23 replies to this topic

[Alchemist]

I would spend hours looking through catalogs and dreaming about having one of these tracks!

 

These catalog pictures bring back fond childhood memories for me and just wanted to share!

 

How about you?

 

1965 Sears Christmas catalog Strombecker four-lane track .

 

 

1966 Pikes Peak track from the regular Sears catalog.

 

 

1970 JC Penny Christmas catalog.

 

 

1970 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog.

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Ernie

[Michael Jr.]

That top track looks a lot like the Orange I'm working on!

 

Here in Boiling Springs, SC I grew up down the street from a house that was ordered from a Sears catalog. It was a pretty nice house actually. Walgreens didn't think it was worth keeping however.  I miss those Christmas wish books. 

 

As for tracks, I have a Carerra catalog so while it's a little different, there are still pages with tracks on them to order from.

[Bill from NH]

I've read there were a  lot of those Sears houses built across the country. Sometimes, a whole neighborhood of them were built. There may even be a YouTube video about them.

[Maximo]

My day dream too!

[Dave Crevie]

Ah, yes! The Sears, Roebuck and Company Christmas Wishbook. The only not-school-required reading my ma could get me to do. But my first slot track came from Western Auto, bought with money saved from my small allowance, and that earned by mowing lawns, raking leaves and painting fences. 

 

The house I live in was built using Sears plans and hardware. My folks built it themselves with help from other family members and friends. The bricks and lumber were bought from Hines Lumber when it was in downtown Elmhurst. The house could be bought as a complete kit from Sears, but it ended up being cheaper to shop around for the best prices. The windows were purchased for a song from a builder who had a contract cancelled, which was also a Sears home.  

[Isaac S.]

The top one cost $630 with inflation (estimate)!

[MSwiss]

Getting the Sears toy catalog in the mail, was certainly one of the highlights of the year.

While I never saw it, the Downtown Sears store even had a 8 lane, commercial track, in the toy department, for a short time.(IIRC, an American Orange)

As far as Sears homes, the town I live in, only has 168. Lol

[Vay Jonynas]

I would spend hours looking through catalogs and dreaming about having one of these tracks!

 

 

How about you?

 

 

 

Me I'd still spend hours of daydreaming with one of those catalogs! Those tracks are awesome.

 

[Alchemist]

The catalogs are available on eBay but they are on USB drives now!

 

Vintage 1967 Sears Christmas Wishbook Catalog on USB:   https://www.ebay.com...v8AAOSwdmRfNF0n

 

 

Description

Vintage 1967 Sears Christmas Wishbook / Catalog 

This vintage catalog will Bring back memories from the good old days and would also provide great reference for collectors of old toys.

Many different items from clothing to toys and household, sure to bring back great memories from the olden days.

You are able to zoom in on the pictures and descriptions to see more clearly compared to the small print in the original catalog.

the catalog this was scanned from was in used condition, the pages are just how they were in the catalog so there could be some creases or folds on the pages throughout and some light wear. Overall nicely displayed and easy to navigate through.

​​This sale will be for a USB drive with the titled on it and Not a physical paper publication. This is a PDF file and can be viewed on any computer or other device used to read pdf files as long as a pdf viewer is installed. ( USB drive style may vary ).

If you would prefer a CD Disc rather than a USB drive please send a note with payment and I will prepare a disc for shipping.

(Note): I will also be listing pages from this catalog if anyone has a need for an original copy for display they look very nice framed.


Permissible under the "Fair Use " exemption clause of the current U.S. Copyright Act.

This listing does not violate any copyright policies. Because of the GNU/GPL we are allowed to list these files.

 

All publications are in the public domain , copyright free or printed with permission.

 

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

With the catalog on a USB drive, it definitely will last a long time, but it's just not the same as flipping back and forth thru the pages of the catalog.

 

Thanks for sharing my brethren!

 

Ernie

[Alchemist]

I did find an actual hard copy!

 

https://www.ebay.com...nQAAOSwmoNfVq9s

 

 

Vintage 1968 Sears Christmas Wish Book Catalog So Nostalgic!

 

 1 viewed per hour

Condition:

Very Good

 

“This book is in very good condition. The pages have no stains, tears or writing that I could find. ”

 ... Read more

Price:

US $125.00

No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+*No Interest if paid in full in 6 months on $99+.

 

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30-day returns

Free shipping

Ships from United States

 

Shipping:

FREE Economy Shipping | See details

 

Item location:

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

 

Ships to:

United States See exclusions

 

Delivery:

Estimated between Sat. Sep. 19 and Mon. Sep. 21  

 

*************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

After searching for "hard copies" of the 500+ page Sears Catalog, the USB catalog price is looking real good - LOL!

 

Ernie

[Dave Crevie]

I don't know how many catalogue homes Elmhurst has, but the section of town I live in was mostly catalogue homes. They are almost all gone now, replaced by "matchstick mansions" over the past twenty or so years. 

 

This is my house. Built in 1947 from Sears drawings.

 

It is based on this Alhambra design, with the peak in the front centered to give it a more symetrical look. Several other changes were also made, like moving the fireplace to the living room rather than in one of the bedrooms. My father was a pretty good architech. 

 

Sears homes came in all sorts of sizes, from this tiny place;

 

 

 

 

To this large estate called the Ivanhoe. Homes could be built in brick or frame from the kits, or just using the plans.

 

Sears homes were very popular due to the ease to changing details to better satisfy the buyers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mbloes]

I always liked the James Bond slot car set.

[Alchemist]

Here it is Mike!

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Ernie

[Mbloes]

Incredible.  Thanks, Ernie.

[Phil Smith]

I've never heard of Sears homes.

 

The Christmas catalogs were like toy porn. I think we all agree on that. Looking at the tracks and toys in the catalog and dreaming about them was better than actually owning them. I spent hours and hours doing that.

 

I wish they weren't so expensive. I'd buy all the 60's catalogs if they were affordable.

 

Matt and I exchanged messages about the Sears 1/24th scale set, which I owned as a 10-12 year old. Not sure when they came out. He found one on eBay for a decent price and I bought it. Very cool!

 

Wasn't there another set similar to the Bond set?

 

PS: Our parents surely had to notice how worn the pages for ladies underwear were. I never thought about that until now.

 

 

 

[Alchemist]

Your welcome Mike!

 

Hope it brought back some nice memories for you.

 

Be well.

 

Ernie

[Dave Crevie]

At that age we didn't look in the lingerie section. And the Montgomery Wards catalogue was better for that, anyway. Before Christmas my brother and I would circle the items we wanted with a crayon. Of course, our eyes were bigger than our parent's budget, so we didn't get many of those items. But a couple of times we got something a little pricey. The catch was that we had to share it. If you want to create a major rift between siblings, just give them something they have to share. Since I was older, and bigger, I monopolized the item, and poor Don did without. 

[Dan Searcy]

Go Karts and Minibikes too!

[Steve Roope]

I had the Hot Wheels double dare track in 1969 & I think I got a small Tyco HO track from the Sears catalog in 1970. I remember spending hours daydreaming about stuff in the Sears christmas catalog.

[MattD]

[MattD]

[Mbloes]

At that age we didn't look in the lingerie section.  And the Montgomery Wards catalogue was better for that, anyway.  

 

Your "friend" told you this, right?

[Vay Jonynas]

Yes, I too was wondering about that.

 

[Dave Crevie]

It wasn't until we were at least ten before we started looking in the lingerie section. Too much in the toy section to waste time with that. By the time we

started investigating girls, we discovered a collection of Playboys in my best friend's Dad's home office desk. And catalogues couldn't compete with that.