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Sears, Roebuck - Summer 1933 catalog

 

  

This is the 'general' Sears, Roebuck catalog; they have other catalogs for Furniture, Floor Coverings, Appliances, Jewelry Silverware and Clocks, Nursery (gardening, that is), Electrical Goods, Plumbing and Heating, more Farm Equipment, Building Materials (including the famous pre-fab houses, with various models priced from $800 to about $8000), Wall Paper, and Musical Instruments.

 

• Hosiery

 

work socks, brown wool, 6 pairs $0.59

men's everyday cotton socks, black, brown or gray, 6 pairs for $0.47

men's fancy patterned rayon and cotton socks, 3 pairs for $0.30

men's silk dress socks, 1 pair for $0.55

men's sock garters, $0.29 per pair

women's combed cotton stockings, black, gunmetal, tan or nude, 4 pairs for $0.72

women's mercerized cotton stockings, ditto colors, 3 pairs for $0.85

women's rayon stockings, black, white, gunmetal, suedette, complexion, new mode, nude, 3 pairs for $0.65

women's "medium weight" silk stockings, nude, new mode, complexion, townwear, suedette, gunmetal, smoketone, black or white, 1 pair for $0.39

women's "heavy weight" silk stockings, ditto colors, 1 pair for $0.79

women's silk chiffon stockings, ditto colors, 1 pair for $1.00

  

• Underwear
• Men's and Boys' Clothing

 

men's blue serge 3-pc suit, $15.85

men's herringbone wool 3-pc suit, dark navy, $9.45

men's wool worsted 3-pc suit, dark blue or brown, stiped fabric, $9.50

men's cassimere 3-pc suit, brown or oxford gray, $9.45

men's "fancy" 3-pc worsted 3-pc suit, "Hollywood" cushion shoulders, extra-big 22" trouser cuffs, bright blue, burgundy brown, dark blue, gray, $14.50

men's worsted stripe 3-pc suit, brown or gray, $14.95

men's "varsity" slacks, dark blue or brown, $2.98

men's knickers, gray tweed or brown tweed, $2.98

men's wool twill slacks, blue or burgundy brown, $3.79

men's gray or brown tweed slacks, 22" "campus" cuffs, $2.49

men's "Harvard" striped fancy pants, 22" "campus" cuffs, dark blue or burgundy brown, $3.49

men's "varsity" herringbone blue, gray, or tan wool pants, $2.19

men's "varsity" corduroy slacks, dark blue or tan, $1.95

men's trench coat, tan cotton twill, $2.98

men's top coat, brown waterproof cotton, $4.95

men's white cotton twill pants, $1.05

men's rain coat, black rubberized fabric, $5.75

men's slicker coat, black, blue or green, $4.85

rain hat, black rubber, $0.39

men's blue denim overalls, $0.77

jacket to match, $0.77

men's heavy-duty blue denim overalls, $1.10

jacket to match, $1.10

men's rivetted blue denim pants, $0.75

men's coveralls, zipper front, khaki, blue-and-white striped, white, black, or blue, $1.79

men's suede leather zip-front jacket, brown or gray, $7.45

men's zip-front heavy cotton "lumberjack" jacket, $1.79

men's corduroy breeches, brown or blue, $2.15

men's cotton khaki military breeches, $0.95

men's brown whipcord breeches, with leather reinforced knees, $2.98

men's black-and-gray stipe moleskin work pants, $1.49

men's khaki cotton twill work pants, $1.89

men's cotton pyjamas, white, blue or patterns, $1.00

men's calf-length white cotton nightshirt, $0.79

brown horsehide gauntlet-style work gloves, $0.89

brown or black leather driving gloves, $1.00

canvas gloves, medium weight, 6 pairs for $0.39

men's chambray work shirt, blue or gray, $0.79

men's cotton khaki twill work shirt, $0.79

men's cheap cotton dress shirt, white, tan, blue, green or patterned, $0.59

men's cotton broadcloth dress shirt, white, pinstripe, white-on-white, $1.00

men's finest cotton dress shirts, white, blue or tan, $2.48

men's cotton neckband shirt, white, $1.49 (needs detachable collar)

men's silk-and-rayon ties, blue, gray, brown, black, maroon, or green, plus many patterns, $0.79

detachable white collars, ordinary, 3 for $1.00

detachable white collars, wing-tip, 2 for $1.00

leather belt, black or brown, $0.39

leather belt, garrison style, black or cordovan, $0.59

elastic suspenders, $0.39

dress hats, $2.49 

-- Men's fur felt dress hats are all what would be called fedoras nowadays. Choices include snap brim vs. curl brim, narrow vs. 'ordinary' vs. wide brim, colors: black, dark gray, medium gray, light gray, brown, tan. Tan and brown hats have brown ribbon bands; gray and black hats have black ribbon bands.

"Columbia" style hat, with curled brim, black or tan, $2.49

braided straw hats, gray or sand, $1.00

golf or newsboy fabric caps, gray mix, brown mix, tan mix, $0.89

sweater vests, various colors and patterns, $1.39

cardigan sweaters, brown, gray, or chestnut, $1.95

wool pullover sweaters, blue, black or white, $1.95

men's cotton sweat shirt, white, $0.59

men's dressing robe, gray-and-blue, brown-and-blue, or gray-and-maroon cotton blanket cloth, $2.79

  

• Automobile Tires and Sundries

 

small hand-pump fire extinguisher, filled with chemicals, $9.95

aviator/motorcyclist goggles, best quality, $4.89

aviator/motorcyclist goggles, cheap, $1.89

aviator/motorcyclist leather helmet, tan or gray, chamois lined, $2.28

  

• Sporting Goods and Cutlery

 

women's "Swallow" bicycle, $23.20

 

• Drugs and Sundries

 

Wrigley's Spearmint or Doublemint gum, 10 pkgs. for $0.39

Horehound sticks, 2 lbs. for $0.45

Hershey chocolate bars, 24 for $0.95

sugar roasted peanuts, 3 lbs. for $0.49

Kraft marshmallows, 5 lbs. for $0.79

3 lb. box of assorted dark chocolates, $1.00

Bayer aspirin, bottle of 100 tablets, $0.73

Listerine, bottle for $1.50

gauze bandage roll, 3 for $0.24

adhesive white surgical tape, 2" wide, $0.36

crutch, $1.79

dark-brown rubber gloves, $0.59

"La Palina Senators" cigars, 50 for $4.15

"Meritas" cigars, 50 for $2.05

"Club House" cigars, 50 for $1.25

pipes: briar, chesterfield, corncob, $0.79

pipes: meerschaum, $3.69

"Prince Albert" smoking tobacco, 1 lb. can, $1.05

"Tornado" nickel-plated cigar & cigarette lighter, $0.49

"Ronson" cigarette lighter, $1.00

"Zippo" cigarette lighter, $1.95 (available from early 1933)

  

• Radios

 

headphones, $2.15

desk-top 5 tube AM radio receiver, walnut cabinet, for 110 volt AC, $18.95

 

• Housewares

 

railway oil lantern, clear or red globe, burns 72 hours, $1.35

pedestal oil lantern, $0.95

  

• Hardware

 

10-quart tin-plated dairy pail, $0.50

chain hoist, can raise 2 tons 9 feet, weight 154 lbs., $21.50

1/2" diameter manila rope, 2450 lbs breaking strain, 100' for $1.50

"Craftsman" single-bitted lumberman's axe, $1.65

half hatchet with hammer back, $1.25

6" blade screwdriver, $0.33

wrecking bar / crowbar (also manhole tool!), 24", 4 lbs., $0.25

100' cloth retractable tape measure, $4.25

"Craftsman" oxy-acetylene welding and cutting set, $53.25 

includes welder's manual, does not include oxygen or acetylene tanks

 

• Farm Equipment

 

 

 

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from the 1930 Webley & Scott Catalogue of Revolvers & Automatic Pistols:

 

• Mark VI Service Revolver, .455", Military Finish, £ 5 14/-
• Bisley Mark VI Target Revolver, .455", £ 7
• Mark IV Military and Police Model, .38", £ 5 10/-
• Automatic Pistol, .455" Webley Automatic Calibre, £ 7 10/-
• Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistol, .25", £ 2 5/-
• Flare Gun, 1" bore, £ 3 7/-
• Flare Gun, 37mm bore, £ 3 10/-

 

nickel plating, large weapons 6/-; small weapons, 5/-.

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from the 1934 Elmira Arms Company Catalog (117 North Main Street, Elmira, N.Y.):

 

• Remington Model 11A autoloading 12 ga. shotgun, 5 shot magazine, $53.40
• Savage Model 720 autoloading 12 ga. shotgun, 5 shot magazine, $46.50
• Winchester Model 12 pump 12 ga. shotgun, 5 shot magazine, $47.90
• Savage Model 99-G lever action .303" rifle, 5 shot rotary magazine, $56.25
• Savage Hi-Power Super-Sporter bolt-action .30-06 rifle, $48.90
• extra 4 shot magazine for above, $1.45
• Winchester Model 54 bolt-action .30-06 rifle, 5 shot magazine, $61.40
• Winchester Model 94 lever-action .30-30 carbine, 6 shot magazine, $43.75

 

• Colt Police Positive Special revolver, 6 shot .38 Special, or .38-44 S&W Special, $28.50
• Colt Shooting Master Deluxe revolver, 6 shot .44 Special, .45 Colt, or .45 ACP, $52.50
• Colt "Super 38" automatic pistol, .38 Super Auto, $36.75
• 9 shot magazines for the above, $1.25
• Colt Pocket automatic pistol, .380 ACP, $20.50
• 7 shot magazines for the above, $0.50
• Colt Pocket "Baby Browning", .25 ACP, $17.00
• 6 shot magazines for the above, $0.65

 

• Marble's #6 Safety Axe, $2.25
• Marble's #41 Ideal Hunting Knife, 5" blade, with leather sheath, $2.75
• Official Boy Scout knife, $1.50
• Thermos, 1 quart, $2.50
• Bicycle playing cards, 1 deck, $7.50
• 12 exposure roll of Eastman Kodak SS520 camera film, $0.75
• Eveready 5-cell focussing flashlight, uses "D" cells, $1.00
• Army or Boy Scout L-head flashlight, OD metal, uses 5 "D" cells, $1.30
• Eveready #950 battery ("D" cell), package of 48, $4.80
• set of best white ash 7' skis, bamboo poles, $7.50
• black canvas-and-crepe high-top basketball shoes, pair, $3.75
• light grey sweat shirt, fleece lined, $1.00
• khaki running shorts, $0.75
• sturdy no-frills bicycle, $35.00
• sturdy bicycle with just about every likely accessory, $40.00

 

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from the 1936 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog (stores in NYC and Chicago):

 

• Purdey 12 ga double-barrel shotgun, Hammerless Ejector, $960.00
• Holland & Holland 12 ga double-barrel shotgun, de Luxe model, $1,275.00
• Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun, takedown version, 12 gauge, 5 shot magazine, 20" barrel "riot gun", $39.50
• Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun, Heavy 3" chamber version, 12 gauge, 5 shot magazine, $45.00
• Remington Number 11 semi-auto shotgun, 12 gauge, 5 shot magazine, standard grade, $42.60
• Browning Auto-5 semi-auto shotgun, 12 gauge, 5 shot magazine, grade 1, $45.50
• 12 gauge "1 ounce ball" slugs, box of 100, $4.62
• 12 gauge 00 buck, box of 100, $4.62
• oak and leather shell box, to hold 100 12 gauge shells, $25.00
• Griffin & Howe bolt-action rifle, magnum calibers, 3 to 4 round magazine, $298.50
• Griffin & Howe bolt-action rifle, .30-06, 5 shot magazine, $185.00
• Holland & Holland double-barrel rifle, any caliber imaginable, de Luxe model, $1,478.25
• ditto, Royal model, $1,325.00
• ditto, No. 2 model, $907.30
• Holland & Holland bolt-action rifle, .375" calibre, 4 round magazine, telescopic sight, best quality, $509.10
• Winchester Model 54 bolt-action rifle, .30-06 calibre, 5 shot magazine, super grade, $83.35
• Winchester Model 54 bolt-action rifle, .30-06 calibre, 5 shot magazine, sniper's match grade, includes mounts for telescopic sight, $111.00
• Savage Model 99-G lever action .303" rifle, 5 shot rotary magazine, $52.00
• Zeiss Zielvier telescopic sight, 4x magnification, $64.00
• Lyman 5A telescopic sight, 5x magnification, $46.50

 

• Colt Government Model, .45 ACP, $36.75
• 7 rd. magazines for the above, $1.25
• Colt Pocket Model, .380 ACP, $20.50
• 7 rd. magazines for the above, $0.75
• Colt Pocket Model, .25 ACP, $17.00
• 6 rd. magazines for the above, $0.65

 

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from the 1927 Manton & Co Sporting Goods List, and the 1930 R. B. Rodda Catalogue:

 

• cartridge magazine case, for 100 catridges, $9.13
• military-pattern leather rifle sling, average #2.00
• Hensoldt x4 Telescopic Sight, fitted to rifle with mounts, $82.00
• Winchester x5 Telescopic Sight, with mounts, $55.00
• basic x8 binoculars, with leather case, $21.90
• best x8 Hensoldt binoculars with case, $51.10
• black Winchester pocket "flashlight torch", 2 D cell style, $1.80
• black Winchester "flashlight torch", 5 D cell style, $4.50
• electric headlamp, with elastic web band, 3 D cells in belt case, $3.47
• single "D" battery cell, $0.18
• "pig-stickers" knife, 7.5" blade, with leather sheath, $7.30
• boar, bear and leopard hunting spears, $5 to $10
• regulation military lances, including pennant $13.14
• regular pattern cavalry sword, with steel or leather scabbard, $27.37
• infantry sword, with steel or leather scabbard, $31.00
• "bodyguard" sword (old cavalry pattern sabre), $9.00
• Sam Browne belt, complete with brace, sword frog, cartridge pouch and holster, $11.00
• shotgun shell belt, capacity 24 shells, leather or webbing, $3.29
• leather rifle cartridge pouches, 10 round capacity, $3.65
• sword stick (cane), $19,00 to $31.00
• "Hermetos" vacuum flask, 1 quart, $3.65
• Marble's Safety Axe, $6.75
• steel-framed "shikar" canvas backpack, rubberized lining, $12.78
• Bowie knife, 8" or 10" blade, with sheath, $7.30
• camp knife, with two blades, cork screw, button hook, etc., etc., $8.76
• folding jack knife, with spear and pen blades, $2.55
• polo stick, various patterns, $0.55 to $1.55
• polo balls, one dozen, $1.64
• folding galvanized steel boat, 3 person capacity, 50 lbs weight, $71.00
• galvanized steel rowing or outboard boat (motor not included), 8 person capacity, 16' long, $146.00
• taxidermy, heads only, $9.00 to $30.00 (up to tiger sizes)
• taxidermy, whole skin (no head, up to tiger size) cured and dressed, $4.38 to $14.60
• taxidermy, entire animal mounted, tiger, $219 to $328

 

 

Note that most of these articles are imported into India; high tariffs in this period, and the cost of transportation, result in prices 50% to 100% higher than in the United States or Britain. Exchange rate used: 1 rupee = $0.365

 

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College Education

 

Harvard undergraduate tuition for one year, $400. Typical cost of dormitory and dining for one year at Harvard, $450. Books, lab fees, laundry, clothing purchases, etc. at least $150

 

Harvard makes available less than twenty scholarships of $200 to $1000 per year for freshmen, size depending on financial need ($400 to $1200 per year to sophomores, juniors, and seniors). I get the impression that the $1200 per year award is expected to cover just about every reasonable expense (so laundry, book buying, travel, etc. over a year).

 

Thus, very roughly: a year of Harvard for an underclassman was about $1200, everything included (except excess, see below).

 

"College tuition at Harvard, raised from $300 to $400 in 1928-29, remained unchanged despite the massive deflation of the Depression years. There was no falloff in the size of the undergraduate student body since Harvard drew overwhelmingly from the thin upper stratum of American life able to pay the full tuition freight. This was not accident but policy: the Corporation declared in 1935 that it did not "wish to have an undue proportion of scholarship holders." The result: tuition income rose from $1.1 million in 1927-28 to $1.6 million in 1933-34."

 

About half of Harvard's income in the early Thirties comes from stock holdings, which represent about one-third of the endowment.

 

Even so, other tuition assistance is available: war memorial prizes, prizes from state and local organizations, scholarships from academic groups, etc. There are no athletic scholarships at Harvard, and probably not at any Ivy League school in the Thirties. The "National Scholarship Program" of student awards begins in 1934.

 

Interesting note: "While employee's wages were slashed during the Depression, very different conditions prevailed for the faculty. The salary scale for full professors, $8,000 to $12,000 in 1931, stayed there until after World War II. For the tenured faculty the 1930s were a golden age of secure and substantial income and low-cost housing, food, travel, and servants. Nor did nontenured instructors get fired during the worst of the Depression."

 

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Mixed drinks from the Harvard Crimson in the Fall of 1933:

 

• Martini $0.25
• Manhattan $0.30
• Bronx $0.25
• Clover Club $0.35
• Old Fashioned $0.35
• Orange Blossom $0.30
• Champagne Cocktail $0.75
• Planters' Punch $0.45
• Claret Punch $0.35
• Brandy Egg Nogg $0.50
• Tom Collins $0.35
• Gin Rickey $0.25
• Ward "8" $0.45
• Fizzes and Sours range from $0.30 to $0.45
• Highballs from $0.35 to $0.50

 

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Cigarette brands and prices of 1933

  

Popular American brands:

 

• Lucky Strikes - "It's Toasted!", "Reach for a Lucky" and "With men who know tobacco best, it's Luckies two to one" ... lowest nicotine of the major brands
• Chesterfield - "They Satisfy"
• Camel - "I'd Walk A Mile For A Camel" ... growing in popularity
• Old Gold - "Not a Cough in a Carload", "Why risk sore throats?"
• Raleigh - pictures of what might be Sir Walter Raleigh

 

Not so popular:

• Marlboro - "Mild As May" ... a cheap cigarette for women
• Pall Mall
• Parliament - the first filter cigarette
• Kool - a new mentholated cigarette

 

Some British smokes:

• Dunhill
• Player's
• Navy Cut
• Wills Capstan
• Wills Woodbine (filters)
• Polo
• Fez
• Simba
• Pharos
• De Reszke
• Cavanders
• Army Club
• Turf
• Pilot
• Black Cat
• Sobranie

 

And if you feel French and sophisticated:

• Gauloises - very strong and unfiltered
• Gitanes

 

For Russians:

• Belomorkanal - very strong, crudely made "papirosa" style
• Prima

 

Cigarette prices:   prices of course vary, and there's a lot of price wars, but you can generally get a pack of 20 American smokes for 14 or 15 cents; two packs for 25 cents, a carton of ten packs for $1.20.

 

The Zippo lighter was introduced to the American market in the spring of 1933. On April 17th of 1933 Johnny Roventini first broadcast his "call for Phillip Morris" ad. Cigarette holders (often made from meerschaum) are considered stylish for "sophisticated" smokers.

 

Market share in U.S., 1930:

 

RANK	BRAND	# SOLD
1	Lucky Strike Regular	43.2 billion
2	Camel	35.3 billion
3	Chesterfield Regular	26.4 billion
4	Old Gold Regular	8.5 billion
5	Raleigh 85	0.2 billion

 

 

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Locomotive Prices

 

Type	Weight (loco only)	Cost, loco + tender
4-8-4 "Northern" passenger	476,000 lbs.	$151,000
2-10-4 Alco H1d freight	520,000 lbs.	$133,000
0-8-0 B&LE Sr class	279,000 lbs.	$73,000
4-6-6-4 "Challenger" articulated freight	625,000 lbs.	$181,650
2-8-4 "Berkshire" Lima type N	436,500 lbs.	$122,900
4-8-4 "Northern" Alco	468,000 lbs.	$138,000
4-6-4 "Hudson" Alco L1a	409,000 lbs.	$142,000
diesel-electric switcher, 600 HP EMD S-series	~200,000 lbs.	$70,000

 

Steam locomotives unless otherwise noted. From Marks' Mechanical Engineers' Handbook, Fourth Edition, 1941, via S. Berliner's website.