When asked what style of furniture they have, some people reply, "Early Childhood" or "Early Sears Roebuck." Skimming through an old Sears catalog today really brought back memories. Some of the items were before my time but I've included them, anyway. There were stereoscopes and stereopticons, magic lanterns and graphophones, seroco magazine cameras, incandescent gas lights, oilcloth rugs (good old oilcloth!), Burdick sewing machines, iron beds, Crokinole boards and planchette boards, beaded bags and bisque dolls.
Police could get double-lock handcuffs and nippers from Sears. The mailman could get a rural mail delivery wagon. Sears even sold church bells. Other items sold were Pontiac milk wagons and Sears livery buggies. Kenwood steel windmills were also available.
Men could order linen collars and cuffs, vest chains, Dr. Rose's hair and whisker dye, union suits and vegetable ivory dice made from pure ivory nut. They could also purchase a new white duck emigrant wagon cover.
For Milady, Sears offered high-button shoes, wire bustles, the Princess bust developer, Sears bust cream and even food. For the family, there was Sears Roebuck family soap, Sears Roebuck coffee, sanitary tooth soap, toothache wax, ear cleaner and Dr. Rose's obesity powders. (I wonder if they really worked.)
If you were doing some Christmas shopping from Sears "dream book," there were white cedar dash churns, barrel churns and square box churns - and a goat harness of red leather - fire department style. How about that! Isn't it just what you have always wanted?
