bobgee Posted February 17, 2017 Share #1 Posted February 17, 2017 When I was young kid in the late 40s after WWII there was a Catholic themed Comic Book called "Treasure Chest" . I have vivid memories of an ad that appeared frequently on the rear cover. Well, through the magic of the Internet I found a picture of that ad from 1949 (I was 11 that year). I remember getting one of the deals. When you look at the below ad, you wil see an assortment of amazing things. A C-1 USAAF survival vest for a $1.95; a PAL USN knife w/ scabbard, NEW, for a $1.00; cartridge belts for $.65 cents & more! I was hooked on War Stuff! To keep things in perspective about the prices, my Dad made $50. a week and we lived well in the Bronx, NYC. Enjoy a look at the OLD DAYS. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted February 17, 2017 Share #2 Posted February 17, 2017 Aaaah, the good old days! I remember similar prices at the local surplus stores, but much of it was still out of reach for a kid who got an allowance of 25 cents a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McCauley Posted February 17, 2017 Share #3 Posted February 17, 2017 Wow! I love it. I got into the hobby in the 70's when I was 11. I look back I think of all the great items I missed due to having only a few bucks at a time. Great memories though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted February 17, 2017 Share #4 Posted February 17, 2017 We've had a couple of threads about surplus being used to outfit Boy Scouts for decades. The picture of the happy lad with all of his field gear on his back made me think of that. Here is one of them on the topic: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/281624-us-in-the-boy-scouts-pics/ Here is another thread on postwar surplus ads: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/276822-the-end-of-the-army-surplus-store/?hl=%2Bboy+%2Bscout&do=findComment&comment=2227876 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtheattack Posted February 17, 2017 Share #5 Posted February 17, 2017 Like the old days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted February 17, 2017 Share #6 Posted February 17, 2017 I'd be curious how many "Air Corps Sustenance Vests" became fishing vests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 17, 2017 Share #7 Posted February 17, 2017 That was a time that people didn't mind buying used stuff. Not today! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted February 18, 2017 Share #8 Posted February 18, 2017 Oh man, I remember sending off to New York for one of the Kaufman's catalogues when I was 10 or 11; and the ad was in the back cover of a comic book. Thanks for bringing up the memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted February 18, 2017 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2017 That was a time that people didn't mind buying used stuff. Not today! -Ski For sure! Me, I love used stuff (as well as minty items)...especially if it has an old surplus price mark on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jweitkamp Posted February 20, 2017 Share #10 Posted February 20, 2017 Circa 1960's my dad bought a box load of USAAF first aid kits for next to nothing and handed them out one night at one of weekly Boy Scout meetings. At some point as we were all opening them up to check out the contents, he realized they all still contained unused morphine syrettes. I don't think I ever saw the old man move so quickly as he did collecting them all back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted February 20, 2017 Share #11 Posted February 20, 2017 We used to go to the sears basement and they had these 4 footish square crates made of lumber and heavy cardboard. M1 helmets for $1.00, Japanese Helmets $1.00, U.S. web gear 25 cents, to include canteens some USMC. We used to by all the gear for camping then at the end of the trip get our .22 rifles and shoot the heck out of all of the stuff in the hills. Next camping trip back to Sears basement and do it again. This flyer is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. BARney Posted February 20, 2017 Share #12 Posted February 20, 2017 Speaking of those old ads in the back of comic books, did any of you ever get the X-ray vision glasses? I never did but was always curious how well those worked.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 20, 2017 Share #13 Posted February 20, 2017 I remember ordering in the 1970's the 500 soldier kits , revolution, Napoleon, cilvil war, etc, etc Real small plastic soldiers. me and member (Patches) used to play for hours in my front yard. We were very disappointed at the sz of them when we first got them. But we used them. The good old days, there gone forever. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted February 21, 2017 Share #14 Posted February 21, 2017 We used to go to the sears basement and they had these 4 footish square crates made of lumber and heavy cardboard. M1 helmets for $1.00, Japanese Helmets $1.00, U.S. web gear 25 cents, to include canteens some USMC. We used to by all the gear for camping then at the end of the trip get our .22 rifles and shoot the heck out of all of the stuff in the hills. Next camping trip back to Sears basement and do it again. This flyer is awesome. What year was this? 1947 but seriously remember the ads in the 70s early 80s on the back cover of Military Scale Modeler magazines for the place in Alexanria Virgina, with their 25 buck repainted M35/40 German helmets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted February 21, 2017 Share #15 Posted February 21, 2017 I remember ordering in the 1970's the 500 soldier kits , revolution, Napoleon, cilvil war, etc, etc Real small plastic soldiers. me and member (Patches) used to play for hours in my front yard. We were very disappointed at the sz of them when we first got them. But we used them. The good old days, there gone forever. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk LOLOL- Bill, I remember feeling almost sick when I got that tiny little "Footlocker"; the ad made them look like a gigantic set! Some of those little flat guys and gals are still with us, however. Below, compared with the "standard issue Army men"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M422A1 Posted February 21, 2017 Share #16 Posted February 21, 2017 What year was this? 1947 but seriously remember the ads in the 70s early 80s on the back cover of Military Scale Modeler magazines for the place in Alexanria Virgina, with their 25 buck repainted M35/40 German helmets! I believe the place in Alexandria, VA you are talking about was "Unique Imports". I bought my first WWII German tunic from them for $35 back in 1973. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 21, 2017 Share #17 Posted February 21, 2017 LOLOL- Bill, I remember feeling almost sick when I got that tiny little "Footlocker"; the ad made them look like a gigantic set! Some of those little flat guys and gals are still with us, however. Below, compared with the "standard issue Army men"... Yup, really small. But I had hrs of fun lining them up in formation, and knocking them down with dirt bombs. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted February 21, 2017 Share #18 Posted February 21, 2017 I believe the place in Alexandria, VA you are talking about was "Unique Imports". I bought my first WWII German tunic from them for $35 back in 1973. Mike That had to be the place, yess, they sold those Non Gun Lugers and Schmeissers too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted February 28, 2017 Share #19 Posted February 28, 2017 Back when kids could be trusted with knives! Man, I missed out on a hell of an era Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave peifer Posted March 7, 2017 Share #20 Posted March 7, 2017 I remember in the early 60s doing mail order with bannermans new York...........................dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now