Toy Department: '55 Parade of Toys

It's a rather small parade but these appendage challenged sprites are worth showing up for!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Toy Department: Tru-Vue Viewer

Yay! On to the Toy Department!

Similar to View Master

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty/Health/Toy Department: Pepsodent toothbrush with Davy Crockett Ring

I think we are in a transition end cap between departments.

Such a cute idea!  And I love the display rack!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty Department: Tub-Ums

I want a pair of Tub-Ums!  They come with a quilted vamp and are washable, of course!

They are a soothing travel companion!  Maybe when others in the car, plane, or train start causing a ruckus you remove one of your Tub-Ums and wack them with it so they will shut it!


This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty Department: Poly-Pin Hair Brush

I am amused with this ad for a plastic hairbrush.  Partly it is because of a funny (had to be there) story.  I'll tell it but only myself and a friend of mine will ever laugh about it.

Several years ago one of my best friends and I worked together.  She had a drawer she kept her personal stuff in.  For some reason this pink hairbrush (just like the one in the picture) kept showing up in her drawer.  She asked around to return it to it's owner.  No one would claim it.  The brush started to become the punchline in any thing we would joke about. We would set up reasons to talk about it: "Hey Deb!  Your hair is looking mighty nice today!"  "It's thanks to my Pink Hair Brush!"  My friend taped it to the bulletin board and claimed to everyone that it was a prize for which ever employee met some quota that wasn't even real.  I can't tell you how much she and I would laugh about that hair brush.  Finally, one day another employee snatched it off the wall, offended, because it was hers.  Apparently she had so much crap in her personal drawer the hairbrush kept getting pushed into my friend's drawer below.  This made us laugh even more.  Pink Hair Brush!


This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty Department: Hair Nets

Their not just for lunch ladies!

Here are a few I have in my vintage collection:

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty Department: Color Hair Rinse

Your using it wrong!  It goes on your hair not your face!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Beauty Department: Bob Pins

If you haven't filled your buggy up with too many toilet brushes let's see what's new in the Beauty Department!

It's TIME to use some rubber tipped bob pins!

"Never use anything but Wil-hold, or your hair just isn't going to look right."

An alternative selling slogan.

Safety tipped bob pins came about due to high incidences of ladies killing their husbands with the previous sharp dagger ended models.  

Shop owners could send for a beauty record, explaining the many thrills of bob pin 'Flexi-Grip'.

I don't have any of the brands in the ads above but I do have this box full of vintage professional Flamingo bob pins.  Preferred by 7 out of 10 beauticians!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Toilet Scrubbers

Display your toilet brush scrubbers on tables, shelves, gondolas- anywhere! 

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Mallo-tone Ware

Fantastic plastic!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Housewares: Magic Touch Ice Cube Trays

I love this ad!  Those clip art folks are sooo excited over those ice cube trays!  Look at the guy already pulling out his wallet and money.  And his wife is elated as if he was buying her a mink coat.

Here are some metal ice cube trays of mine...though none of them have the Magic Touch!  They are the "outmoded trays" of old refrigerators, General Electric and Frigidaire. 

While I love the look of metal ice cube trays I find them difficult and a bit dangerous to use.  I can't crack them due to my puny girl muscles.  And you'll be screaming "stuck! Stuck! STUCK!" like Flick on The Christmas Story if your hands have any bit of moisture when removing them from the freezer.  

Houseware Department: Ice Cream Scoop

When is the last time you saw an ad for an ice cream scoop?

Ice Cream scoops are an inside joke around our house.  There is a Chinese buffet restaurant in the red neck /low class area of our town that we like to go to.  Not because the food is superb, it's the atmosphere we like.  There is always some crazy story to eavesdrop on or someone wearing bizarre fashion combinations (ex: Cowboy hat, western long sleeve shirt, Rustler jeans, and....flip flops) .  During one visit I came out of the bathroom to find an ice cream scoop on the floor.  Mr. Husband informed me I had missed an employee get in an argument with a guest right in front of the buffet area.  Apparently the employee ended the altercation by throwing the ice cream scoop down the hallway and stormed off.

It's always a great time there!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Decoware

This is such an amazing ad!  My scan does not do it justice. The entire page is printed a pale shade of pink.  It is very suitable for framing...if I had a pink kitchen.  However the faceless and footless lady is a bit disturbing!  

 Decoware items are so lovely.

I do have the small metal waste basket in turquoise by Decoware.  

I wish I had all of those items in the ad in turquoise!

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Federal Canister Set

Sure looks like alot like these....

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Household Gloves

Glamour protection, rubber glove style!

Rubber gloves sell, sell, sell!

Here is a photo booth pic of myself wearing rubber gloves, 70s housewife style, from the Apron Strings exhibit last year.

I don't like wearing rubber gloves.  They make my hands stink for days.  I would rather get old lady 'dishpan hands' scented of dish soap and lasagna.

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".

Houseware Department: Lustro-Ware

 Lustro-ware products are usually much cuter than this ad. Maybe the flexible stuff is plain and more utilitarian.  I have a set of well used rigid and cute Lustro-Ware canisters:

This post is part of a long series I am doing that showcases ads and products from old pharmacies and 5 and Dime stores.  All of the ads are scans from the publication Chain Store Age September 1955.  The products photographed are from my personal collection.  I am running this series on auto-post so I can work on some projects around my real house.  I will return at the end of this series (April or May) back to "normal".