Wow, $150 bucks for this 7″ tall nodder!
A distinguishing advertising character that was also a classic nodder. The Reddy Kilowatt nodder initially was actually dressed in a cowboy outfit and eventually changed into his current appearance. Reddy Kilowatt had a production run of only 10,000 pieces and hasn’t been repeated since, to the best of my knowledge.
A rumination by Seattle P-I columnist Bill Virgin wondering why companies make so little use of fictional characters to promote themselves nowadays:
Here is one of those cultural reference points that will have half the readership saying, ‘Oh, yeah, I remember him,’ and the other half saying, ‘Who?’ Whatever became of Reddy Kilowatt?
The short answer: Rather than fictional characters, celebrities are now the most popular face of corporate America.
Interesting. This 1999 newsletter claims the former Northern States Power Company was going to use Reddy as an icon of ecommerce and energy conservation. Clearly, neither of these things happened.
Now, Reddy is ‘under new management’ and on the verge of finding a second career in the age of e-commerce. His new owners at Northern States Power Company (NSP, soon to become Xcel) have devised for him a revised sense of purpose and they’ve begun negotiations with other utilities to spread Reddy’s familiar face across the Internet… The plan is to build a Web site presence based around Reddy, who will be the guide to consumer information about energy efficiency products and services, including an on-line home energy audit.
And here’s a link to the PDF version: (REDDY.pdf).
It’s in St. John’s, Newfoundland, but it’s not for you or me (and nowhere does the site mention Reddy as electricity’s most famous “spokesthing”):
Who can become a customer-owner of Reddy Kilowatt Credit Union? All employees and retirees of the Fortis Group of Companies and their extended families can.
James Lileks’ “Gallery of Regrettable Food” is an internet classic. Even Reddy cannot escape a skewering: Reddy Kilowatt heralding the all-electric, post-war Kitchen of Death.
Isn’t he cute? the women seem to be saying. (The one on the left seems particularly enchanted.) They do not realize, of course, that one touch of Reddy means instant, smoking, sparky death. Yet they follow, for he has wonders to show them — as we shall see.
Here’s some info from Don Markstein’s Toonopedia web site:
Reddy debuted on March 11, 1926. He wasn’t just APC’s spokestoon, but was offered to other local power companies as well. Philadelphia Electric Company was the first of over 200 to license the character. Since then, Reddy’s image has appeared on billboards, company stationery, newspaper and magazine ads, give-away merchandise, and everywhere else a toon can appear — including, of course, comics and animation.
Hurry, this item only has two days left and it’s already at $70.69:
This auction is for an early Reddy Kilowatt card holder / statue. He has the glow in the dark hands, feet, and head. By my estimation, I *think* its dated 1961 on the bottom but its in roman numerals and I can’t be certain. He’s signed “Reddy” on his left foot, and “Kilowatt” on his right. The bottom of the stand also reads, “Reddy Kilowatt, (c) MCMLXI REDDY KILOWATT Inc”. He is in near mint condition and about as nice as you can find for the age. Hardly any of his red paint is worn off.
This is the future home of a web site dedicated to Reddy Kilowatt. Yee-haw!
Why a Reddy Kilowatt site? I guess because my dad has a large collection of it and I thought it would be cool to share it and provide more information about this historic mascot.