This ad appeared a hundred years ago today in a number of newspapers, including the September 13, 1921, edition of the North Platte (Nebraska) Semi-Weekly Tribune. The message boils down to the fact that you should trust the science and buy a phonograph, to refresh you when you’re tired, cheer you when you’re depressed, and calm you when you are nervous. This was the result of two years’ research by Dr. W.V. Bingham, the Director of the Department of Applied Psychology, Carnegie Institute of Technology.

By returning the coupon to the dealer, you would receive a 32-page book explaining this research in detail.  In this case, the dealer was Dixon Music, 516 North Dewey, North Platte. And if you checked the box, you would get a phonograph in your home on approval for three days to let you see for yourself.

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