Matchbook Art, Okay At Least We Know These Are Real? I Think?

Fellow Woody Boater Robert Murdock actually collects these things. Like there are cases for them? What the hell? BUT SO SO COOL!

Okay, there is so much of all this stuff around that is made again. I swear, Oh, I swear all right. But Matchbooks? Little thumbnail works of art, and basically not worth the energy or effort to replicate.

I had found this on ebay and sent it to him. Of course I had met my match. Get it. match? Book? Okay, next slide please

The Pussycat. Oh hell to the YA! I dont see this name anymore? Its such a 60’s classic.

Huns Bunny! Customized matchbooks are one of the ultimate details.

Hand these out at the races to build a fan base.

Dealer Matchbooks. I bet Chris Craft made these. Along with the smoking industry. You forget how deep the marketing and smart tobacco marking was.

Line art is the best art – Okay Art, Molly O art is the best art.

The following are old file images from past Matchbook stories. Wow, I must really like these little things. They spark conversation for sure.

Cobra

Cool Mid Century art

On the matches

BEST OF THE BEST

Steelcraft book is insane

WOW

Simple and cool

I have a box of these

Love these

Its endless

The Viking

You go Bob!

The Boatman!

Amazing art- ya ya, not that art..

THAYERS! WHAT, is this the real Thayers or ? AHHHHH

18 replies
  1. Capt. Cranky
    Capt. Cranky says:

    Bravo on the last couple days…great topics! Old advertising rocks…how about a post some day on the history and development of PFDs? If nothing else…it outta make for some fun comments!

    • Kelly Wittenauer
      Kelly Wittenauer says:

      Love this idea! From those awful, orange, lumpy keyhole things, mom made us wear when I was young. To the neoprene vest I wear to ski now.

  2. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    A Reynolds Aluminum boat? I have visions of boats on a roll that you pull out and tear off. Okay, its early, best I can do.

  3. Kelly Wittenauer
    Kelly Wittenauer says:

    While I know they were the budget alternative to the multi-color prints, I find the single color ones much more appealing. The skill required of the artist to convey so much detail, thru the use of the negative spaces, amazes me. There’s a boldness in the simplicity, that I find more impactful.

  4. briant
    briant says:

    Ah yes, the old matchbooks. These little works of art is what started me down the path of non-conformity. Cannot count the number I struck with that open cover as a kid.

    “Close cover before striking” ??

    Yeah, Piss off.

  5. Rabbit
    Rabbit says:

    Great restaurants still offer beautiful matchbooks. And my daughter has a fantastic collection of them. You may use them to light a fire (woody boaters burn wood, not gas!) instead of a cigarette, but they’re still art and great advertising.

  6. tom
    tom says:

    I remember going to Wilsons for supplies. They had a full size (b&w) mural of an old Chris Craft runabout on their showroom wall. I think “Pussycat” was the name of the Jerry Lewis yacht that sank.

  7. Alan
    Alan says:

    Very cool! The match books would seem to be an excellent choice for someone that doesn’t have a lot of extra space for a collection.

  8. Ross
    Ross says:

    “your red scarf matches your eyes
    close your cover before striking
    father had the shoplifter blues
    loving you has made me bananas”

Comments are closed.