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The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

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Category: 1920s

A World of Tubs
Posted on January 21, 2020

Hardin-Lavin, 1923
A World of Tubs

Coming up with names for products is always a challenge. Just ask car makers. So how about bathtubs? Continue reading A World of Tubs

A Century of Progress
Posted on January 14, 2020January 13, 2020

Sears Roebuck, 1920
A Century of Progress

Sears, Fall 1920 100 years ago, what things were changing us? Cars, still, certainly. Also electrical itemsĀ  in their many manifestations. In 1920, the breakthrough was about to be radio broadcasting. Wireless communications (of either telegraphy or voice) represented the latest tech, proven during recent War. But the concept of sharing public audio performances for … Continue reading A Century of Progress

Three great things that don’t go great together
Posted on July 23, 2019July 23, 2019

Sears Roebuck, 1923
Three great things that don’t go great together

When you sell as many things as Sears used to, you end up with pages like this: Vibrators, Medical Batteries, and Butcher Supplies. Yuck. Continue reading Three great things that don’t go great together

Hello, Central? Give me Mr. Stromberg or Mr. Carlson!
Posted on June 18, 2019June 17, 2019

Stromberg-Carlson, 1921
Hello, Central? Give me Mr. Stromberg or Mr. Carlson!

A long, long time ago, when you wanted to make a phone call you couldn’t dial the telephone number yourself. Actually, you haven’t really “dialed” a number in ages either Continue reading Hello, Central? Give me Mr. Stromberg or Mr. Carlson!

Yard Work
Posted on June 4, 2019June 3, 2019

Charles Williams, 1928
Yard Work

Some things never change. Grass grows. Grass must be cut. Continue reading Yard Work

Sweet Sounds for Spring
Posted on April 29, 2019April 29, 2019

Charles William Stores, 1925
Sweet Sounds for Spring

A gallery of all the most popular musical instruments from the 1920s…some of which are still popular today… Continue reading Sweet Sounds for Spring

“Frost-browned heather seen through the purplish haze of a sunny afternoon”
Posted on January 14, 2019

Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, 1929
“Frost-browned heather seen through the purplish haze of a sunny afternoon”

You might just say “This is a brown sink.” Obviously you’re not a 1920s copywriter besotted with the romance of porcelain bathroom appliances… Continue reading “Frost-browned heather seen through the purplish haze of a sunny afternoon”

“Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”
Posted on November 22, 2018November 21, 2018

Western Auto , 1925
“Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”

A reminder for those of us traveling by car this holiday – be sure your car comes with a rear view mirror and a horn… Continue reading “Rear View Mirrors Prevent Many Serious Accidents”

Swept Her off Her Feet…
Posted on November 8, 2018

Larkin & Co, 1924
Swept Her off Her Feet…

Milady is cleaning in a silk dress and pearls, thanks to a ” Sweet Home Electric Vacuum Cleaner”. Continue reading Swept Her off Her Feet…

Back to School Around the Globe
Posted on August 30, 2018

Practical Drawing Company, 1923
Back to School Around the Globe

It’s back to school time for kids everywhere. Teaching aids have shifted a lot in 95 years… Continue reading Back to School Around the Globe

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We're celebrating all the abundance and excitement found in vintage 20th century American catalogs: the exotic, the fashionable, the surprising, the latest, the coolest, the cheapest, the oddest, the choices.

Not just Sears and Montgomery Wards, You could buy anything from a catalog in the 20th century: from a box of raisins to a house, from a computer to a car, from a billy club to an inflatable brassiere. The old-time printed catalogues which arrived in the mailbox showed the 20th-century American Consumer just how to consume.

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