Historical Articles

September, 1952 issue of Plating

 

We yearn to learn—continue A.E.S. wives

Frances M. (Mrs. August R.) Hoffman, Cleveland, Ohio

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Here we are again, ladies, to review our Convention in Chicago. Each year we gasp with excitement and each year we declare that this convention brought us the best times. Today we are saying, “The Chicago Convention was the best in 1952”.

The opening session on Monday was full of excitement and anticipation for this was the day that a Queen was to be “made”. Each lady present deposited in the box at the entrance to the grand ballroom of the Hilton a special ticket which she found in her registration book and which had her name on it. Later, the box was brought to the platform where three tickets were drawn. The first ticket was our convention Queen and the next two tickets were her attendants. The honors went to Mrs. S. Zeitman of Pittsburgh as the “Queen” and Mrs. Lawrence Davis of Jamestown, N. Y. and Mrs. S. J. Beyer of Louisville as her two attendants. This coronation ceremony was most impressive. The three ladies made a traditional picture of royalty. Only Mr. Manson Glover could have installed the trio so securely in the royal atmosphere on a royal level. Mr. Cleve Nixon, our National A. E. S. President, greeted the new Queen and presented her with a gift corsage.

Delightful memories are brought to mind by thoughts of Monday afternoon. The ladies enjoyed a special showing of the latest fashions for summer presented by Marshall Field & Company in the store’s Narcissus Room, plus a very tasty and dainty tea. It gave us a birds-eye view of the daily happenings in the famous Chicago store.

Monday night was truly a “gala” affair. We had a chance to meet new friends and greet old ones. Our hosts, the Metal Finishing Suppliers Association, arranged a delicious buffet supper, along with liquid refreshments, music, dancing and prizes. The Queen received her crown together with lovely gifts for the royal trio.

The Aunt Ella Society luncheon took place on Tuesday. Each year the ladies look forward to this traditional affair sponsored by Oakite Products, Inc. Having David X. Clarin, as our host, was truly a delightful activity in the garden of the Art Institute of Chicago. Two lucky ladies won two pieces of antique silver which “Aunt Ella” brought from the Orient and so generously shared at the party.

After the luncheon we gathered in the Fullerton Hall of the Art Museum for a talk on art treasures of the world. This was educational as well as inspirational and we had a Jolly afternoon roaming the galleries and seeing the many fine exhibits.

The East-West Ball Game brought sympathy for the losing husbands and much cheer for the winning husbands but friendship was retained and it ended with a cry of “Wait ‘til next year”.

Much excitement was demonstrated on Wednesday at the Plato Party where many valuable prizes were given to the ladies. A great deal of suspense and many anxious moments were spent throughout the morning. Joan T. Wiarda was a gracious hostess and most capable in conducting the entire affair.

After the party a very delicious luncheon was served in the famous Boulevard Room followed by an artfully entertaining monologue given by charming Sulie Harand.

Thursday was the time we used to roam around at the Third Industrial Finishing Exposition with our husbands. We always find them pretty handy and they are so anxious to give us proper knowledge and instructions regarding plating.

Among the many educational demonstrations we saw a working model of a barrel-plating line which coated nuts and bolts with zinc and with subsequent olive drab and bleached chromate finishes. A still-plating line plated parts with white brass followed .by chromium. We received the items plated to take home with us as a useful souvenir of the Exposition. Ladies are very possessive and; you can always win them to your side by giving them something of a material nature to take home with them.

The Ladies’ Educational Session was held in the Saddle and Sirloin Club Ballroom. Jerry Lux of Oakite Products is a handsome gentleman who gave us many hints on how to make fun out of our work.

A final tribute was paid to our Queen and her attendants and the Ladies’ chairman for next year’s convention, which will be held in Philadelphia, was introduced to us. She is a most gracious “Lady” and we feel we have much to look forward to in 1953.

Our luncheon, held in the Saddle and Sirloin Club room, was delicious and we felt like members of America’s multi-billion dollar livestock industry??? The Club room was designed originally for the accommodation of stock men having business in tile Chicago market—the world’s largest center of livestock trade.

The Annual Banquet on Thursday, followed with a Ball, was very colorful and much fun. It proved to be an adequate climax to the Chicago Convention. The food was most delicious, the floor show entertaining and very wholesome, and the music superb!

Thus ended the well organized, so ably executed, convention which took place in the resourceful and gracious city of Chicago.

Each and every lady recognized the fact that Mrs. Longfield and her committee demonstrated a feeling of warmth, patience, kindness and generosity, and were not only willing but anxious to make everyone happy and to let all the ladies live an experience which they will never forget.

Mrs. Longfield radiated charm and friendliness to each and everyone-of us and our thanks go out to her.

The Committees who so untiringly worked during each project and who were so anxious to please us, made everything fun.

In behalf of all the ladies who attended the convention, may I extend to Mrs. Longfield and her committee a most grateful “thank you”, and may it be resolved that their graciousness, hospitality and efforts be remembered as part of the 39th Annual Convention which was organized and executed so efficiently.

Each year we think the convention is best during that year. We say this with all sincerity. We are looking forward to Philadelphia next year. We are sure that the smiling chairman will not fail us and the Convention will be best in 1953.

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