Advertising Posters On Freight Cars

I’ve noticed photos of freight cars sometimes show small advertising posters, presumably attached by the shipper.

The photos appear to be pre-World War One.

Were such posters banned or outlawed at some point? And when?

Thanks.

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

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Tim O'Connor
Sterling, Massachusetts

I was searching for something else and came across this. This was from a candle company that used beeswax.  


Bob Chaparro wrote:

“I’ve noticed photos of freight cars sometimes show small advertising posters, presumably attached by the shipper.
The photos appear to be pre-World War One.
Were such posters banned or outlawed at some point? And when?”

Here’s a brief overview of the prohibition of advertising on freight cars. All such rules were promulgated by the various railroad associations. The Interstate Commerce Commission had no involvement regarding these rules other than the use of placards which they mandated. If you need more details let me know.

The American Railway Association included Rule 14 within its first Code of Car Service Rules adopted October 24, 1900.

Rule 14: The placing of advertisements or placards of any kind by shippers upon freight cars is prohibited.

The rule was, “recommendatory and not binding upon any member” as per the ARA’s Articles of Organization. As the abuses continued The ARA referred the subject to the 1907 annual meeting of The Master Car Builders’ Association with recommendations that car inspectors be instructed to remove advertisements at all inspection points and charge the cost of the work to the delivering line.

The MCBA’s Arbitration Committee original response was, “Your committee has carefully considered the matter, and is of the opinion that, as it is not a matter which affects the interchange of cars, maintenance of standards or settlement of cars, it is a subject which to rule upon would be entirely outside the providence of this association.”

The following day the secretary of the MCBA addressed the members of the Arbitration Committee and stated, “I wish to say that yesterday afternoon at 4:30 there was a meeting of the Arbitration Committee at which there were representatives of some of the prominent railroads of the United States. They conferred with the Arbitration Committee, and as a result of that conference the Arbitration Committee modified some of its suggestions and those I would like to read it this time:

(1) That the recommendation on page 2 of the printed report of the committee relating to the placing of advertisements on cars be reconsidered.

(2) That rule 40 be changed to read: Damage of any kind to the body of the car due to unfair usage, derailment or accident; also temporary advertisements tacked, glued, pasted or varnished on cars. Delivering company responsible.

Additionally, the following was added to Interchange Rule 106 covering the amounts chargeable to delivering lines. “Removing temporary advertisements tacked on cars, per car, fifty (50) cents. Removing temporary advertisements glued pasted or varnished on cars, per car, one dollar ($1.00)”

The changes to rules 40 and 106 were adopted by the Master Car Builders’ Association on September 1, 1907.

After several changes and expansion of both —Interchange Rule 40 became Rule 36 and Car Service Rule 14 became 12. Both remained throughout the scope of this list so numbered.

Beginning in 1920 with the reorganization of The American Railway Association the Transportation Division reported on the adherence to Car Service Rule 12 and Interchange Rule 36 which were worded exactly the same. Few abuses of the rule were reported during subsequent years and by 1925 the practice of applying advertisements was non existent.

Guy Wilber
Reno, Nevada