Treat Em Rough Join The Tanks Historic Art

Treat Em Rough Join The Tanks Historic vintage style military aviation travel poster art by Squadron Posters!

Treat ’em rough – Join the tanks United States Tank Corps poster design by Ahgiet Hutaf ; National Printing & Engraving Company 1917. August “Gus” William Hutaf (1874–1942) was an illustrator, commercial artist, and advertising executive during the 1900s. His most recognized work is the 1917 World War I recruiting poster for the Tank Corps titled, “Treat ‘Em Rough! Join the Tanks!”  Hutaf was born on February 25 in Hoboken, New Jersey. His year of birth has been listed as being either 1874 or 1879. Hutaf was an advertising executive and held positions at various companies as an art director.

In 1914, he resigned as art director of the United States Printing and Lithographing Company to become art director of the A.M. Briggs Company. In this position he was in charge of preparing posters and handling selling plans for advertisers. In 1917, Hutaf illustrated a recruitment poster for WWI Tank Corps. It encouraged men to join the US Tank Corps, which was a relatively new unit at the time. In this same year, Hutaf was elected to be a member of the American Press Humorists Association. In 1921, Hutaf was listed as the former vice president of Einson Litho, Inc., and former art director of the United States Lithograph Company of the William H. Rankin Company. He was also associated with the outdoor advertising company, Ivan B. Nordhem of New York. 

Squadron Posters offers the world’s largest collection of Squadron Specific Art! Check out our stunning vintage style military aviation themed travel posters, honoring All Branches of Service. Our artwork not only represents aircraft, armored cavalry, or ships, it represents adventure and travel. This means we create posters featuring the Space Needle, New Orleans, the Golden Gate Bridge, Mt Rushmore and the National Mall. Of course, McChord AFB isn’t in Seattle but if you’re stationed there your adventure surely involves the Space Needle! (See our Facebook page HERE)

This is what makes Squadron Posters different–it’s about remembering where you’ve lived and what you’ve seen with a vintage themed travel poster. – Collect your travels and tell your story!