Old Snake Oil Ads and Cure all's

The claims of the snake oil salesman were mostly un-checked in the papers of the 1890-1930's. Cure All's and Medicinal Miracles dotted the ads and poured advertising dollars into the newspapers coffers. Seems like you could buy a cure for just about anything for around one dollar (that seemed to be the going rate). The ad below is one of the more bold cure all ads we found and you can read the fine print. This particular ad appeared in a Salt Lake City Newspaper, December, 1902.

 Chris Bouchillon - The Medicine Show - 1927 - Press Play Button

The Fine Print: Consult us about your trouble, no matter what it is. Hearing people is our business. We study we work we think could find the way to accomplish a cure. We devoted years to this task before our methods were perfected to produce results that satisfied us. Now we are satisfied because our labor and study have succeeded. We are satisfied because we can cure your disease quicker, we can do it better and because we can satisfy you better than anyone. Our aim is not what fee we can get but how many can we cure. We cure them all. Hundreds of people here in Salt Lake City can testify to this fact. Scores of patients whose cases were considered hopeless by themselves and by other doctors have found through our hands a quick permanent complete cure in robust health. This is not an advertising lie. It is a fact. Are you diseased and sick? Is your blood tainted with poison? Are you weak and your powers failing? What of it? Don't give up. Don't lose your hope and courage. We can help you. Will you come to us and let us cure you RIGHT AWAY, or do you prefer to keep your disease, or to engage some doctor who theme will be to keep you under treatment for months.

Never mind fee, come anyway and be cured. We want everyone in the country who is afflicted to write us about his ailment.

 Pretty Bold Claims - This was typical of all the old snake oil and cure all claims of the day.

Liniments and Laxative cure-alls

The vintage ad below is for Dr. McLaughlins Electric Belt" which claimed to cure weak men. Makes a great T-Shirt and will be a great conversation starter.

Dr Mclaughlins Electric Belt - Vintage Ad by oldiesbutgoodies
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The Weight Loss Old Snake Oil Ad were much as they are today. In this ad from the late 1800's ... The claims were as outragous as some you see today.

The fine print: 

"My new obesity food taken at mealtime, compels perfect assimilation of the food and sends the food nutriment where it belongs. It requires no starvation process. You can eat all you want. It makes muscle, bone, sinew, nerve and brain tissue out of the excess fat and reduces your weight to normal. It takes off the big stomach and relieves the compressed condition and enables the heart to act freely and the lungs to expand naturally and the kidneys and liver to perform their functions in a natural manner. You will feel better the first day you try this wonderful home food. Fill out the coupon herewith and mail today."

It even came with a free trial offer.

The ad below is for Dr. C. Gee Wo "The Chinese Doctor" who claimed miraculous cures even where others have failed to cure you. This ad is also available on a mousepad and coffee mugs.

Dr Wo The Chinese Doctor Vintage Ad by oldiesbutgoodies
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 Coming Soon - More Old Snake Oil Ads