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?
5 comments:
Hi Ginny, I remember when we could not wait to get the new Sears Catalogue. Mother ordered all our Christmas gifts, a lot of our clothes, and we wore it out looking at all the stuff. Then, when the new one came, my sisters and I used it for a paperdoll book and cut out the pictures, clothes, and furniture to play with. This brought back some great memories.
Sears even sold a car in the 1950s called the Allstate. It was the Henry J to everyone else. Kaiser made it and marketed it through Sears as well as the Kaiser/Fraser dealers. If Sears didn't have it, you didn't need it.
Can you lend me that book? I need to make my xmas list.(just kidding)
I do remember making my list from it or was it Montgomery Wards? I don't really know.
I also remember the catalog days.It sure was a treat when it came in the mail. We cut paperdolls too. after it was almost worn out. The way things look today, we might be going back to those times.
Hi Ginny, Just wanted to let you know you have an award at my place if you are interested in participating. Thanks.
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