Hand signs (continued)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   This continues previous postings about various hand signs.

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"OK" SIGN

   I read in one publication that the Ballantine Brewery published an in-house publication titled THREE RINGS, and that it was being catalogued by the Library of Congress.  (Ballantine considered it an honor.)  I checked WorldCat and THREE RINGS doesn't come up!  This publication might have some info behind the hand gesture.

January 1946, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, pg. 37, ad for Swan floating soap--(Cartoon shows a woman doing the sign with thumb and middle finger.  "LUCKY ME!  THEY HAD SWAN TODAY!"--ed.)

April 1946, NEW JERSEY MERCHANT-RESTAURATEUR, pg. 26--(Same as recorded previously.  A chef winks an eye, has a ladle in one hand, and does the sign with the other.  His two fingers don't quite touch, and his other fingers are curved--ed.)

April 1967, SEPIA, pg. 10 photo caption--Everything is A-OK--at least that is what Adam Clayton Powell would have you believe as this photo was taken.

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"V" SIGN

November 1941, CATERER AND LIQUOR RETAILER, pg. 34--("This Advertisement Is One Of A Series In An Extended Campaign Appearing In The New York Times."  Ad for The Grand Macnish scotch shows a person giving the sign with both hands.  "V FOR VICTORY AND DOUBLE V for 'MAKE MINE MACNISH'"--ed.)

April 1942, CATERER AND LIQUOR RETAILER, pg. 16, col. 3--(The ad campaign for Mount Vernon brand whiskey is shown.  A colonially dressed fellow gives the "V" in Vernon like the V-8 salute, with the palm in--ed.)

April 1943, NEW JERSEY MERCHANT-RESTAURATEUR, pg. 20, col. 2--(WWII ad about winning the war shows a chef doing the sign the traditional way--ed.)

September 1949, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, pg. 79, col. 2--(V-8 Vegetable Juice ad shows actor Alan Ladd doing the sign.  It is, again, turned around and faced like the middle finger salute--ed.)

January 1967, SEPIA, pg. 78, col. 1, photo caption--After winning a close election last November, Amerson showed his elation by giving the traditional "V" for victory sign.

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1-2-3

   The NEW JERSEY MERCHANT-RESTAURATEUR, May 1943, pg. 9, shows an ad for 1-2-3 Mixer, One-Two-Three Company Inc., 350 Varick Street, New York, N. Y.
   The count is forefinger (1), then middle finger (2), then ring finger (3).  The thumb is not used for (1).

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FOREFINGER SIGN

   The MERCHANT-RESTAURATEUR, November 1946, pg. 11, shows an ad for Schaefer beer.  The driver of a Schaefer delivery truck gets out and smiles, and a dog smiles and wags its tail at him.  The driver gives a "We're number one" sign with his forefinger, but it is rotating (like the dog's tail).  The copy is "You can be _sure_ of Schaefer."

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SMELL TEST

   RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT, September 1957, pg. 100, has an ad for MFB (Made for Frying and Baking):

_Suet smells away customers--better fry with Heavy-Duty MFB_
   If you've been wondering whether your fine-steak customers can notice the difference when you French-fry their potatoes with suet, try this simple "Smell Test."

(A "Smell Test" of three steps is given.  A cartoon shows a man and a woman both holding their noses--ed.)