Object ID
F2013.80
Object Name
Clipboard
Material
Wood
Object Description
Silver clipboard with felt bottom. Clipping part says "Sferas Bros. Printing Co." on it, along with a Harrison address in Chicago. There is also a calendar of a month and a sliding mechanism, which is stuck. On the base of the clipboard is a chart which instructs users how to use the slider to determine an accurate monthy calendar from the years 1946-1950. There is also a list of the first day of every month for these years. The bottom of the clipboard is covered in felt. The clipboard has rusted in certain places and is also dirty and scratched. It still functions as a clipboard. There is a piece of paper taped to the clipboard which says, "How many lens forms are available to you in genuine soft-lite neutral absorption?". Below these words is a chart of different eye lenses and their names and specifiations. The piece of paper seems unrelated to the clipboard, as it deals with glasses lenses and the clipboard represents a printing company.
Origin
Sferas Bros. Printing Company was open for 13 years on Chicago's west side. It was shut down in 1952 when the Sferas brothers were arrested for their roles in an international counterfeiting ring. The United States Secret Service raided the business and found evidence that proved that over $2 million had been counterfeited at their business. Both men were found guilty and served prison time. It was estimated that the Sferas brothers were part of the biggest counterfeiting ring in the country at the time.

The calendar system that the clipboard employs was created by Brown and Bigelow, a company from Saint Paul, Minnesota that specializes in promotional products, including calendars.
Rights and Reproduction
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Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Clipboard, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/10099. Accessed 05/01/24.