Max's bolt post made me think about the Johnson Smith catalog? Magic tricks, fake vomit, whoopie cushions, smoking monkeys....

I used to love these catalogs as a kid. Did anyone used to get these catalogs?

I can't believe the company is still in business.

http://www.johnsonsmith.com/

 

I don't remember that specific catalog, but do remember similar one's in my youth.

 

Max's bolt post made me think about the Johnson Smith catalog? Magic tricks, fake vomit, whoopie cushions, smoking monkeys....

I used to love these catalogs as a kid. Did anyone used to get these catalogs?

I can't believe the company is still in business.

http://www.johnsonsmith.com/

I don't believe I've ever seen one of those catalogs. It must be the one that comedians always reference when they talk about buying Sea Monkeys via a mail order catalog.

 

No, Sea Monkeys were on the back of every comic book ever made!

 

No, Sea Monkeys were on the back of every comic book ever made!

And remember this? I never ordered one but know someone that did. To say he was disappointed would be an understatement.

 

I remember, but never had one. We did have a super 8 projector; why I don't know because I never remember filming any Super 8 movies. How about the Kenner Give-a-Show Projector?

 

Growing up in the UK I used to get newspapers from some of the US servicemen who were serving in Europe at the time, and wished I could send for some of the neat items in the ads.
But I do remember well the American comics, Mutt & Jeff, Kazenjammer Kids, Lil-Abner, Dick Tracy et-al.
Max.

 

Probably the originators of the Mutt & Jeff cartoon strip never realized that one day the strip title would become part of Cockney rhyming slang.
There, to say someone is Mutt and Jeff is to imply they are Deaf!.
Max.

 

I always wanted one of these. Over 7 feet long and only $6.98! Fires missiles, torpedos, has a periscope! What a deal!

 

I got one of those when I was a kid. We were poor. I begged and whined like never before. And my mother kept telling me that it wasn't what I thought it was. I whined and whined, she scraped up $6.98 and ordered it. It was the longest six weeks ever. Well.....it finally arrived......and it was a few pieces of cardboard.....that you bend and tape together. I was broken hearted. I think I was 5 or 6.

We didn't un-pack.....sent it right back.

But from then on.........every time I get to flappen.........mom only had to say submarine to shut me up.

To this day.

 

I always wanted the x-ray glasses.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/30420/11-shameless-comic-book-ads-cost-us-our-allowance-money

 

I got one of those when I was a kid. We were poor. I begged and whined like never before. And my mother kept telling me that it wasn't what I thought it was. I whined and whined, she scraped up $6.98 and ordered it. It was the longest six weeks ever. Well.....it finally arrived......and it was a few pieces of cardboard.....that you bend and tape together. I was broken hearted. I think I was 5 or 6.

We didn't un-pack.....sent it right back.

But from then on.........every time I get to flappen.........mom only had to say submarine to shut me up.

To this day.

Surprised it actually came with anything beside plans. I ordered life size robot once. All that came was plans for a robot. It was a magic trick. The thorax was a box with a couple of doors and a couple of mirrors. You opened the door and the mirrors where supposed to make it look like the box was empty when in reality there was a person inside.

 

I always wanted the x-ray glasses.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/30420/11-shameless-comic-book-ads-cost-us-our-allowance-money

A friend of mine ordered one of those. The best you can do was it made it look like you could see an outline of what looked like bones in your had. Of course it was just a shadow.

 

The earlier Johnson - Smith catalogs you could even mail order fireworks and chemicals to make fireworks.

 

Another 'must have' item!
https://ca.yahoo.com/finance/news/m...-supremely-superfluous-utensil-153214259.html
Max.

 

I used to buy things from the back of comic books. I believed all of that magical stuff as a kid, and there was one item I wanted to ask you if you remember. It was a tablet you put in the ashtray while people were smoking and it supposedly made it snow in the room. Do you recall this item?

 

What I wanted to order so badly was one of the military surplus Jeeps they were selling for $12.95 that were packed in Cosmoline in crates! What a deal!

Of course, I had no clue what shipping would cost, or were they new never used, or completely worn out, or a cardboard cutout of a Jeep!

 

What I wanted to order so badly was one of the military surplus Jeeps they were selling for $12.95 that were packed in Cosmoline in crates! What a deal!

Of course, I had no clue what shipping would cost, or were they new never used, or completely worn out, or a cardboard cutout of a Jeep!

What was the surplus auto parts catalog where they would also sell a jeep kit?

Name escapes me.

 

Did you mean J.C. Whitney? They're still around, after multiple bankruptcies through the years. There was also a Polish auto parts catalog that was practically identical to J. C. Whitney's catalog, but their name escapes me. J. C. Whitney is still around and has a website.

I discovered what I was thinking of had advertisements placed in Boy's Life and Popular Mechanics, and while it looked like you could get a jeep, it was a how-to scam -- info on buying Gov't surplus that the Government would provide to you for no cost!

Here is an interesting article with photos of an actual jeep in a crate, Jeeps being built, crated, and a vast Jeep graveyard in Okinawa:
https://m.warhistoryonline.com/featured/jeep-in-a-crate.html

 

Did you mean J.C. Whitney? They're still around, after multiple bankruptcies through the years. There was also a Polish auto parts catalog that was practically identical to J. C. Whitney's catalog, but their name escapes me. J. C. Whitney is still around and has a website.

I discovered what I was thinking of had advertisements placed in Boy's Life and Popular Mechanics, and while it looked like you could get a jeep, it was a how-to scam -- info on buying Gov't surplus that the Government would provide to you for no cost!

Here is an interesting article with photos of an actual jeep in a crate, Jeeps being built, crated, and a vast Jeep graveyard in Okinawa:
https://m.warhistoryonline.com/featured/jeep-in-a-crate.html

Yes! That is exactly it. You have a great memory.