Wm. L. McDonald, Manufacturers of Carriage Harness & Co. Repository, No. 26 Beekman & 18 Spruce Street, New York 1852 - 1886

Endicott & Co. created this lithograph print to advertise Wm. L. McDonald's carriage and harness manufacturing business in New York. This advertisement reflects the booming industrial era, but also the deep social stratifications of the time. Carriages represent wealth and status, and the print subtly highlights the racial dynamics of labor and leisure. We see well-dressed white figures riding in carriages, while the labor behind this industry, often performed by marginalized communities, remains unseen. The artist positions McDonald's establishment as a purveyor of luxury, catering to the tastes and needs of the Southern and Western elites. The text at the bottom reads "W.L.M. McDonald is grateful for the large business already confided to him." This statement underscores the reciprocal relationship between the manufacturer and its affluent clientele, reinforcing the economic and social hierarchies of the era. The print offers not just a product, but a vision of society structured by class and race.