A Matchbook, That Belongs In An Art Gallery. Suitable For Framing.

Amazing design!
I know you all think I am nuts loving the simple graphics of vintage matchbooks. But just look at this little package of heat. This work of art has so much. Wonderful graphics, wonderful paleography, and is jammed packed with information. Almost as much as a brochure. Dang.

All the model!
You could take this, blow it up and frame it as art. Wonderful art.

Suitable for framing

Even the texture of the cardboard is perfect. A real artist did this matchbook.

A wonderful Cut away drawing. This is an amazing amount of work for such a small hand out. But smart since at that time everyone was a smoker and lighters were not all that common.
BUT FIRST YOU WOULD NEED TO BUY IT ON EBAY HERE
Beautiful graphics! Those would look great next to the nautical bean bag ashtray my parents kept in our Thompson.
We had a 26′ 1949 Steelcraft back in the 70’s that we used a lot. It was a great boat and had a lot of character. We sold it to purchase a 1962 32′ Chris-Craft Constellation that needed a complete restoration. At the present time we have a 1968 35″ Commander express bridge and a 1959 17″ Sportsman. We still have great memories of the Steelcraft.
Matchbook art is very cool and is a collection that doesn’t require a dedicated room or barn!
I would bet more of us are/were into MATCHBOX than matchbook……and hey, if we had stuck to mini size boats we could have saved a ton of $ but missed a ton of fun.
next stuff,
John in Va. Going Boating…today
Steelcraft boats, very rare. Have only seen a few over the years. The ACBS directory only showers two. Word is that Mike Mayer has a thing for these boats.
I got a good laugh on the words ” little package of heat” . Wouldnt you lose some of the sharpness if you blew it up to poster size?
Yo Dog! They repeatedly scan it back in. I have a life size shot blown up from a 2 x 3 picture from 1954 of my Dad and I in front of a bullet nose Studebaker. They said they must have left it in the scanner overnight. It is very clear.
Yep, Mayer will lose his guano over this! P
There were three or four Steelcraft up here in Seattle I remember seeing when I was growing up, one next to us in the marina in Eagle Harbor and I think Rob DaPron’s family had one for a while. There is also a great movie filmed above Niagra Falls that featured one – can’t remember the name of it. How is it those matches all look spent, but the matchbook is intact? Must be something about steel – 🙂
It’s true. I love them.
I missed one in my backyard a few years ago when my love afair began. Considered driving to Texas two years ago for one.
Someday. And then Imm done. No more boats.
This is pretty cool! We are lucky to have two running Steelcrafts here on Lake Okoboji. A 26′ and a 1950 35′ sedan.
Uh…what exactly is a “matchbook” and a “bean bag ashtray”?
Steelcraft built boats pracically next door to Bilco Doors in West Haven, CT. Currently that area has been taken over by the city and developers to make way for a $200 million dollar, high end shopping mall and up-scale apartments. At least 50 homes were bought out in the process too. Bilco had to move and is doing most manufacturing overseas now. Back in the day, there was quite a bit of sheet metal type manufacturing talent in the area.
There’s a 1948 24′ ‘sedan cruiser’ for sale near Glascow, Montana if you’re looking for one: https://montana.craigslist.org/boa/d/glasgow-1948-steelcraft/6787703709.html
Thx alot MikeU….thats only 15 hours away and looks great!