Thread: WW2 era catalog scans

I've put some scans from a couple of WW2 era Montgomery Wards catalogs in the wiki. These were scanned at very high resolution, so if you keep clicking on them, they will blow up to where you can see some great details.

If you have been wondering what dad or granddad might have had available to him from an ordinary supplier, this is a pretty good idea. I think most of us would be happy to have some of the items listed. A 5/8 Wade & Butcher for $3.95 and a Boker for $2.95, a top end horsehide/linen strop for $4.79, a Swaty hone for 98 cents, a puck of Williams for 15 cents!

(before you get too excited about those prices, multiply by about 12 for the inflation factor to get 2008 dollars)

I'll try to get some more pages scanned at some point. It's interesting to see how much was available, even during wartime rationing.

Thank you! Very,Very good ! Special price.

Great pictures. Thanks for posting! "Hair tested at three points." I like that.

They are beautiful, thanks.

Oh these are great, thank you!
And just look at those prices!

That is an amazing array of mouth-watering shaving goods all gathered together in one place. As I was describing it to my wife, the thought occurred to me that it's very similar to what we have now in the internet. Browsing a wonderland of beautiful goods available from far away lands, being carefully selected and ordered, then waiting a few days for the package to come in the mail, opening it, admiring it, showing it to the family and friends, and then enjoying it for years to come.

Glad everyone is enjoying these.

I found one page that I missed in the 1944 catalog, so you may want to look at the "new" page 1 there.

Some stuff on Flickr, not my scans, but interesting info from some even older 1917 catalogs...

Maybe we should start a section for old catalog stuff in the wiki
Flickr Photo Download: Eatons-Fall-Winter-1917-0282
Flickr Photo Download: Eatons-Fall-Winter-1917-0455
Flickr Photo Download: Eatons-Fall-Winter-1917-0460