The Old Catablog

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

THE NEW MODEL SPENCER REPEATING SHOT GUN. $28.00.

(Single barrel). latest model: can be taken apart to pack. 1890 Model.

46577 The magazine is located under the barrel and will hold 5 cartridges. Damascus barrels, walnut pistol grip stock, checkered, beautifully finished throughout, and is superior to any double barrel shot gun in precision and penetration. Has few parts and is solid and substantial. Can be used as a single loader and cartridges in magazine held in reserve. 30 and 32-inch barrels, 7¾, 8¼ pounds, weight; 12 gauge. Each….. $28.00

Every gun warranted a good shooter, and perfect in every respect.

46577½ The Spencer Gun, same as 46577, except TWIST barrels and WOOD SLIDE and not checkered grip; iron butt plate, 12 gauge, 30 and 32-inch, 7½ to 8½ lbs; drop stock. 3-inch; length stock, 13½. 14 inch. Each….. $18.75

Note the discount between the two grades, as well as between this and the Burgess Shotgun previously mentioned.

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

The Hero Sheep Protector.

42505 is made of steel galvanized wire formed into links. Each link has two sharp projections. Each collar consists of thirteen links, which,will reach around the ordinary sheep’s neck. Links can be removed or more added in a moment’s time: by this means you adjust the collars to the sheep’s neck. These protectors are made of galvanized wire to prevent them from rusting. They will last for ten years or more. This collar adheres close to the sheep’s neck and is not noticeable except for a short time after shearing. What the manufacturers claim and will guarantee: First, that sheep can not hurt themselves on these protectors. Second, that by the use of this protector 95 per cent of the sheep killed by dogs, wolves, etc., would be saved. You say that a dog does not always catch a sheep by the neck. We say, right you are; but when they catch them elsewhere it is done to check the sheep so that they can get to its neck, and in some instances they do not lacerate the neck to speak of but the object in catching the sheep is to cut the throat and drink the blood. In many instances one dog has killed 30 sheep in one night. In their wrestle with the sheep they are sure to come in contact with this protector. This closes the chase; they the will not give blood for blood. If you will put the Hero Protector on your sheep, you can pasture them in your remotest field, and you need not lay awake at night for fear of
them being molested.

Price, per dozen collars.....     $0.85
  "     "  gross    "   .....      8.50
  "     "  1000     "   .....      54.60

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

The Burgess Repeating Shot Gun. $28.00

46569 The Burgess Single Barrel Repeating Shot Gun, walnut stock, Damascus barrels, bored for long range close shooting. This gun has the sliding pistol grip movement for loading and ejecting shell. Made of best material, has few parts and not liable to get out of order. Barrel can be separated from stock in an instant. 12 gauge, 30 or 32 inch, about 7½ pounds weight: 6 shot….. $28.00

Circulars giving full description of Burgess Gun sent free on application.

There doesn’t seem to be much information about this shotgun on the web. Here is one site providing some brief information as well as pictures. Before anyone asks, I don’t have the circular…

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

Odell Typewriter.

24578 This typewriter prints directly from metal type, no ribbon being used, and gives a much cleaner impression than can possibly be ob­tained from an ink ribbon. The Odell machine has perfect alignment and is a very good type­writer for manifold; the double case machine writes 78 characters, representing capitals, small letters, all of the punctuation marks, to­gether with percentage marks and fractional figures. Weight, 7 1/2 pounds.

Price, Double Case Machine….. $13.00

The Odell Typewriter lists at $20.00; our price of $13.00 gives you a discount of more than 1/3 off. We make this special offer to increase the sale and give our customers the benefit of the low price obtained by our purchasing in large quantities.

The Odell was one of many index typewriters, differing from the now-standard keyboard typewriter by requiring its user to select each character one at a time. The Virtual Typewriter Museum has many examples of this sort of machine.

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

Edison Mimeograph.

24579 The Edison Mimeograph Type writer. A practical working machine, that does perfect mimeograph work. It has steel type, keeps good align­ment, prints from a ribbon, is a heavy manifolder, and is strong and durable, at same time being light and portable.

Writes 78 characters, caps and small letters….. $22.00

It should be noted that this device, is not, in fact, a mimeograph machine, but rather an index typewriter used to make stencils for a mimeograph. Contrary to its name, this device was in fact manufactured by the A.B. Dick Co., who licensed Edison’s copying technology patents and marketed the device using his name.

For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry on the mimeograph. Some nice pictures of this typewriter and history are available at the Early Office Museum.

From the Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895:

24350 THE KOMBI. A small, thoroughly prac­tical, pocket camera: made of metal, bronze finished, measures 2×1½ inches, and weighs, when loaded for twenty-five exposures, about four ounces. It takes films and makes a picture 1 1/8 x 1 1/8 inches square, or a circle picture 1 1/8 inches in diameter. With the cam­era is combined a magnifying graphoscope, for view­ing the photographs when developed and printed upon a strip of translucent material.
Price, in cloth-covered case ….. $3.50
1 Roll Film, for 25 exposures ….. .20
1 Box of 5 Rolls of Film (for 25 exposures each) ….. 1.00
Complete Developing and Printing Outfit ….. 3.00
Magazine containing extra loading ….. 1.50
Rubber Loading Sleeve ….. .60
No. 2 Staff Tripod with plate ….. 2.00

I’m surprised such a small camera existed in the 1890s. More information about the Kombi is available at Scott’s Photographica Collection.