DEPARTMENT STORE CHARGE CARDS
The owner of one of the country's largest collections of vintage department store charge cards has generously shared images of them with the Department Store Museum. The cards are arranged by state, and more will be added in time.
If you were a customer of one of these stores, this is the item that you personally carried in your wallet or purse, identifying you as their customer. Possessing a certain credit card was also a status symbol of the time as well.
Most of these cards did not have a magnetic strip across the back; mechanical embossers of several different types were used to imprint the raised information on the plastic card onto a duplicate sales slip.
The Department Store Museum is indebted to Scott Nimmo for making this colorful, beautiful, and nostalgic exhibit possible! James and Richard Hyde are also major contributors who are deserving of thanks for their generosity of spirit in sharing these unique items.
Before the Charge Card, there was the Charge Coin, an example of which has been most kindly donated by Dorothy Wahl:
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York, New York |
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| The Lasalle & Koch Co. Toledo, Ohio |
ALABAMA
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| Loveman's Birmingham, Alabama (Contributed by James) |
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| Pizitz Birmingham, Alabama (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Gayfers (1970s-1980s) Mobile Alabama (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
ALASKA
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| Northern Commercial Anchorage (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
ARIZONA
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| Diamond's Phoenix, Arizona (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Goldwater's Phoeniz, Arizona (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Buffums Long Beach, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Buffums (1970s) Long Beach, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Broadway Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Broadway Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Bullocks Wilshire Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| May Co. Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Robinson's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Robinson's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Capwell's Oakland, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Harris' San Bernardino, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Harris' (1970s-1980s) San Bernardino, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| City of Paris San Francisco, California (Contributed by James) |
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| The Emporium San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Macys San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| I. Magnin San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| I. Magnin (1970s-1980s) San Francisco, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
COLORADO
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| The Denver Denver, Colorado (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Denver Denver, Colorado (Contributed by James) |
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| May - D&F Denver, Colorado (Contributed by James) |
CONNECTICUT
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| Read's Bridgeport, Connecticut (Contributed by James) |
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| Read's Bridgeport, Connecticut (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| G. Fox & Co. Hartford, Connecticut (Contributed by James) |
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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| Garfinckel's Washington, DC (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Hecht Co. Washington, DC (Contributed by James) |
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| Washington Shopping Plate Washington, D.C. (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Furchgott's Jacksonville, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Richards Miami, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Miami, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Miami, Florida (Contributed by James) |
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| Maas Brothers Tampa, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Maas Brothers Tampa, Florida (Contributed by James) |
GEORGIA
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Rich's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Rich's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
ILLINOIS
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| Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Marshall Field & Company Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Wieboldt's Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Ayres Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
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| Ayres Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
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| Block's Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
KENTUCKY
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| Bacon's Louisville, Kentucky (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Stewart's Louisville, Kentucky (Contributed by James) |
LOUISIANA
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| D. H. Holmes New Orleans, Loiusiana (Contributed by James) |
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| Porteous Portland, Maine |
MARYLAND
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| Stewart & Co. Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| R.H. Stearns Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| Steiger's Springfield, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
MICHIGAN
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by James) |
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by James) |
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| Herpolsheimer's Grand Rapids, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Steketee's Grand Rapids, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jacobson's Jackson, Michigan (Contributed by Bill Garbe) |
MINNESOTA
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| Dayton's Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Donaldsons Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by James) |
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| Donaldsons Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Powers Minneapolis, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Powers Minneapolis, Minnesota (Contributed by James) |
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| Herberger's St. Cloud, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
MISSOURI
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| The Jones Store Co. Kansas City, Missouri (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Charga-Plate St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
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| Famous-Barr St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
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| Famous-Barr St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
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| Stix, Baer & Fuller St. Louis, Misouri (Contributed by James) |
NEBRASKA
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| Brandeis Omaha, Nebraska v |
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| Kilpatick's Omaha, Nebraska (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Hahne & Co. Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| Hahne & Co. Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| Bamberger's Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bamberger's Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| AM&A's Buffalo, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| B. Altman & Co. New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Bergdorf Goodman New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bonwit Teller New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bonwit Teller New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Gimbels New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Lord & Taylor New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Macy's New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Saks Fifth Avenue New York City, New York (also submitted by Thomas Defeo) |
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| Saks Fifth Avenue (1970s-1980s) New York City, New York (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Stern Brothers New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Dey Brothers Syracuse, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Belk Brothers Charlotte, North Carolina (Contributed by James) |
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| Ivey's Charlotte, North Carolina (Contributed by James) |
OHIO
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| Polsky's Akron, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pogue's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pogue's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Shillito's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Shillito's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Halle's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Halle's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Higbee's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lazarus Columbus, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Union Columbus, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Rike's Dayton, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lamson's Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Lasalle's Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lion Store Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Strouss Youngstown, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| John A. Brown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Hess Brothers Allentown, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbels Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbels Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Lit Brothers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| John Wanamaker Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Strawbridge & Clotier Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbel Brothers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joseph Horne Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joseph Horne Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Pomeroy's Reading/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pomeroy's Reading/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| The Outlet Co. Providence, Rhode Island (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Loveman's Chattanooga, Tennessee (Contributed by James) |
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| Lowenstein's Memphis, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Cain-Sloan Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by James) |
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| Cain-Sloan Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Castner-Knott Co. Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Castner Knott Co. (1970s-1980s) Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
TEXAS
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| Neiman-Marcus Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Neiman-Marcus Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Sanger-Harris Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Sakowitz (1970s-1980s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Titche-Goettinger Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Foley's (1980s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Foley's (1990s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Sakowitz Houston, Texas (Contributed by James) |
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| Hemphill-Wells Lubbock, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
Frost Bros.
(purchased Lichtenstein's of Corpus Christi)
San Antonio, Texas
(Contributed by James)
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| Joske's San Antonio, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joske's San Antonio, Texas (Contributed by James) |
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| The Bon Marche Seattle/Spokane, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Frederick & Nelson Seattle, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Frederick & Nelson Seattle, Washington (Contributed by James) |
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| The Crescent Spokane, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
VIRGINIA
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| Miller & Rhoads Richmond, Virginia (Contributed by James) |
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| Thalhimers Richmond, Virginia (Contributed by James) |
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| The Diamond Charleston, West Virginia (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Stone & Thomas Wheeling/Charleston, West Virginia (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbels Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Prange's Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Contributed by James) |
CANADA
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| Simpsons Toronto, Ontario (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
Awesome collection Scott. You have been collecting for a long time and it has totally paid off. Linda Hughes
ReplyDeleteI still have my charge card from 1966 with my maiden name on it.
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous-and they're all that smaller size they used to use!
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS GREAT! Notice all the cards (except one) were "charge plates" s they were called. Actually, prior to Garfinkels own card, as well as all the DC stores; they had what was named "The Washington Shopping Plate". Once you got an account at one store (be it Garf's, Woodies, Hecht's, Raleigh's or Landsburgh's) the same account number would be used for the other stores, should you decide to open an account with them. So you had the same account number for each store and one card. BTW, the card was ugly...light blue with a dark blue dome of the Capitol and all 5 stores listed.
ReplyDeleteI have the "Washington Shopping Plate" in my collection. I will be sure to include it the next time I send some scans of additional cards for the exhibit. Thanks for your comment. Scott
DeleteOMG...that is a relic! Thanks so much
DeleteKann's and Jelleff's also participated in the Washington Shopping Plate.
DeleteThanks, I forgot about them
DeleteI have my dad's Washington Shopper Plate from the early 60s. I suspect it's a later model than the one shown here: white with blue top banner with Capitol buildings my gold. Card features the account code in relief on face such as the Carson Pirie Scott cards on this site. Participating stores: The Hecht Co., Frank R. Jelled, Inc., S. Kann Sons Co., Lansburghs, Raleigh Haberdasherr, Woodward & Lothrop, Julius Garfinckel & Co.
DeleteWonderful time for charge cards in department stores. The salespeople would say your name, and actually thank you. I had several Allied cards,
ReplyDeletebut all of them said, " (-) A UNIT OF ALLIED STORES " , no corporation or symbol at the end. I didn't understand why Garfinckels said ALLIED on the back of the card. Also, Ann Taylor & Brooks Brothers said it no where on the card.
I still have my brown/beige Bullocks/Bullocks Wilshire card, along with the I.Magnin card that was beige and brown when Federated owned both companies. The original Bonwit plate (as shape shown above) was actually purple with the pink bouquet. There was NO DOUBT they were going after the female customer just based on the card. Allied was the only one that stuck their name on all charge plates, no other retail corporation did that until May Company in the mid/late 80s. Garfinkels did say Allied on the back until they became independent (and eventually went out of business). They used the same card to the end. BAK, if yo wish, I have an old SFA card with the old logo, prior to 1976, it is a brown and beige (seems too be a theme with most retailers of the mid 70s) I could try and send you if you are interested. It is the free flowing script and not the "nicer script" with name and address on plate.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this and all of your pertinent comments. I would love to publish the Saks Fifth Avenue card. If you can scan it (at a fairly high resolution) you can send it to bakgraphics@comcat.net.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted that you enjoy my effort so much.
Bruce
In the late 70's Allied Stores purchased the 'group' that included Brooks Brothers, Anne Taylor, Catherine's Stout Shoppes, Grafinkels, and Bonwit Tellers. I know this because I was a corporate buyer for Allied Stores from 1980-1985. In 1985 Robert Campeau purchased Allied Stores with the use of leveraged junk bonds (the first major use of this financial instrument on a large scale) just to get the real estate that Allied Stores owned. He proceded to sell off the department stores -- Joskes in Texas, Levys in North Carolina(?), Pomeroy's in Pennsylvania, stores in Indianapolis and the deep south which I cannot remember the names of. It was a sad time for many of us in the retail industry -- Campeau singlehandedly put over 10,000 people out of work in 2 or 3 short years...
ReplyDeleteI have some credit cards at home and will scan them and send them to you....
I have never seen a Catherine's card. What about Jerry Leonards
Deleteor Plymouth shops, weren't those part of the "group" too?
I remember all my Allied bills came from a place in Auburdale,MA....
Thank for your input . . . it was indeed a ad time and remains sofor those of us with memories of these fine stores.
ReplyDeleteBruce
It should be noted, that the time of the "charge plates" (all but Garfinkels)as they were called; Charge cards were considered to be Bank of Americard, Master Charge, American Express and Diners Club; most (not all, but most) store accounts were a 30 day cycle. Meaning, you had to pay your balance in FULL within 30 days, no revolving credit.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord & Taylor green card was superior to the Lord & Taylor red rose card... simply because it identified a long time customer. Of course it was a charge plate....I am not sure credit cards were accepted back then
ReplyDeleteNice collection. I love how the charge plates had distinct style back then. I still have my rare Filene's Boston Gold Card.
ReplyDeleteSurprised the older "script" version of Bloomingdale's logo isn't represented here by a charge card!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see that several of you have enjoyed seeing these cards from my collection. I am attempting to assemble a collection from as many different stores of the past as possible. I am still looking for cards from stores like Wurzburg's, Knapp's, Harzfeld's, Auerbachs, Black's, Marston's, Kann's, Lamson's and Manchester's. If anybody knows where I can find any of these please let me know.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Scott
Love the new additions
ReplyDeletePeople were still using Washington Shopping Plates when I worked for Hecht's in Annapolis in the mid-90's. There weren't many of them, and by that time Woodies and Hecht's were the only two left, but I have seen them. Now both of thme are gone too.
ReplyDeleteThere was also a Baltimore Shopping Plate that was good at several department stores. Mine lists Hutzler's, Hochschild and Kohn, Hecht's. The stores are numbered but several are missing, probably for stores that had closed when the card was issued.
ReplyDeleteI remember when my Mom Mom had a Bambergers' credit card....and when I used to work at Kohl's old ladies would say Charge Plate instead of Credit Card. I think I have a The Bon Ton card somewhere....was there one for Korvettes? I know my grandma had one for Two Guys and Grants. That is how I got most of my infant clothing...born in 1978...my father's rich aunt's got me stuff from Bloomies and Bergdorf Goodman...and Bon wit Teller.
ReplyDeleteI remember the charge a plate. They were metal almost like army neck tags, they had to be tough because they were put in a machine and a inked roller would roll across the card to imprint the information on the sales receipt that went into clerk's sales book. And if one paid cash the sales slip along with the money given was stuck in a vacum tube and sent to the basement where the proper change would be put into the cylinder and in a few minutes it would come back up.
ReplyDeleteBonwit Teller had a different card that they issued to men. It had no flowers on it, it said something like the 721 Club, I may not have the numbers quite right, but it was something like that.
ReplyDeleteIn my previous post about the 721 Club Card for men issued by Bonwit Teller ( or whatever it was called) I believe with that card the man had available to him the use of a personal shopper.
ReplyDeleteI have a Sanger's charge plate. It is blue metal much like a dog tag with embossed letters. It is in a gold, velvet lined case with key ring attached. It must be very very old. It belonged to my great grandmother. Any idea what it might be worth to a collector today?
ReplyDeleteKat
Kat- It would be nice if you could upload a photo of it to this site, so that we could all see what a pre credit card charge a plate looked like, I remember they were very plain. Those were used almost sixty years ago. Now I am dating myself.
ReplyDeleteBAK - in the early sixties, five or six stores in Long Beach, California had one card that could be utilized at those stores. Believe the stores were Buffums' (don't know why they put the possessive apostrophe behind the "s" - and I knew Harry Buffum! Go figure.), Desmond's, Walker's (Walker-Scott) and perhaps one other store which I cannot remember. Wish I still had the card, but, alas, I tossed it years ago - along with many others.
ReplyDeleteIn 1950, I worked as a cosmetics stock boy at the Walker-Scott store in San Diego. The cosmetic ladies, in all modesty, loved me. I had a ton of fun. Mr. Walker (believe he was adopted) would be on the floor almost every morning giving all the "associates" a pep talk. Fun days and fun memories. Shortly after that, I went in the military......that was fun, too.
I also worked for Foreman and Clark in San Diego after my military service. In San Diego, I worked for Jacobson's Clothiers (alas, no relation to the Jacobson's on your site), Bill Soloff's and the 101 Locker Club.....selling sailors custom made "blues". Fun days.
Then I got married.
Thanks for the memories.....this site brings back a lot of them.
Bob King majskyking @ gmail dot com
Well, Bob, all I can say is, "Thanks for the memories!"
ReplyDeleteI, and my wife, really enjoyed reading about your history. My dad was supposed to sail from Long Beach on the USS Indianapolis toward the end of the War. He developed acute appendicitis and never sailed, but spent time in a hospital in Long Beach before returning home after the war. Had he not gotten ill, he may not have returned, and I may not have ever been born.
So I owe something to Long Beach, too!
Bruce
I still have my old Strawbridge & Clothier charge card, final design before they switched to the "May Department Stores" designed card.
ReplyDeleteI have a brass oval J.L. Hudson charge coin.
ReplyDeleteCan I send you a picture for your collection?
ThomKay@aol.com
Thomas:
ReplyDeletePlease do. You may send it to bakgraphics@comcast.net. I will include it as soon as I am able. Things are a bit backed up now, but I will get it on in due course.
Thanks for your generous offer!
Bruce
Re the comment that in the 1960's charge plates were issued that looked like dog tags. I worked in Bloomingdales, Hackensack, NJ (one of their early suburban branches) at that time when such plates were in use. That was before account numbers - when the bills were sent out by name only. I recall that there was a notch somewhere on the border of the plate that lined up with a nub on the Addressograph machine that you used to emboss the plate on the sales ticket. The placement of the notch was unique to each store. But, if you had for example a Sterns plate and wanted to open a Bdales charge, the credit department would put a second notch in your plate to line up with the Bloomingdales machines.
ReplyDeleteThe "721 Club" referred to in connection with Bonwit plates issued to men was from their address: 721 Fifth Avenue. They had a very small mens department, on the 57th Street side of the store. The Fifth Avenue building was leveled (a beautiful deco building). The 57th street wing became a branch of either Printemps or Galleries Lafayette (Paris stores) for a short time and then a Nike store.
ReplyDeleteGoodness I wish I had saved some of my charge plates from back in the day, I am 85. We always tried to look our best on a budget, and often times, a revolving credit account at a swanky clothier meant the difference between looking festive and stylish on Christmas Eve and Easter Suday or repeating an outfit from last year.
ReplyDeleteI have, from one of my relatives, a small leather holder with a ' charga-plate stores of san francisco' metal card. It includes the following: Chas. Brown & Sons; H.C. Capwell Co.; The Emporium; Hale Bros.; O'Connor, Moffatt & Co. Sommer & Kaufmann Sterling Furniture Co. Where might I find information on this type card please? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFor over 25 years I have had in my possession a metal ring with nine metal charge plates on it.
ReplyDeleteJordan Marsh Co.,Filene's Boston,R. H. Whites, Conrads,Gilchrist,Horace Partridge 49 Franklin St. Boston and others. The numbers are all different on the charges. One has a beautiful symbol of a women with her hair up. No words just an account number is on it. (However the same beautiful symbol is carved over the doorway of an old building in downtown Boston. Can anyone tell me what years these were used and what these are worth? Thank you for your time
To anonymous above, what you have is a collection of "charge coins". The one with the woman with her hair up was from C.Crawford Hollidge. These coins were commonly used from the early 1900's (possibly very late 1800's) up until approx. the 1940's. However, I think Abraham and Straus used them up until the 1960's. These do show up on ebay fairly often and can go for an average of $10-$30 but sometimes more. Scott
ReplyDeleteI have a Charge-A-Plate, issued by a local bank in Dallas, TX. I had notches for Neiman Marcus, Sanger Brothers, Titche-Goettinger, Jas K Wilson and A. Harris. Sanger Brothers merged with A. Harris to become Sanger-Harris. They were bought out by Macy's. Tiche's became Dillard's. Each store sent out monthly statements, payable in full each month.
ReplyDeleteWOW! This has expanded greatly since last I viewed it! Well done
ReplyDeleteYes the art-deco Bonwit Teller store on 5th Avenue was SO BEAUTIFUL --I have seen pictures -- Trump leveled the store for the trump tower and then Bonwit's was incorporated into the trump tower -- After Bonwit's closed (involved in the campeau disaster and closed by Hooker corporation) The location became a NYC branch of Gallaries Lafayette for a few years before that closed and it turned into a NIKE store. This Collection is GREAT. I have a collection of my own -- I may try to see if some odd examples I have will scan well and when I have time may forward them if they do ----THANK YOU very Much for this and for this site!!!
ReplyDeleteI have my parents Rich's charge plate issued from Atlanta Ga. They are both still in their original leather case.
ReplyDeleteThis was when Rich's first started a line of credit for their customers!
Your blog is amazing! Will you be adding images and info for Barney's anytime soon?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe charge coin, as mentioned above from JL Hudson, was the forerunner to the charge plate and are extremely hard to find. I'd love to see a collection of them presented here as well.
ReplyDeleteThere was also a Baltimore shopping plate similar to the Washington shopping plate. I always wondered why competitors like Hecht's and Woodies would collaborate like that and how it was sorted out logistically, but I guess they made some money doing it.
ReplyDeleteAll designs are simple yet elegant, shades are supporting them and making them prominent than others...
ReplyDeleteWe need to find you some vintage Nordstrom cards. I think my parents have theirs tucked away somewhere from the late 60's/early 70's. I'll see what I can find!
ReplyDeleteI would like some information on A Bloomingdales credit Card it belonged to my grandmother and I believe it's from the fifties. The vinyl case has "Bloomingdales" embossed on the front and on the back a Script Capital"B" The "CHARGA-PLATE(circled R )CREDIT TOKEN" on the top rim on front and the bottom rim "A -ARRINGTON PRODUCT" in the middle is a paper with Bloomingdale's printed and a small NEW YORK under Dale's then a line for her to sign her name under that it says "please sign name here in ink" on the back side it simulates a service dog tag with Acct. # next line Name then next line address and the final line LONG ISLAND CITY L I 1. I would just like any info that could date this for me and a staus qoue it may have . thank you so much . I can reached VIA e-mail "pataquilino@gmail.com"
ReplyDeletethat is hysterical. (and very nostalgic) worked at bamberger's in the lehigh valley mall. and i thought my sanitary napkin collection was weird.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful site! I have an oval shaped metal "charge coin" from Abraham & Straus in Brooklyn that belonged to my mother. I would like to donate the "charge coin" to your museum. Please let me know where I can mail the "charge coin."
ReplyDeleteI have many old department store cards I am happy to donate to your museum if you can advise how.
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind offer. I would be delighted to be able to display them. If you can scan them at high resolution (300 dpi)you may email them to bakgraphics@comcast.net. If you want to mail them, please send me an email to the above address, and I will provide you with a mailing address. I can publish them so that all can enjoy seeing them.
Thank you for your generous offer.
Bruce
The Bullock's card with the brown script logo and light yellow background is from the Northern California offshoot division.
ReplyDeleteI love how some of the cards were issued in a man's name but the signature on them is a female's.
ReplyDeleteBruce,
ReplyDeleteI have an old Jones & Jones Credit card from McAllen, Texas which I feel must be up with some of these department stores displayed already. Jones & Jones was rather upscale and very comparable to Neiman Marcus and was in existence from 1926 to 1996 when it closed its doors. Foley's then bought out its space, but the years it furnished the Rio Grande Valley with premier goods not found south of Houston or Dallas are what made it memorable, as well as the service. Please let me know if you are interested.
Xavier O. Sanchez
Hello, Xavier!
ReplyDeleteThank you - If you can scan it and send to me at bakgraphics@comcast.net, I will put it up for everyone to see, when I get to an update.
I had never heard of Jones & Jones, so you have educated me a little.
Bruce
I have a ZCMI charge Card if you would like to add that to the collection
ReplyDeleteThank you, Greg! I will be happy to add it (when time permits) if you scan it and send it to bakgraphics@comcast.net. Make sure it is of decent (300 dpi) resolution. As always, I appreciate the contributions of visitors to this site, and yours is no exception!
ReplyDeleteBruce
Thank you for this very enjoyable piece of history! "Back then" credit was not given out in the nameless "let's run your information through a credit aggregator" but there was that personal touch. I'll have to dig around to see what other cards I may have for you.
ReplyDeleteMy very first Credit Card was from a store called, "Kroch's and Brentanos." I used to be a voracious reader and so while other high school kids were spending money on music and clothes, I was buying books. Okay nerdy but that was me.
I used to work for Bullocks Wilshire in the late 80s. The butter yellow Bullock's card with Bullock's written in brown script were the cards used for Bullock's Northern California stores. They were already closed when I worked for BW but the cards were still usable in all of the Bullock's and Bullocks Wilshire stores.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if someone could help me...as collectors I thought someone might be able to explain what I have found and who or where the owner was from...
I have a CHARGA-PLATE it is simple aluminum and reads as follows:
(in small print) CHARGA-PLATE
(Then below punched like a dog tag)
A-18-628
WHITTAKER
WILLIAM C
260X130
(in small print) PATENTED 1931
If someone knows something please email me at:
appin@shaw.ca Thanks Randy
My first card was a Neiman Marcus like the brown one, I still have it! they were much thinner, and much less bulky. Funny how the cards are so big and thick and cumbersome now, while everything else is getting smaller! Also, I remember before Macy's was bought out by Federated (which owns everything now, boo!) they had their own credit dept on the 8th floor. This was in San Francisco. What a store it was then! Sigh. Also, there was a store called H. Liebes, I don't know if you know of them, but they were in San Francisco, and very very good. Thanks for the site! Oh, the good old days! Before the glutton of goods from China and the break down of our retail industry, and apparel manufacturing that we had here in the USA!! We produced quality textiles, and beautiful clothing... sigh. All gone now..
ReplyDeleteThank you for this blog/website! It helped me figure out what I found in my mother's old belongings was in fact a credit card of my great-grandmother's from Montgomery Fair dept store. Cool!
ReplyDelete12/23/13 I just posted a Grodins Charge Card on eBay if anyone interested.
ReplyDeleteFantastic collection of information and images. May I ask where you found the building concept illustrations? Specifically the Fashion Valley (San Diego) one. I'm even more impressed if you created them yourself. In either case, I'd be glad to pay for a full-resolution electronic copy of it. Please let me know if this is possible! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi David - email me at bakgraphics@comcast.net - I don't know which Fashion Valley illustration you'd like - Robinson's, Buffums', or the Broadway? Since most of them came from newspaper ads, I have acceptable resolution versions but not great ones.
ReplyDeleteBruce
Several cards here appear to be narrower vertically and wider horizontally than the ISO-7810 style. I would imagine that this was to enable a customer to differentiate by touch against a travel or bank card. What did their dimensions measure? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am truely impressed with your site . The only charge plates.that I have that you have not posted is a Sage Allen and a Hecht's both from about 1990. I would be happy to share. For people from N.J. a funny story my mom would not give up her Bambergers plate. I was out shopping one day armed with my parents charge plates and a note. I was checking out the sales man called my mom to see if the .sales was ok. My mom said sure, the sales man ended the converation with you must be kind grandmotnd to let your grand son to use your charge plate. That was the last day that plate ever left the house .
ReplyDeleteAmazing. This brings back so many memories of shopping with my mom at What she called the 3 b's bonwitts bambergers and bloomies
ReplyDeleteI have a metal charge coin from Lit Brothers in Philadelphia. I'd be happy to send a photo!
ReplyDeleteDposmontier@comcast.net
This is an awesome site! I long to go back in time and shop in these wonderful department stores that I have only seen in movies. I had wondered if anyone admired charge cards as much as I do. I found a 'chargea plate' from Sr Louis in some stuff I got at an auction and you would think it was a stack of $100.00 bills because I was so thrilled with it!! Such a neat thing to collect!
ReplyDeleteHey wait a minute... why is the May Company logo on that card from Los Angeles in the same style as the Macy's logo? I thought May and Macy's had no affiliation until the big merger in 2005.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's ironic that the lady from Bala Cynwyd, PA had a Gimbels card, because there never was a Gimbels in Bala Cynwyd. However, there has been a Lord & Taylor in the town since 1955, and a Saks Fifth Avenue since around the same time. Also both John Wanamaker and Bonwit Teller opened stores in the same shopping center in nearby Wynnewood in 1954. On top of that, a Strawbridge & Clothier opened in nearby Ardmore in 1933, which continues today as a rare Macy's without escalators. There also was a Sears down the street in Radnor that opened in 1947 and closed sometime in the 80's.
Anyway as for Gimbels, all five of their primary Philadelphia-region stores (in Center City, Cheltenham, Huntingdon Valley, Upper Darby, and Media) were in neighborhoods that have gone down the toilet at some point. This is reflected in the fact that the Center City store was later a Clover and then a Kmart, and now is empty, the Cheltenham store is now split between a Burlington Coat Factory and a ShopRite, the Huntingdon Valley store is now a Sears, the Upper Darby store was a Sears but has now been empty for two years, and the Media store is now a Boscov's.
I still have several of these credit cards that I kept as souvenirs. I feel old but with fond memories.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-BLOOMINGDALES-CHARGE-CARD-Credit-Card-With-CASE-/281417131809?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4185c4a721
ReplyDeletei have collection old credit cards and would be happy to contribute them
ReplyDeletehave a Youngstown Ohio."charge a plate" probably 1940's Good at 7 stores Strouss, McKelveys etc. Alum edging about 3/4 x 2 inches with case.
ReplyDeleteTwo hours ago I entered your site in the hopes of determining the end date for John Wanamaker's. Now I have had a bombardment of memories and am almost weepy for the things we have lost. Being a Philadelphian I remember Wanamakers, Strawbridge & Clothier, Gimbels, Lits, Snellenburgs, William Wanamaker, Jacob Reed, Miller-White, Blum, DeWeese, Saks, Nan Duskin, and many more.
ReplyDeletei am a tour guide at the winterthur museum in delaware. in our yuletide exhibit this year i have been having fun with the charga-plate for henry francis dupont...for wanamaker's in philadelphia. i am wondering if 'anyone' could apply for one or if you had to have some special 'qualifications'...like a certain bank account balance! anyone know that answer?
ReplyDeleteJohn Wanamaker was the first department store that issued credit cards to low income wage earners. If you had a steady job, Wanamaker's would issue a credit card to you. I know this to be true because they issued a credit card to me when I was a college student working part time as a work-study student earning only $70/month. I still had that credit card when the store was merged with the May Group of Dept stores. The original Wanamaker building is still there, but it's a Macy's now. Just not the same. Sad.
DeleteHow do I submit an entry? I have two charge plates circa early 1900's that don't have customer name just numbers. They for L.S.P & CO and Bamberger's
ReplyDeleteEmail a good-quality scan to bakgraphics@comcast.net and I will post them.
ReplyDelete-Bruce
Does anyone remember how Marshall Field's charged interest in the 50's and 60's. I remember that you could run a balance at the Chicago Marshall Field's without paying interest. Anyone else remember that?
ReplyDeleteI have many old credit cards from the Chicago Area. I noticed hat you have not mentioned Madigans, It was very big in the 70's and 80's They had at least 7 stores in the Chicagoland area. They went out of business in the 90's. I also have several gift boxes (mainly Christmas) from Marshall Fields, Carson's, The Fair Company, and IMagnin. I would love to see others that people may have and wold gladly send you pictures of my collection if you would want to see them.
ReplyDeleteHello! Weirdly enough I found a Washington Shopping Plate and I am all the way from eastern europe... Can anyone explain me what it is and what it was used for? Does it contain some interesting story or not?... Anything would do, because at the moment it's like a little mystery for me and I don't know what to do with it. Thank you! Evie.
ReplyDeleteI love this collection, and would love to see more if at all possible. I find the cards interesting to see, they had much better designs then the cards of today!
ReplyDeleteI have what appears to be a very ornate vintage Abraham & Straus credit card charge plate and it is just beautiful! It was my grandmother's in the 1930's and I have a piece of paper with the kinds of things she purchased with it from A & S! Wish I could attach a photo to show you all!
ReplyDeleteIs it at all like the one at the top of the page? If you would like to send a picture, I can try to post it. Email to bakgraphics@comcast.net and I will do my best to put it on this page or the A&S one.
Delete-Bruce
nice
ReplyDeleteI worked in the bookkeeping dept for Shoppers Charge, Columbus, OH in 1960. Have you heard of it? Sorry, I did not have a charge card.
ReplyDeleteAh!!! This is awesome! Everyday I wish I had kept my Grandmothers charge cards -!! The one I miss the most, and I always hope that they will do a 'revival' of someday is the original MasterCharge credit card. Remember, the card was white with a big orange circle overlapping a big red circle. Your name and card number were embossed on the front as well as the start and expiration dates and the 'interbank' number. The interbank number was a number that identified what 'interbank' you belonged to. Typically, these would be a grouping of smaller banks within a certain state (there was no banking across state lines back then, remember?) - It helped with identifying the credit slip and where the merchants bank should send it to in order to get paid. Also, remember that small, but very very fat book that was printed like a phone book that came out weekly to every merchant who took MasterCharge? That was the 'authorization' back then. That was before you could even call in to obtain an authorization on the phone. However, with the department store Meier and Frank in downtown Portland, just slightly before my time there, customers credit cards and charge slips would be sent by pneumatic tube from whatever floor they were on to the authorization department for ... authorization. It just seems like being one big global everything is missing some key components of laying a solid history down- with social and human civilization. I suppose this also has something to do with the fact that there used to be only 1 billion people on the planet - in what, 1950? Now, we are over 8 billion and counting. As a Roman Catholic myself, I am left with comfort, but long for the good old days- of 30 years ago. LOL! Thank you so much for creating and sharing this, whomever you are. I've not read the entire site yet as I'm much too excited to find it! And yes, remember the Bon Marche' credit cards, and the truly 'local' stores- maybe just one or two stores ever existed, but their names were known from all over because you might be visiting your sister who moved across country and you went shopping at 'place store name here' - so, I think a lot of people will know a lot of these stores and their credit cards - even if they never shopped there. I know I did when I strolled through the whole list of cards. Many of the stores became part of the May Co., when it bought out Meier and Frank. So, I think we had 11 other sister stores across the nation. 12 in total with Meier and Frank- I think. And now EVERYTHING is a Macy's!!! Blah, so boring!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I did not see the Central Charge plate. Does any one have it?
ReplyDeleteThat was my first charge card. I lived in Northern Virginia.
DeleteI have charge cards photos of Sibleys and McCurdys in Rochester, NY, How do I post them?
ReplyDeleteIf you would be kind enough to e-mail high-resolution photos of them to me at bakgraphics@comcast.net, I willoptimise them for this site and post, and, of course, giving you credit if you so wish.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
-Bruce
Hi....I have some metal tag style tags which I believe were early charge cards....from Boston stores, I believe. Any tips on how to find out about them? I can't figure out how to add a photo here!
ReplyDeleteThe Joske's card with the oak tree by their logo was used exclusively for the off-shoot Houston division.
ReplyDeleteI have an old Goldsmith's card from Memphis, TN. It's a solid copper color and looks kind of like a dog tag. Complete with the case. My mom saved it for many years and as a kid I always thought it was the neatest thing. Unfortuntaley I like the modern day ones as well.
ReplyDeleteIf memory serves me right, my first credit card was Belk back in 1984 and I also had one from Ivey's. Didn't see a Gayfers card, but my Aunt liked shopping at the one in Tuscaloosa, Alabama when the family lived there at the time, so she probably had a card. Oh yes, loved seeing the images of the old cards!
ReplyDeleteI recently came across a credit token and after searching a bit I discovered it is from Wanamaker's. I was wondering if anybody knew a date range in which they were used there. I have seen some online that have anywhere from 5 to 6 digits so I am guessing that the fewer the digits then the older it is? Just curious to know what I have. I'm not a collector, just someone who likes interesting old things. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories! My first credit card was Davison's that I got in 1984. I also had Belk, and Rich's. I felt so grown up when I received my Rich's card. I miss that store the most.
ReplyDeleteDid a Marshall Field's credit card ever change at the end to say just Field's credit card????
ReplyDeleteI just came across my grandmothers charge plate thank you for your museum
ReplyDelete