Vintage 1930s Machinist Industrial Safety Factory Poster Art Proper Oiling 17x22

Offered for sale is an authentic, original vintage industrial safety and efficiency poster titled "PROPER OILING prevents waste of machinery . . . also of oil." Measuring approximately 17” x 22”, this striking piece features classic mid-century graphic design with bold typography and a vibrant yellow-and-green palette illustrating a classic oil can mechanism.

Published by the Elliott Service Co., Inc. (located at 219 East 44th Street, New York, as noted in the bottom margin alongside code W-576), this poster was originally produced for display in American factories, workshops, and industrial plants during the early-to-mid 20th century. It serves as a fantastic artifact of workplace efficiency campaigns, corporate safety culture, and vintage commercial graphic design.

Condition: Displays authentic vintage character consistent with age, including mild edge wear, minor handling marks, and natural paper toning that enhances its authentic retro aesthetic. Please review all provided photos for a closer look at the exact condition.

Dimensions: 17 inches x 22 inches

Type: Original Industrial Poster / Lithograph

Maker & Publisher Biography

Elliott Service Co., Inc. (New York, NY):

Founded in the early 20th century, the Elliott Service Company was a pioneering organization that specialized in producing workplace display materials, management information systems, and employee motivation campaigns. They are best known for supplying American factories, offices, and industrial complexes with large-format posters focused on industrial safety, waste reduction, quality control, and economic literacy. Their posters are highly prized by collectors of vintage graphic design and industrial memorabilia for their clean modernist layouts, bold color blocking, and striking typography.

Historical Information & Interesting Facts

The Era of Workplace Efficiency: During the 1920s and 1930s, American manufacturing underwent a massive push toward scientific management, waste minimization, and loss prevention. Industrial posters became a primary psychological tool for management to communicate directly with floor workers about the real costs of resource carelessness.

Conservation Out of Necessity: Messages highlighting the conservation of machine parts and lubricating oils took on heightened economic significance during periods of industrial scaling and economic recovery, where machinery downtime translated directly into severe financial losses.

Design Heritage: Utilizing stark color contrasts, dimensional block lettering, and graphic minimalism, posters from the Elliott Service Co. mirror the broader movements of industrial art deco and early corporate communication design that preceded World War II.