Northern Automatic Blankets

Gray text on yellow background. The N in Northern is an illustration of fabric in motion.

Northern Automatic Blankets were heated blankets sold by the Sunbeam Corporation, which is based in Chicago. These blankets originally came in four colors (green, brown, yellow, and blue), were made from acrylic fibers, and had a lighted dial to adjust the heat settings. Ads for Northern Automatic Blankets marketed the product as a better-than-average blanket that would help cut costs on heating bills. Compared to running the heater, Northern Automatic Blankets were a cheaper and more comfortable alternative that only cost consumers 3 cents per night in electricity. This product was sold for about $30 during the 1950s at Sterchi’s, a home furnishing store with multiple branches across the nation.