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The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

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Category: Tools of the Trades

Mars Needs Women?
Posted on May 7, 2017May 2, 2017

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Mars Needs Women?

This woman seems to be in touch with an alien spacecraft from the 1950s, unless… Continue reading Mars Needs Women?

First Steps
Posted on April 13, 2017April 10, 2017

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First Steps

Step back 130+ years ago and catalogs were just becoming a widespread business tool (and not quite yet a household staple). Here’s one of the really early ones… Continue reading First Steps

The Hammacher Schlemmer Chest Handle
Posted on April 10, 2017April 6, 2017

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The Hammacher Schlemmer Chest Handle

Hammacher Schlemmer proudly points out they’ve been around since 1848, started printing catalogs in 1881, and are still going strong with them. But you won’t find this item in their current catalogs. Continue reading The Hammacher Schlemmer Chest Handle

A Gold Pen – a “Dandy Seller”
Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

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A Gold Pen – a “Dandy Seller”

Rexall Drugs, 1928 / This catalog was produced to convince drugstore owners to stock these 14 caret gold fountain pens. Continue reading A Gold Pen – a “Dandy Seller”

What the Working Man Wears
Posted on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

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What the Working Man Wears

Montgomery Wards, 1947 / These fellows, thanks to their snappy working wear outfits, could pitch hay or fill up your tank equally well Continue reading What the Working Man Wears

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  • Hers
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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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