www.californiaperfumecompany.net     Issue 2 - May 2004

• An Early CPC/Avon Award
• Upcoming Events
• Web Site News

When I first began collecting the CPC paper items (catalogs, brochures, CPC Outlooks and Bulletins, etc.), I found the wealth of historical information somewhat invigorating. From one point of view, collecting the pieces and memorabilia of a company is like touching the exterior, fleshy part of that company: allowing you to know the what and maybe the where. However, collecting a company's history as recorded in it's documentation, paperwork, and official records is like touching the very heart and soul of that company: allowing you to know not only the what and the where, but also the how, the when, and the why. And for that reason -- touching the very heart and soul of the California Perfume Company -- I continue to search for, acquire, read, study, and thoroughly enjoy the myriad of CPC paper items.

Recently, a beautiful Covered Dish Representative Award dating from the 1930's was offered to me - which I happily purchased since I had no CPC or early CPC/Avon awards in my collection (except for the "Honor" Identification Pins and a an Anniversary Spoon if you choose to include them.) This awesome opportunity followed closely behind a question that I received through my web site from a lady regarding the early CPC/Avon ceramic awards. Her question to me concerned the potential value of a 1930's Gravy Boat (seen on page 539 of Bud Hastin's 17th edition Avon Collector's Encyclopedia.) This set off bells and whistles in my mind. Though I have looked through Bud's encyclopedias many times as well as having literally worn the covers off my old Western World Avon 8 Collector's Guide, I really never took notice of these awards -- and there is a BIG difference!

Over the years, as I have researched the many CPC Outlooks and Bulletins in my possession (250+), I have noted that the California Perfume Company loved to motivate Representative sales through the use monetary and material awards. CPC awards included such items as Sewing Machines, Wicker Furniture, Clocks, Fireless Stoves, Baking Dishes, Pen and Pencil sets, Linen Table Cloths, Silverware, even a Auto-Vacuum Ice Cream Freezer -- and that doesn't even touch the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Suffice it to say, "The CPC offered a plethora of Representative awards." Following is a list of awards for various sales goals as recorded in the April 1917 issue of the CPC Outlook:

• 1) $50.00 in Gold -- Sales Manager with the Highest Total Sales for April, May, and June 1917.
• 2) $40.00 in Gold -- Sales Manager with the Second Highest Total Sales...
• 3) $30.00 in Gold -- Sales Manager with the Third Highest Total Sales...
• 4) $20.00 in Gold -- Sales Manager with the Forth Highest Total Sales...
• 5) $10.00 in Gold -- Sales Manager with the Fifth Highest Total Sales...
• 6) Leather Suit Case (Cowhide) -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $175.00...
• 7) English Traveling Bag -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $150...
• 8) Leather Suit Case (Sheepskin) -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $120.00...
• 9) Reed Suit Case -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $90.00...
• 10) Folding Cartridge Premo No. 2 Camera -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $96.00...
• 11) San-O-La Bathroom Set -- Every Sales Manager with Total Wholesale Business of $90.00...
• and much more with the 23rd and last item being a Solid Gold CPC Identification Pin for every Sales Manager with a Total Wholesale Business of $30.00 for April, May, and June 1917.

The common element is that ALMOST ALL of these awards ARE NOT marked as CPC or CPC/Avon. Unlike the billion-dollar Avon corporation of today which clearly marks or incorporates the Avon name or logo into every one if its Representative awards, the California Perfume Company simply used "what is today called" commercial-off-the-shelf goods. This kept the expenses down as did the process of buying in bulk. It wasn't until the 1920 and 1930's that we begin to see the California Perfume Company awards that were specially designed or manufactured with the CPC or CPC/Avon logo.

One quick note for clarification: At times the CPC did award normal or slightly modified CP customer products, such as the 1924 Fragrance Jar Award (page 538 of Bud Hastin's 17th edition Avon Collector's Encyclopedia), the 1927 Perfume Atomizer Award (page 591). Also see the CPC and Avon Gold Star Representative Medals (page 511 and explained on my web site under the General Agents section).

Beauty and practicality were foundations of the award system employed by David H. McConnell. I know that is an opinion, but bear with me when I say that so many of the awards that I have noted in the pages of the CPC Outlooks were functional, applicable items that could be used by the Sales Manager, whether in home life or in the CPC profession. Also, most of the items were quite beautiful (as clearly seen with the Ceramic Bowl Award below.) Contrast the beauty and practicality of the awards with the stark, cold realities of the United States during the early CPC years: 1886-1939. The West was still wild, the Industrial Revolution, World War One, The Great Depression, the ramp up in Europe toward World War Two, and so on... Interesting contrast to say the least.

1930's Representative Award Bowl
Number Found Under the Cover	CPC/Avon Label Found Under the Bottom of the Bowl

The Covered Dish above is approximately eleven inches long, seven inches wide, five inches high. The quality is definitely not that of fine china. The gold-painted finish is quite simple, yet very elegant. In the middle of the under side of the lid is the number 1114. My only GUESS is that the number depicts either the style of the Covered Dish or is a one-up number within a production run of, say, 5000 total units -- I have no clue. Ultimately though, the 1930s ceramic Gravy Boat (page 539), the 1930s ceramic Covered Dish (page 539), the 1930s Deer Plate (page 535), and 1930s Moose Plate (page 586) represent some of the first awards bearing the CPC or CPC/Avon logo - the same logo depicted immediately above.

Again, a quick side note: Other examples of early marked awards are the 1932 President's Cup Award (page 591) and the 1934 Cigarette Holder Award (page 580), though marked items are extremely rare and were not the general CPC practice until the later years.

I am absolutely sure that there is more, yet unknown, out there! Keep your eyes open. CPC discoveries are made all the time!

Remember!

1. Recently I noticed the apparent demise of a high visibility, well appreciated, and well visited Avon web site: www.icollectavon.com. Rhonda Schriver's "Avon Collector's Lost and Found" served the Avon collecting community for several years providing collectors with information about the National Association of Avon Collectors, listings of national and local Avon club events, and her vast online listings of CPCs and Avons "For Sale" and "Wanted". I tried to contact Rhonda almost two months ago and received no reply. Rumor has it that the web site has been sold to someone and the new owner (whoever they may be) is possibly renewing and revamping the web site. I guess we will have to just wait and see.

2. There is new "stuff" added to the CPC web site all the time. Please come by and check it out often!

www.californiaperfumecompany.net.

If you know of any worth while web site related in some way to CPC and Avon collecting, please let me know and I will include the site in an upcoming CPC Newsletter issue.

Previous CPC Newsletter issues are always available upon request.

Thank you and have an awesome day!

Rusty

I appreciate and welcome any and all feedback!!!!!

Always Looking To Hatch New CPC Stories