1907 - Swastika Contest

 

Competition was fierce among Hamilton’s downtown department stores in the fall of 1907. Ideas to attract customers in novel ways were needed. The managers of the Stanley Mills & Co. Limited store just east of the King and James corner, came up with a contest, they the ‘Swastika’ Contest.

Within an advertisement for the contest in the Hamilton Times of September 30, 1907, the importance swastika was explained:

“For unknown centuries, this symbol has been used as a charm of good luck.

“Historically it first appears on the Greek coins of year 315 B.C., but has been found among relics of races of far remote ages.

“It is probably the oldest cross and the oldest emblem known.

“To illustrate the universality of its use, it may be mentioned that it has been found on the Archaic pottery of the Ancient Thera, on the shields of  the Ancient Britons, carved in the solid rocks of the mountains of India and ornamenting the prehistoric pottery of the Cliff Dwellers of America.

“Found among the relics of all ages and of all peoples, but still in use today – the Swastika has been emblematic of good luck and prosperity – a talisman bringing life and benediction to its wearer.”¹

¹ Stanley Mills & Co., Limited”

Hamilton Times.   September 30, 1907.

The details of the Swastika Prize Story were then detailed:

“We have adopted the Swastika as an emblem for the great Managers’ Sale to be held from Thursday, Oct. 3 to Tuesday, Oct. 8^th, and in order to get everyone thoroughly interested and familiar with this popular emblem, we will hold a prize story contest and invite the readers of this paper to weave some interesting romance around the ‘Swastika’ – or a story connecting this emblem with our Great Managers’ Sale”¹

The prizes to be vied for were enumerated as follows:

“To the person sending in the best story we will give a Solid Gold Swastika Pin, and to each of the writers of the next 25 stories, we will give an Enameled Swastika Pin.”

In conclusion the ad noted that ‘the stories must not exceed 300 words and the contest closes next Saturday, October 5^th. Address all stories to ‘Swastika Contest, Stanley Mills & Co. Limited.”