1960's Vintage CASITE "SMOOTH-SEAL" Jobbers Double SIDED ADVERTISMENT

The Back Side offers a Transmission Fluid Extractor and one can of Smooth-Seal when you buy one case of CASITE “Smooth Seal” for automatic transmissions. Similar to the Blanket it is $1.95 for the addition of the Transmission Fluid Extractor. 
 
 Double sided Jobbers Automotive Counter Catalog Insert 11″ x 8-1/2″
 
Rescued from R.J. Loock in Baltimore, Md. One of the areas biggest automotive parts and point of sale distributors from 1913 though 2001 when they closed, more on R.J Loock and our pick below.



1960’s Vintage CASITE “SMOOTH-SEAL” Jobbers Double SIDED ADVERTISMENT
 
 
Please check out all the pictures above

I’ve dated this piece several ways first, knowing the history of where it came from. Second, it came from a jobbers 1 ft thick catalog that had 100’s of inserts from the 1940’s, 50’s and up to the early 60’s. Third and lastly i’ve looked up old advertising with this product and packaging, and they are all from this time frame and era.

This is a really cool jobbers sell sheet and what a nice collectors piece. In good condition, this sheet is clean, bright and colorful with some slight wear on the edges. There is some slight color fading on the top of the back side of the advertisement as well. If you have a cool shop, garage, store, collection or you just like old vintage advertising. If so, than this would look really cool framed on your wall or in your own catalog!

A Brief History of CASITE

Hastings Manufacturing was founded in 1915 in Hastings, Michigan by Aben Johnson. The firm was created to manufacture so-called “aftermarket” products, which car owners could buy to enhance or upgrade their vehicles. Early offerings included a luggage carrier, a tire carrier, a bumper, a steering stabilizer, a water pump, an oil engine, and a curtain light.

Following World War II Hastings again expanded its product offerings, adding spark plugs and auto service tools. In 1947 the company acquired the Casite brand of automotive chemical products, which had been introduced in 1939. Casite’s offerings included Motor Honey Oil Treatment, an engine additive. Advertisements for Casite from this era emphasized the product’s ability to free sticky valves, retard congealing of oil, and eradicate engine sludge, and guaranteed “Better and Smoother Motor Performance or Double-Your-Money-Back.” During the 1940s founder Aben Johnson’s son Stephen also began working for Hastings. He would later take control of the firm from his father.

In 1950, following six years of design and testing, Hastings added a line of oil filter cartridges. The firm began manufacturing safety belts in 1956 and introduced the new Flex-Vent three-piece oil control ring the same year.

In 1957 Hastings began construction of a foundry, which became operational in October. The year 1958 saw the company purchase its first computer and also start construction of a new filter manufacturing facility, which was completed the following spring. The “state-of-the-art” plant was highly automated. In 1963 Hastings discontinued its spark plug line, which had not proven to be profitable.

In the early 1970s company head Stephen Johnson’s sons Mark and Andrew began working for the firm in its marketing and financial departments. By 1980 Hastings, whose stock was now trading on the Amex exchange, was reporting annual sales of more than $47 million. Earnings for that year topped $1.4 million

These items were sourced from R.J. LOOCK which was a Baltimore Institution when it came to Automobiles. They operated at the same location : 339-345 N Gay st from 1913 until the neighborhood declined and the last heir retired in 2001. They were not your ordinary cookie cutter automotive parts store like you see today. They were parts distributors as well as jobbers for their own LIGHTNIN Parts line as well as for most of the top brands of the day. They sold: Auto supplies, Replacement parts, Garage equipment, Shop equipment, Tires, Tubes, Oil, Grease, Accessories  and they even had a Complete Machine Shop.

This may not sound different from an auto zone except Loock was responsible for placing products such as Champion Spark Plugs, Quaker State and Gates belts (to name a VERY few products) into EVERY private and municipal garage that used them in a 5 state area. long before the internet and trade shows, these guys were road warriors that sold stuff the hard way on a massive scale. As the 22 floors of samples that they left behind will attest… thats right… I said 22 FLOORS of Samples! R.J.Loock tried to sell ANY quality product that they thought had a chance . Of course, as jobbers they were responsible for placing advertising in the businesses that they catered to as well.

We were lucky enough to purchase salvage rights to this little treasure trove earlier this year. There was no working elevator and the buildings were 4 floors tall with a basement …………………………… and they NEVER threw ANYTHING of value AWAY! It took us 2 months full time to sort through and we are just now starting to offer what we have found. If you like high quality out of the box advertising as well as MINT  automotive related collectibles, please bookmark us and keep checking back. I think you will be in for a treat.

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