Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers

17 April
I love the look of vintage advertising hangers, the graphics, the patina, and the history, it's all so fun to me.


I wish that advertising these days was done more on reusable items instead of junk flyers and mass mailings.


I have a small collection of vintage advertising hangers and I'll admit, they are kind of awkward to display so I wanted to share some ideas that I found for displaying them and other things to use them for.


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers


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History


Hangers have been around since the 1800s when Victorian women’s bustles and skirts had special storage needs. The hangers back then had various kinds of adjustable parts and spring systems.


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers
Source: Unknown


They evolved from there to include folding travel hangers and some with extra little hooks for belts.


Tailors and clothing merchants soon discovered that hangers would be a good way to advertise their businesses, and from there evolved the wooden advertising hanger!


As I said before, the colors and graphics on those old hangers are sometimes so pretty, but how can you display them?

Display Ideas


Here is how I've displayed mine over the years.


You'll have to excuse the terrible picture. This was way back in my early days of blogging and my laundry room at that time was in the basement so the lighting was terrible. But I wanted to share it anyway because it's a cute idea 😏


They make a unique window valance and they are so easy to hang since they have a built-in hanger. Just hang them over the curtain rod or use tiny nails if you don't have a curtain.



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers


I displayed them inside the open shelving at my last house. You can see that laundry room here: Laundry Room Redo - Final Reveal


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers


Then I redid that laundry room and hung them on the wall for a while. You can see that laundry room makeover here: Laundry Room Makeover


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers


In my laundry room at this house, they are hanging in groups from the shelf brackets above the washer and dryer.


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers


I also have some newer wire hangers with paper covers that have some fun advertising on them.


Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers

Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers



Here is a unique idea, display them on a headboard! The hangers in the picture are antique, but vintage wooden advertising hangers would look cool this way too.



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers
Source: from Bachman's Summer Idea House Itsy Bits and Pieces


Aside from the obvious… using them to hang your clothes or displaying them, here are a few ideas for repurposing a vintage advertising hanger.


Repurposing Ideas


Add some hooks and use one to hold your jewelry.



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers
Source: Unknown



If you have a small window, use one to hang a curtain!


There are also a couple hanging from the old bed frame holding headphones and earbuds.



Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers



Turn them into newspaper or magazine racks.





Use them in the bathroom to hold towels.





Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers
Source: Country Living - link no longer valid


Where to Find Them




Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers
Source: eBay


I hope you enjoyed this post and got some ideas 😊


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Collecting Vintage Advertising Hangers

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  1. I love these hangers and just picked up a nice one at an estate sale. I just hung it on the wall, but some of these ideas are great. Thanks for the tip about the crocheted ones. I'd have never thought to look under the yarn!

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are really cool. I have never found any, but I will be looking for them now. I have never even thought about looking under the crochet to see what type of hanger might be underneath. I'll remember that tip! Hope you havea wonderful Easter weekend...Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  3. So awesome! My favorite is using them to hang towels!

    ReplyDelete
  4. this was a really fun blog post. I never thought about the genesis of hangers. I love the way you curate all the neat ways to use hangers for home decor!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Do you know when do the hangers at the beggining date? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Camila. I tried to look up the dates based on the phone numbers and near as I can tell they date anywhere from the 1920's to the 1940's.

      Tania

      Delete

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