TO LEAF THROUGH the July 1955 issue of Fortune is to open an Eisenhower-era time capsule-black-and-white photography; cars with tail fins; so many men in neckties. But perhaps the biggest clue that you've tumbled out of the 21st-century business world can be found right in the table of contents: Most of the articles are about making physical things.
There's a feature about airplane engineering. There's a profile of a pipeline builder. A reporter visits a town whose economy is devoted to making compressors for refrigerators. A photo essay by the legendary Walker Evans extols "The Beauties of the Common Tool"; it includes a full-page picture of a 56-cent crescent wrench. In 1955, Big Business built stuff.
This story is from the June - July 2024 edition of Fortune US.
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This story is from the June - July 2024 edition of Fortune US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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