Shoe shine machine depicting a caricatured shoe shine boy
date: label: Date
content: 1945-1960
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Siros Manufacturing Company, American
notes: label: Description
content: A yellow and gray, metal shoe shine machine with a frame at the top of the front panel holding a cartoon image of a caricatured boy. The frame has embossed text at the top that reads [BRUSH- UP] and at the bottom the read [SHINE]. The cartoon image depicts a caricature of a shoe shine boy with a bald head, a wide white mouth, white nose, white eyes and ears. He is wearing a plaid jacket, black pants and white shoes. Next to the boy is a speech bubble that reads [BRUSH / UP / SHINE] with the text [5¢] below. Next to the frame is a red coin slow with the text [BRUSH / UP / 5¢] written in white above the slot. At the base of the front panel is an opening to insert a foot. There is a small hood above the opening with a sign affixed to it that reads [KEEP SHOE MOVING / LIGHTLY ON BRUSH]. At the top of the machine is a metal and plastic sign case with embossed text that reads [BRUSH-UP / SHINE]. A plate on the top of machine reads [INSTRUCTIONS / BLACK & BROWN SHOES ONLY / RUNNING TIME ½ MINUTE / KEEP SHOE MOVING / TO BRUSH HEEL AND SIDES / PAT. PENDING / SIROS MFG. CO. HOUSTON, TEXAS].
label: Statement
content: Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Business
label: Topic
content: Caricature and cartoons
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: Stereotypes
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
label: Classification
content: Tools and Equipment
label: Classification
content: Racist and Stereotypical Objects
label: Exhibition
content: Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2007.7.299
objectType: label: Type
content: machines
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal , paint , rubber
label: Dimensions
content: 48 1/4 x 20 3/4 x 19 5/8 in. (122.6 x 52.7 x 49.8 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Cord Length: 93 in.