Actually, at that age, I think I got more excited looking at these drum ads than I did oogling the lingerie pages.

[Attachment: 48702][Attachment: 48703]

My grandparents ordered all of those catalogs for me in the 60's,and early 70's.Sears,J.C.Penny Montgomery Ward,and Lafayette electronics(later Radio Shack) sold musical instruments.My first bands p.a. amp was made by Lafayette.I would stare at those things for hours.Lots of memories in those catalogs.

I remember in the late 60's when somebody bought a guitar,we'd all ask "is that a real guitar or a Sears guitar"?

It's amazing that quite a few of those catalog are scans online.

Steve B

yeah man I wore those monkey wards and sears catalogs out thumbing to those same pages. if I remember it was still hundreds of dollars ($6-$800 or something like that) in early 1970s dollars was a lot of money. but one day I came home from jr. high band class to find a brand new red sparkle Majestic snare drum with stand set up in my bedroom. I hollered and jumped up and down for a while before I tuned it up and started wailing on my rudiments. that summer I found work (at like 12 years old) busing tables at a seafood restaurant downtown. I put kick and tom toms on lay-a-way and somehow managed to get them out in time for 9th grade. I got some cheezy high hats but managed to get a nice 20" paiste ride. but I got my stuff at a local music store where I still trade with the old 80some year old owner, himself a local sax legend. I still treasure those old stencil kits for what they represent: a cheap kit for any kid to learn on. put good heads on 'em and they sound great. the older the better, just clean 'em up, tune 'em up. they still have the great '60s-'70s vibe with the wild finishes and even that cheap so called Phillipine mahogany will sound good. dress the bearing edges only if you have to, otherwise leave them alone.flowers2

I ordered my first kit, a set of champagne sparkle Kents from Montgomery Ward with money I saved from throwing papers on my neighbor's roofs

I kinda wish I had them now....

Be a lot of newspapers....

Papers on neighbors roofs...funny. You must have played baseball.

I'd always put the paper inside the screen door. Got me some nice tips at xmas.

Sears sold homes in their catalogs too. Sad to see what they've become.

Ladies and Gentlemen, feast your eyes on this

http://www.wishbookweb.com/

I share the views of those who said they pored over these catalogs when they arrived and anxiously awaited them before they arrived, so finding this website sent me down the rabbit hole for a considerable amount of time, and I'm surprised no one else has cited it yet.

Enjoy!

I had that Cookie Monster!

I see mr Armstrong there too. My brother had the stretch monster.

Awesome pic.

Love montgomery ward 84 gi joe and StarWars scans!

Well my hands up,lol.This was my only Sears toy set from about 1960.

Wayne

Thank you! These catalogs are priceless.

The 1971 Sears advertises drum set and snare "with strainer".... Umm, I HOPE SO!

ps I can see how one could spend days looking through catalogs. So addicting.