Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-26
Ayr Advertising Agency
Observes Anniversary.
Banquet Marks 40 Years Of
Successful Business.
Loving Cup Presented Founder
coHceTn's Great Growth.

Philadelphia. April 25.-The 40th ami,
versary Of the founding Of the house
of N. W. Aver & Son, the leading ad-
vertising agency OF the country, as wei
as the successor of the pioneer adver-
Using agency, was celebrated Saturday
night at the MISREPRESENTATION by
banquet rendered by the firm to up
ward Of 800 guests, comprising their 26t
odd employees and the most prominent
men Of the country in advertising cir
cles, journalism and immense enter
prises and Industries in commercial
lines.
The immense second floor ballroom
Of the Bellevue Stratford, beautifully
decorated with a profusion of flowers
was taxed to it's capacity to accommo'
date the large assembly. Perhaps new
err has there been a gathering SO repre-
sentative of the three forces which
make advertising-th advertiser. the
agent and the press. With the latter
can be classed the opponents Of that
branch of advertising known as "out-
door"-the billboard and the street
car.
The history of the firm thus celebrat.
ing it's 10th birthday is in itself a
classic, recording advertising progress
in America. From it's beginning the
firm of n. w. Aver & Son has blazed
the way-evolved and improved meth
DDS and established the principles
which have won for it d prestige and
which, as composite, have created the
principles upon which the best in tht
.I iSinD hncnacS tO13 4
conducted.
The guests at this notable banquet
were seated at about nine great tables
one table running the entire length OF
the ballroom, and projecting therefror
eight prongs, each one over SO feet Ions
and accommodating over so guests. Al
the head table were the four members
of the firm, f. Wayland Aver, Henry
n. Mckinney. Albert G. Bradford ant
Jarvis A. Wood, together with the
guests of honor.
At given signal James \. Buchan-
an, the dean of the business getting
staff, rose In his place. and catching
MIR. Ayers attention. in a very apt
speech presented him with a massive
silver loving cup Mr.. Aver. although
taken completely by surprise, accepted
the gift in a most felicitious way, ever
though he found it difficult to express
himself under the circumstances.
At the close all present rose to then
feet and joined the quartet i'm singing
"God Be With is Until We Meet
Again"
The following is a succinct history 81
the firm:
April l, 1869, the Ayers. father an(
son, started the advertising business ii
$50 Arch street with an investment o
$3.50.
In the fall of the same year they re
moved to 7l9 SAMSON street. In Janu
airy, 1872. larger quarters were agar
necessary, and they went to 1873 Samson
street
Again outgrowing their accommoda
tons. they removed in 1876 into thu
building then being erected for thu
Philadelphia Times, at Chestnut an(
Eighth streets Here they stayed FOL
26 years. having gradually EXTENDED
over four floors of the Times building
and .hrce floors Of an adjoining one.
Early in 1903 the firm removed to thu
Mariner and Merchant building, Thirt
anu chestnut streets, where III occu
pies several floors, and where addi
tional space has several times beer
taken, including quarters in adjoining
buildings.
Starting without any employees, TIL
Aver & Son family. as they term it
has constantly grown. In 1876 it mum
bered %: in 1894, 125: in 1908. 200 ant
at the dinner celebrating the birthday
there were 263.
The first year Aver & Sons cuisines
was $1s 900. In 10 years they We're 60
ing the largest business in their line.
Their explanation of this growth i
that they have made advertising pa
the advertiser ..t
They carry on their books on an av
eraye $4,000 open accounts with pub
fishers, and the amount they have pai
the newspapers of this country exceed
5G.000.0 900.
Great as this sum is, it is small i
comparison witt, the other millions tina
have been paid to the newspaper
through other sources for eNploitin
articles along advertising trails blaze
by y. W. Aver & Son.