DICKINSON DICK A BIT OF MESSER TRIVIA
Photo and plaque above from the Messer family collection
Around 1954, Joe and Eunice were approached by the Chamber of Commerce from Dickinson ND. to create a special promotional "plaque" for the city to produce. Joe immediately went to work creating the original sculpture and then made a mold from that form.
In order to show the Chamber of Commerce a finished product, Joe finished 2-3 pieces including airbrushed glaze and lettering as 'prototype' samples. Those few pieces were lettered exactly as you see in the example above "Howdy! I'm DICK from DICKINSON"
The prototype was well received and approved, so Joe sold the design to the Chamber of Commerce for their exclusive use. The ONLY finished Dickinson Dick plaques Joe created himself were those few prototypes with that exact text you see.
Over the years, some collectors have been unearthing this identical plaque, however the text is not always what was written here...and sometimes the same.
THE EXPLANATION....the different messages were created by the ceramic company (currently unknown) who produced Dickinson Dick for the Chamber of Commerce back in the 1950's as they used this plaque for a few different promotions during that time .
The mystery of the changing messages ... SOLVED. If you are fortunate enough have one of these wonderful smiling cowboys, chances are it was designed by Joe...but produced by a different manufacturer.
In order to show the Chamber of Commerce a finished product, Joe finished 2-3 pieces including airbrushed glaze and lettering as 'prototype' samples. Those few pieces were lettered exactly as you see in the example above "Howdy! I'm DICK from DICKINSON"
The prototype was well received and approved, so Joe sold the design to the Chamber of Commerce for their exclusive use. The ONLY finished Dickinson Dick plaques Joe created himself were those few prototypes with that exact text you see.
Over the years, some collectors have been unearthing this identical plaque, however the text is not always what was written here...and sometimes the same.
THE EXPLANATION....the different messages were created by the ceramic company (currently unknown) who produced Dickinson Dick for the Chamber of Commerce back in the 1950's as they used this plaque for a few different promotions during that time .
The mystery of the changing messages ... SOLVED. If you are fortunate enough have one of these wonderful smiling cowboys, chances are it was designed by Joe...but produced by a different manufacturer.
Other Dickinson Dick theme memorabilia-collection of Arley & Bonnie Olson
CLICK ON THE THE THUMBNAILS ABOVE TO SEE FULL SIZED IMAGES WITH MORE INFORMATION
BELOW IS A VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY ARLEY AND BONNIE OLSON
The Dickinson Chamber of Commerce was incorporated March 28, 1945. In the 1950's the Chamber introduced a campaign called "DICK sez" to promote Dickinson, ND.
Ray Thomas owner of the Dickinson Sign Company done the art work and signage for this campaign.
You will find numerous items depicting the DICK sez campaign, which includes mugs, ashtrays, notepads, neck scarves and the popular Messer DICK sez plaque.
Ray Thomas and the Dickinson Chamber had Joe Messer of Messer Ceramics in Bowman, ND design the mold for the plaque. Other than some prototypes, Messer did not make any plaques. As the Chamber had the W. C. Bunting Company of Wellsville, Ohio do ceramic mugs it is possible that they did the plaques.
We were told by an employee of the Dickinson Sign Company that there was about 200 plaques made. These plaques were not sold but given out to business that belonged to the Chamber. We have seen these used as wall plaques, pot holders and key holders with hooks attached. Also with a metal plate added to the bottom they became a bookend. You will find etched on the back ©1953 RT, the RT is for Ray Thomas.
You could tell which business belonged to the Chamber because that had an image of DICK sez applied to their windows in yellow.
There are five sayings that we know of and are as follows:
DICK sez-"NORTH DAKOTA IS OK
DICK sez-"DON'T WORRY HURRY!"
DICK sez-"PA KNOWS BUT WHAT MA SAYS GOES"
DICK sez-"HOLD YOUR HORSES THEY'RE GETTING SCARCE"
DICK sez-"INDIAN SCALP FOE WHITE MAN SKIN FRIEND"
The Dickinson Chamber of Commerce was incorporated March 28, 1945. In the 1950's the Chamber introduced a campaign called "DICK sez" to promote Dickinson, ND.
Ray Thomas owner of the Dickinson Sign Company done the art work and signage for this campaign.
You will find numerous items depicting the DICK sez campaign, which includes mugs, ashtrays, notepads, neck scarves and the popular Messer DICK sez plaque.
Ray Thomas and the Dickinson Chamber had Joe Messer of Messer Ceramics in Bowman, ND design the mold for the plaque. Other than some prototypes, Messer did not make any plaques. As the Chamber had the W. C. Bunting Company of Wellsville, Ohio do ceramic mugs it is possible that they did the plaques.
We were told by an employee of the Dickinson Sign Company that there was about 200 plaques made. These plaques were not sold but given out to business that belonged to the Chamber. We have seen these used as wall plaques, pot holders and key holders with hooks attached. Also with a metal plate added to the bottom they became a bookend. You will find etched on the back ©1953 RT, the RT is for Ray Thomas.
You could tell which business belonged to the Chamber because that had an image of DICK sez applied to their windows in yellow.
There are five sayings that we know of and are as follows:
DICK sez-"NORTH DAKOTA IS OK
DICK sez-"DON'T WORRY HURRY!"
DICK sez-"PA KNOWS BUT WHAT MA SAYS GOES"
DICK sez-"HOLD YOUR HORSES THEY'RE GETTING SCARCE"
DICK sez-"INDIAN SCALP FOE WHITE MAN SKIN FRIEND"
