Original 1939 Elliott Service Co Workplace Safety Worker Propaganda Poster 17x22

Up for auction is an original vintage workplace motivational poster published in 1939 by the Elliott Service Co., Inc. of New York. Measuring approximately 17 inches by 22 inches, this striking piece features bold mid-century lithographic design with a distinctive color palette, illustrating a worker plugging his ears with the profound maxim: "People with open, willing minds are never too old to learn.. But when a man, young or old, gets 'sot in his ways' he stops learning."

Marked with catalog number M 1407 and MD 393 in the lower margin alongside the original 1939 copyright stamp, this poster is a pristine artifact of American industrial history and corporate psychology. It serves as an exceptional collector's piece for enthusiasts of vintage graphic design, typography, labor history, and workplace ephemera. The poster displays expected age-appropriate toning and handling wear suitable for a mid-century paper artifact, maintaining strong visual appeal.

Maker Bio: Elliott Service Co.

Founded in New York City, the Elliott Service Co., Inc. was a pioneer in producing industrial relations, management training, and workplace motivational displays during the early-to-mid 20th century. Prominent during the interwar period and World War II, the company partnered with leading efficiency experts and industrial psychologists—such as Glenn Gardiner and Chapin Hoskins—to create large-format bulletin board posters. These displayed messages designed to foster productivity, safety consciousness, quality craftsmanship, and open-minded adaptability among American workers on the factory floor.

Historical Information & Interesting Facts

The Era of Workplace Psychology: During the late 1930s, American manufacturing plants heavily emphasized continuous employee education and morale-building to counter stagnation and improve workplace efficiency.

The "Sot in His Ways" Idiom: The poster utilizes classic mid-century colloquial phrasing ("sot in his ways") as a direct appeal against cognitive rigidity, a major theme in pre-war industrial productivity campaigns.

Collectible Ephemera Status: Because these posters were meant to be displayed temporarily in factory bulletin boards and discarded afterward, surviving original copies in clean condition are increasingly scarce and sought after by collectors of vintage propaganda and graphic design.