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The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

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Category: Around the House

A-door-able Christmas Decorations
Posted on December 10, 2019December 10, 2019

Sears Roebuck, 1965
A-door-able Christmas Decorations

Holiday decoration have been in an arms race in for decades now. The early years of the outdoor decoration derby were charmingly simple. And plastic. Continue reading A-door-able Christmas Decorations

High Class Low Down Toilets
Posted on October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

Chicago House Wrecking Company, 1904
High Class Low Down Toilets

Excuse me, low down closets. Water Closets. Such a misleading term. A water closet should be where you store your Dasani bottles. Continue reading High Class Low Down Toilets

Not exactly a Playstation
Posted on October 1, 2019

Magnavox Odyssey2, 1981
Not exactly a Playstation

Back in 1981, this was the type of video console that would set a gamer’s heart racing. (Shakes head sadly.) Continue reading Not exactly a Playstation

In a little Spanish Home…
Posted on August 27, 2019August 27, 2019

Garlinghouse, 1930
In a little Spanish Home…

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Spanish Mission-style architecture became super-trendy. Garlinghouse would sell you a complete set of blueprints with which to build your dream house….assuming your dreams could fit into less than 2000 square feet. Continue reading In a little Spanish Home…

Cold War, Hot Bargains
Posted on August 13, 2019August 12, 2019

Palley Supply Company, 1959
Cold War, Hot Bargains

All the essentials you need for your family fallout shelter… Continue reading Cold War, Hot Bargains

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

Not Your Biggest Fan
Posted on May 28, 2019May 27, 2019

Sears, 1993
Not Your Biggest Fan

Some designs are timeless. Some designs are of a moment. And sometimes that moment passes quickly. This ceiling fan, for example. Continue reading Not Your Biggest Fan

A Toast to Toasters
Posted on April 22, 2019

Montgomery Ward, 1951
A Toast to Toasters

You wouldn’t remember this, but once upon a time banks used to give you a toaster when you opened a new bank account. Why a toaster? Well, why not? Continue reading A Toast to Toasters

Lassie by mail
Posted on April 11, 2019

Spiegel, 1959
Lassie by mail

The pet most kids wanted for Christmas in 1959 was a collie, and you can thank the TV show “Lassie” for that. But ordering one from a catalog? Continue reading Lassie by mail

Modern Conveniences, Modern Women
Posted on February 28, 2019

Montgomery Ward, 1941
Modern Conveniences, Modern Women

Look at that bathtub. Isn’t that clever? A cabinet built into the side of the bath… Continue reading Modern Conveniences, Modern Women

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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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