The Brownies were drawings seen in "a series of publications by Canadian illustrator and author Palmer Cox, based on names and elements from English traditional mythology and Scottish stories told to Cox by his grandmother. Illustrations with verse aimed at children, The Brownies was published in magazines and books during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Brownie characters became famous in their day, and, at the peak of their popularity, were a pioneering name brand within merchandising." (Wikipedia)

 

Cox, Palmer. The Brownies: Their Book. The Century Company, 1887, Frontispiece.

 

Cox. "The Brownies' Singing-School." ibid, p. 124.

 

The Brownie characters were used to merchandise many products, most famously Kodak's "Brownie Camera," and although Palmer Cox is one of the first illustrators to license his work for brand names it was a copyright and artistic transition period in marketing and Cox was not always compensated for the commercial use of his work. Reportedly Kodak was one of those products for which "Palmer Cox never received any money for the commercial use of his work." Cox registered his drawings, but not the Brownie name, so this may have also given some companies the idea that they could use "The Brownies" name and then draw their own Brownie-like characters.

In the phonograph industry "Brownie" characters were used to advertise the Graphophone by the Chicago Talking Machine Co. in 1896 and The Polyphone phonographs and Polyphone attachments in 1898 and 1899. Leon Douglass was Manager of the Chicago Talking Machine Co.until April 1887 when it was sold to the Columbia Phonograph Co. Douglass then invented the Polyphone so he was involved in the two phonograph companies that I know of that used The Brownies. They were each relatively short-lived ad campaigns and I can't confirm if the Brownies were artistically appropriated or authorized by Palmer Cox.

The following are examples of the Brownies 'helping' to sell talking machines and Polyphones.

 

The Chicago Talking Machine Co., The Phonoscope, November 1896

 

A. Hospe, jr., Music and Art Store ad, The Omaha Daily Bee, December 27, 1895

 

The Brownies are surprised by the Polyphone, The Polyphone Company, Chicago, Illinois, The Phonoscope, September 1898

 

The Brownies are surprised by the Polyphone, The Polyphone Company, Chicago, Illinois, The Phonoscope, November 1898

 

The Brownies are surprised by the Polyphone, The Polyphone Company, Chicago, Illinois, The Phonoscope, December 1898

 

The Brownies are surprised by the Polyphone, The Polyphone Company, Chicago, Illinois, The Phonoscope, January 1899

 

The Brownies are surprised by the Polyphone, The Polyphone Company, Chicago, Illinois, The Phonoscope, February 1899

 

Electrotypes and Half Tone Cuts offered by Hawthorne & Sheble M'F'G. Co., Inc., New York circa 1899

 

Electrotypes and Half Tone Cuts offered by Hawthorne & Sheble M'F'G. Co., Inc., New York circa 1899

 

Electrotypes and Half Tone Cuts offered by Hawthorne & Sheble M'F'G. Co., Inc., New York circa 1899

 

Electrotypes and Half Tone Cuts offered by Hawthorne & Sheble M'F'G. Co., Inc., New York circa 1899

 

February 15, 1900 (Courtesy Restos de Coleccão - Phonographs and Gramophones in Portugal)

 

"Laugh and Grow Fat -- Only $10." Polyphones, August 31, 1901 (Courtesy Gary's Stamps and Covers).

 

 

The Brownies and Other Products

The following are other examples of various product's tradecards and lithographs using Brownie or Brownie-like characters, with most lacking Palmer Cox signatures on the illustrations or any indication that they are Cox approved-for-use characters.

 

The Palmer Cox Brownies advertising Estey Organs and Pianos, Tradecard circa 1890's.

Estey Piano & Organ Co., Brattleboro, VT

Estey was the largest producer of organs in the world in the 19th Century. In the late 19th Century, the Estey Organ Company purchased the Simpson & Proddow Piano Company of New York City, changing it to the now famous Estey Piano & Organ Company. Tradecard was printed by J. Ottmann Lithographing Co., N.Y. (J. Ottmann was the printing company for Puck magazine).

 

The Brownies and Uncle Sam advertising the "Marks Adjustable Reclining Chair" at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (a.k.a. The 1893 Chicago World's Fair). Tradecard made for the Marks Adjustable Folding Chair Co., Ltd, New York and Chicago. Tradecard made by Bigelow Litho. Co., Springfield, Mass.

 

The Brownies and Uncle Sam advertising the "F & W, Co. Guaranteed Stoves" at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (a.k.a. The 1893 Chicago World's Fair). Tradecard made for Fuller &Warren Co. - Stoves, Furnaces, Ranges and Hot Water Heaters, Troy, NY. Chicago. New York. Boston.

 

The Brownies advertising the "F. E. Myers & Bro, Ashland, O. USA, Trade card at The 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Litho by Gies & Co., Buffalo, N.Y.

 

The Brownies advertising World Fair Souvenir Sharpes Superior Sewing Needle packets from Germany, The 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

 

 

The Brownies at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Judge, by Gillam & Hamilton, 1893

 

"Chinese" Brownie-like characters advertising "Domestic" Sewing Machine Co., trade card, New York, circa 1880s. Disclaimer

 

"Judge's Brownies Hold High Revel on Christmas Eve," Judge, by Sackett & Wilhelms, Litho, 1893

The Brownies "Putting on the "Curve" Tradecard advertisement for "Water Lily" Flour circa 1890's (Bigelow Lithograph Co., Springfield, Mass.)

 

Plain Brownie promoting Lion Coffee, by Palmer Cox, 1892. The Thomas & Wylie Litho. Co. (Courtesy The Strong Museum) See other Brownies from this series in The Strong National Museum of Play Collection.

 

 

The Brownies invade the Judge Office New Year's Eve, Judge, 1892

 

"Celluloid" Collars and Cuffs [Celluloid Novelty Company]; Lithograph 16" x 11" published by Donaldson Brothers, 1895

The Dance of the Brownies by Effie F. Kamman, 1895 sheet music cover.

 

"Our Brownies" with Uncle Sam smoking cigar - Schwencke sample cigar box label circa 1900 (Courtesy Cerebro vintage label art1)

 

 

Kodak No. 1 Brownie, introduced October 1901 (Courtesy of The Brownie Camera Page)

Box for Eastman Kodak Company's No. 1 Brownie Camera

 

On the back of this Brownie novelty was printed: "The New York Biscuit Co's Brownies - The Latest Novelty in Biscuits." A Full Set of 16 of these celebrated PALMER COX'S BROWNIES can be obtained by sending in your two cent stamps with your name and address... Copyright, 1894, Gast, N.Y."

Kodak No. 2 Brownie with schoolgirl taking a picture of a Brownie figure, The Youth Companion, November 1901

Brownies Orange Fruit Crate Label circa 1930s

 

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich, circa 1930s

Meet the Magnavox Radiotikes, The Saturday Evening Post, 1924

 

Wrigley's Double Mint Chewing Gum magazine ad, perhaps inspired by Pixies or Brownies, 1928

The Brownies' Circus," Better Homes & Garden Story Book, Counter Store Display circa 1950's