Page 27 - joa-1-24

ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Staying Power

phemera is often thought of as paper most known for invent- nothing at all like it had been previously. The
collectibles. Technically, it is a term ing items designed to three men later retired and have since passed
Eused for any materials that were made make farm work easier, away. The last, Flanagan, died in 2005.
for short-term use but are somehow still including windmills However, the magazine saw a great rise in
popular to collect now. Often, those materials and water wheels. popularity under their reign, and it was
were made out of paper. As such, many were eventually taken over, albeit briefly, in 1984
fragile, and many were also only produced in The Establishment of by Piel’s son, Jonathan.
small amounts. Thus, they can be hard to find Scientific American In 1986, Jonathan sold the business again.
today, especially in good condition. Examples Known today as This time, a German company called
of ephemera include posters, playbills, and Scientific American Holtzbrinck Publishing Group took it over.
magazine issues. Today, let’s take a peek at (SciAm or SA for short), For the first time, Scientific American was
one major U.S. source of those magazine SA April 7 1906 Porter originally named not American-owned, but it was and is
issues, the magazine Scientific American. it The Scientific still published steadily. In fact, today it is
American. Use of “The” in the title was later published online, as well as in-print. It
The Oldest Magazine in the United States dropped. It started out in New York City as a remains popular with readers throughout the
Harper’s, The Atlantic, and Vogue are all weekly publication about science-related country and is dedicated to covering a wide
American magazines that got early starts. topics consisting of only four pages. The early variety of topics, including health, general
They debuted in 1850, 1857, and 1892, issues focused primarily on issues relating to science, the environment, and technology.
respectively. However, Scientific American has the U.S. Patent Office. Although, many
them all beat. Its first issue was released on specific inventions were also highlighted in Scientific American and its Connection
August 28, 1845. It has been continuously the first couple of decades. One was a device to the Woolworth Building
published ever since. created by a very famous figure, Abraham Today, the main editorial office of
Lincoln. The device, featured in 1860, was an Scientific American is still located in New York
item used to buoy ships. Of course, that City, at 1 New York Plaza. However, the
was just before his presidency, which began magazine has previously been based in other
in 1861. locations. One of those was the famous
It’s important to note Porter wasn’t in Woolworth Building. The Woolworth
charge of the magazine when the Lincoln Building was constructed in 1913, and the
invention was featured. Nor was he when magazine moved in two years later.
most other inventions were featured. That’s The Woolworth
because he sold the publication within 10 Building, at the time
months of founding it. The new owners were of its construction,
Orson Desaix Munn and Moses Yale Beach. was the tallest sky-
The former was a friend of Porter’s, and the scraper in the world.
latter is known for also establishing the It was also one of
Associated Press. the first to be built
SA First Issue August 28 1845
in New York City.
The Post-War Scientific American The 60-story build-
Rufus Porter By 1948, the new ownership had also ing still stands
Rufus Porter (May 1, 1792 – August 13, impacted the feel of the magazine. It became
1884) was the founder of Scientific American. more instructional in nature, almost like today. It is located
in Manhattan near
Porter was born in Boxford, Massachusetts Popular Science. However, it also saw a major Barclay Street and
into a large and affluent New England family. decline in popularity, which may not have Park Place. Woolworth Building
He became an artist in the early 1800s. He been due entirely to the new format.
was also a famous muralist who traveled and World War II had changed everything in Collecting Scientific American
painted through- the country, and Scientific American celebrated its 175th
out New England, the readership of anniversary in 2020, so it should come as no
as well as to other certain magazines surprise that there’s no shortage of issues to
states mostly on was no exception. collect. The online archive provided by
or near the East As a result, the Scientific American allows you to read many
Coast, such as magazine was issues from May 1948 onward at your leisure.
Virginia. Porter bought out. However, if you prefer collecting paper
had a vested inter- The new own- copies, you’re in for a hunt. The best place to
est in scientific ers were Donald look for them is online on websites like
advancement and H. Miller Jr., eBay because you can search through a vast
was, in fact, also an Dennis Flanagan, assortment of listings quickly and easily.
inventor. That’s and Gerald Piel. Although, you may also get lucky and find
what led him to Although under copies in physical locations like antiques shops
establish Scientific the same name, and flea markets.
SA Civil War Sept 10 1864 American. He was Scientific American
the magazine was Sept 1941

Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for 1980s pre-1980s TV and films as a kid, and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned that
passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at https://medium.com/@jkos_writing, as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest
films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of us may have forgotten.

January 2024 25