text on red, white, and blue label with marching soldier graphic. Round red cap.
- Manufacturer Esso Standard Oil Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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4 items
Flit Moth Proofer
- Circa 1923
Flit brand insecticide aerosol spray can with red, white, and blue text on red, white, and blue label with marching soldier graphic. Round blue cap.
- Manufacturer Esso Standard Oil Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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Your child is defenseless unless Fly-Tox kills moths, flies, roaches, ants, mosquitoes, fleas, etc.
- 1925
Color print magazine advertisement for Fly-Tox. Depicts a young white child asleep holding a Black toy doll. This ad appeared in the Ladies' Home Journal, July 1925.
- Subject DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides, Toxins
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Do roaches spread cancer? Tanglefoot Spray
- 1926-Apr-10
Color print magazine advertisement for Tanglefoot Fly Spray. The advertisement notably details the parasitic theory of cancer propagated by Dr. Louis Westenra Sambon (1867-1931) to advocate for the use of pesticides…
- Subject Diseases, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Tanglefoot Company, Cancer, Insecticides, Toxins
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3 items
Chase's Products New Insect Bomb
- After 1927 – before 1972
Chase's brand insecticide aerosol spray can with black and white text on black, white, and yellow label. Round red cap.
- Manufacturer Chase Products Co.
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
FlyDed Insect Spray
- After 1927 – before 1959
Pesticide bottle with blue and white text on orange, blue, and white label. Insect graphics. Red screw cap.
- Manufacturer Boyle-Midway Inc.
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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FlyDed Sprayer
- Before 1927 – before 1959
Hand sprayer with wooden hand pump and metal canister labeled "FlyDed" in white text with blue outline on bright orange background. Green glass jar attached with metal screw cap at front end of sprayer.
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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Flit Manual Hand Sprayer
- After 1928 – before 1939
Hand sprayer with wooden hand pump and metal canister labeled "FLIT" in yellow text on blue banner. Marching soldier graphic. Metal canister attached at front end of sprayer with metal screw cap.
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Tanglefoot Difuso
- After 1930 – before 1949
The Tanglefoot Company first introduced the Difusor insecticide sprayer and Difuso insecticide in 1932. Difuso was a pyrethrum-based insecticide. At the time, the Difusor was considered a revolutionary new method of…
- Manufacturer Tanglefoot Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Tanglefoot Difusor New Method Insect Destroyer
- After 1930 – before 1949
The Tanglefoot Company first introduced the Difusor insecticide sprayer and Difuso insecticide in 1932. Difuso was a pyrethrum-based insecticide. At the time, the Difusor was considered a revolutionary new method of…
- Manufacturer Tanglefoot Company
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Tanglefoot Company, Insecticides
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3 items
Cornelius Hydraulic Aerosol Sprayer
- Circa 1931
Cornelius brand pesticide sprayer.
A. First of two identical brown bottles.
B. Metal sprayer attachment engraved "MFG BY CORNELIUS..." with rubber knob.
C. Second of two identical brown bottles.
D. Cardboard box for…- Manufacturer The Cornelius Company
- Subject Pests--Control, Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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4 items
Standard Mothban Moth Killer
- After 1931 – before 1969
Standard brand Mothban aerosol spray can with red, white, and blue text on white and red background with Standard brand logo. Round red cap.
- Manufacturer Standard Oil Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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3 items
Expellometer Vaporizer
- Circa 1937
Expello brand pesticide vaporizer with black and green text on green label. Black screw cap on bottom, wire handle on top. Meter and red measuring tab with holes along bottom of vaporizer.
- Manufacturer Expello Corporation
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Miller's 50% DDT Wettable
- After 1937 – before 1969
Miller's brand pesticide can with black and yellow text on red, yellow, and green label. Butterfly and landscape graphics.
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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2 items
Bee Brand Flea Killer
- 1940s
Bee brand pesticide can with black and white text on yellow, blue, and red label with dog, cat, and bottle graphic.
- Manufacturer McCormick & Co. (Baltimore, Md.)
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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FROSTEE Paradichlorobenzene Vaporizer
- 1940s
Frostee brand pesticide vaporizer with red and beige text on round tin. Two red lids with green midsection punched with holes.
- Manufacturer Frank J. Curran Co.
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides
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Just press the button... Bugs Drop Dead!
- 1940 – 1945
Color print magazine advertisement for Black Flag's Aerosol Insect Killer.
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2 items
DDT W-50
- After 1941 – before 1972
Pesticide can with black and white text on red, white, and green label. "De-Pester" in white text across top of can.
- Manufacturer Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company
- Subject Pesticides, DDT (Insecticide), Insecticides