Spilling means chilling
Fuel conservation poster in two halves: on the left a cartoon man cheerfully tips a bucket of coal onto the ground; on the right a scowling, shivering man hugs himself beside an iced-over stove. The headline links the spill to the cold, a mild, humorous fear-appeal about personal discomfort.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Army Conservation Project
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Theme
- Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1791 (NAID 515469).
Text on the object
SPILLING MEANS CHILLING wasted COAL can't keep you warm ! [imprint: ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT NO. 109-E-24] [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-605092]
