I found my stash of old Parma catalogs today, and thought I would share this one, because of the photos. I'm guessing this is from 1972, but it could be '73.
It was a grand total of four pages printed on 8-1/2" x 14" paper.
My oldest Parma catalog
Started by
Mike Patterson
, Mar 11 2023 08:15 PM
14 replies to this topic
#2
Mike Patterson
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Posted 11 March 2023 - 08:16 PM
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I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#3
Mike Patterson
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Posted 11 March 2023 - 08:18 PM
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I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#4
Mike Patterson
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Posted 11 March 2023 - 08:20 PM
Check out the postage!
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I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#5
Bill from NH
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Posted 11 March 2023 - 08:55 PM
I don't recall that specific catalog but during the '70 I did a lot of mail-order with Parma & Speed & Sport for 1/24 items I could not get locally.
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Bill Fernald
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I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#6
Mike Patterson
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 09:54 AM
Here's another Parma catalog from 1973. It has all of their "PARMA" branded merchandise:
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I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#7
Mike Patterson
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 09:55 AM
I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#8
Mike Patterson
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 09:56 AM
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I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#9
Mike Patterson
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 09:57 AM
I still have my #720 Motor Cooler. With sticker!
I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
#10
Bill from NH
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 01:10 PM
I like how they sold the Russkit inline motor brackets for $0.19. I still have a card of them I bought at that price.
This was a catalog I was familiar with Mike.
Bill Fernald
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#11
Jaz
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 03:17 PM
I've only seen that picture of the Parma track ever. Have there been other pictures?
Jeff Morris
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#12
MSwiss
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Posted 12 March 2023 - 03:30 PM
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Mike Swiss
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#13
dc-65x
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Posted 13 March 2023 - 10:37 AM
Thanks for the Parma catalog, Mike. I've downloaded the photos. 
Rick Thigpen
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#14
Steve Deiters
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Posted 13 March 2023 - 10:55 AM
Ken MacDowell of Parma was a classic American serial entrepreneur – punching hood louvers, painting 'weirdo' shirts and hats at car shows, retail slot car establishment, mail-order slot car parts, manufacturer of high performance Russkit controllers, expanded to a complete line of slot car and R/C products. The list goes on and on...
Ken told me once as his catalog list kept expanding and the products offered diversified. "I want a third of this parts list to change every year. Old products out and new products in constantly."
This was right out of a Harvard Business school textbook strategy, and it served him, Parma International, and his customer base very well for many years.
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#15
Mark Onofri
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Posted 22 March 2023 - 01:25 AM
Thanks for posting this. Items like this are invaluable for determining dates and identification.
At those prices, I can see why it's called the dark ages. Who could possibly afford sutch a expensive hobby! LMFAO 🤣 . I didn't get involved until 74 and,if you were in your early teens, it was kind of a expensive hobby for most kids, With the exception of HO.
In retrospect, I was very fortunate to be able to do it. Two dollars a day seems like a joke today but, it went a long way and, was more than most of my friends had.($12.20 today) I should have worked more than Saturday!!!
At those prices, I can see why it's called the dark ages. Who could possibly afford sutch a expensive hobby! LMFAO 🤣 . I didn't get involved until 74 and,if you were in your early teens, it was kind of a expensive hobby for most kids, With the exception of HO.
In retrospect, I was very fortunate to be able to do it. Two dollars a day seems like a joke today but, it went a long way and, was more than most of my friends had.($12.20 today) I should have worked more than Saturday!!!
