Putt Putt Vroom Vroom
What I don’t know about motorcycles could fill volumes. but I know what I like, and I like what I see here… Continue reading Putt Putt Vroom Vroom
Category: The Great Outdoors
More Western, Less Auto
Western Auto stores were celebrating three quarters of a century in 1984 and feeling expansive. Barely half the pages in this catalog featured car parts…. Continue reading More Western, Less Auto
“Breaker-Breaker One-Nine”
One era’s common knowledge is another era’s “Hunh?” If you’re under 30, what could you tell me about the gadget pictured on the back cover of this catalog? Continue reading “Breaker-Breaker One-Nine”
The World-famous Winchester
It’s a common situation I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves in at one time or another. You’re ridin’ the range on your trusty horse, when suddenly a grizzly bear rises up behind a rock, all lethal claws and fangs… Continue reading The World-famous Winchester
Sea-ductive Swimwear
Montgomery Ward, Summer 1976 Your homework assignment for today: Compare and contrast the 1976-era bathing suits on these two pages of the 1976 Montgomery Ward catalog with the swimsuits shown in my previous post from the 1922 Montgomery Ward catalog. Forty-four years between the two catalogs. Pens at the ready? Go! For extra credit, consider … Continue reading Sea-ductive Swimwear
“Add to the Summer Joy of Bathing”
Montgomery Ward & Co, 1922 The start of the roaring ’20s’ and swimsuits were still modest – for the men as well as women. Although not quite as fully covering as swimwear from a decade before (arms and legs are starting to show) they still cover more than they reveal. Look at the “hero” outfit … Continue reading “Add to the Summer Joy of Bathing”
Scouts…or Stews?
Official Scouting Uniforms and Equipment, 1975-1976 In light of the Boy Scouts’ recent decision to go “gender-neutral” and begin accepting girls, this page from the official 1975-1976 Scouting uniforms and equipment catalog is an interesting earlier snapshot of the role of females in the organization. “Den Mothers” and “Lady Scouters” were/are the female versions of Scoutmasters. … Continue reading Scouts…or Stews?
Fireworks
Here’s a page of fireworks fun to ignite the imagination of any red-blooded American boy from 83 summers ago, dreaming of the fun to be had on the Fourth of July. All good– except for one thing… Continue reading Fireworks
Just the Thing for Automobiling
1915-era Outfits suitable for women who ventured outdoors in a motorcar. Looks like they would be hot in summer… Continue reading Just the Thing for Automobiling
The Sky’s the Limit
Top Value Stamps, 1969: You might expect to buy a model train made of diamonds from a catalog if the company is Neiman-Marcus, but would you expect to buy a full-size plane from a Top Value trading stamps catalog? Continue reading The Sky’s the Limit