1939 marked the beginning of the second World War. Although the United States remained neutral in 1939, it began to rearm, which helped to end the Great Depression. Albert Einstein alerted President Franklin D. Roosevelt of Nazi atomic-bomb research. That led to the Manhattan Project and the creation of the first nuclear weapons.
In the arts, author John Steinbeck published "The Grapes of Wrath," and Hollywood released one of the first color films, "The Wizard of Oz." "Gone With the Wind" also debuted on the silver screen.
Despite a gradual shift from a consumer-based economy to a defensive one, advertisers still used marketing as a tool, despite the fear of excessive spending.
Here is a selection of advertisements featured in HPAC Engineering, then called Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, in 1939.
January and February 1939
Independent Air Filter Co.
Independent Air Filter Co. ad from the January 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Airtemp
Airtemp ad from the January 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Taylor Instrument Co.
Taylor Instrument Co. ad from the January 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Powers
Powers ad from the February 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Anemostat
Anemostat ad from the February 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The American Brass Co.
The American Brass Co. ad from the February 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
March and April 1939
Republic Steel Corp.
Republic Steel Corp. ad from the March 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Midwest Piping & Supply Co.
Midwest Piping & Supply Co. ad from the March 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Buffalo Pumps Inc.
Buffalo Pumps Inc. ad from the March 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Crane Co.
Crane Co. ad from the April 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co.
The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. ad from the April 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
John J. Nesbitt Inc.
John J. Nesbitt Inc. ad from the April 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
May and June 1939
Wagner Electric Corp.
Wagner Electric Corp. ad from the May 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co.
Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co. ad from the May 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Detroit Stoker Co.
Detroit Stoker Co. ad from the May 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
York Ice Machinery Corp.
York Ice Machinery Corp. ad from the June 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Tuttle & Bailey Inc.
Tuttle & Bailey Inc. ad from the June 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Buffalo Forge Co.
Buffalo Forge Co. ad from the June 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
July and August 1939
Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp.
Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp. ad from the July 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Brunner Manufacturing Corp.
Brunner Manufacturing Corp. ad from the July 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Marley Co.
Marley Co. ad from the July 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Yarnell-Waring Co.
Yarnell-Waring Co. ad from the August 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
McDonnell & Miller
McDonnell & Miller ad from the August 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The American Brass Co.
The American Brass Co. ad from the August 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
September and October 1939
J. H. Williams & Co.
J. H. Williams & Co. ad from the September 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Detroit Stoker Co.
Detroit Stoker Co. ad from the September 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
American Chain & Cable Co. Inc.
American Chain & Cable Co. Inc. ad from the September 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
Air-Maze Corp.
Air-Maze Corp. ad from the October 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
General Electric Co.
General Electric Co. ad from the October 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
White-Rodgers Electric Co.
White-Rodgers Electric Co. ad from the October 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
November and December 1939
Detroit Lubricator Co.
Detroit Lubricator Co. ad from the November 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Trane Co.
The Trane Co. ad from the November 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Dole Valve Co.
The Dole Valve Co. ad from the November 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Independent Register Co.
The Independent Register Co. ad from the December 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The Pipe Fabrication Institute
The Pipe Fabrication Institute ad from the December 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
The V. D. Anderson Co.
The V. D. Anderson Co. ad from the December 1939 issue of Heating Piping and Air Conditioning.
