The Old Catablog

First Prize Dog Power

ToastR — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:48:59 +0000

From the Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog of 1897:

First Prize Dog Power.
No. 16924. This power can be operated by a dog, goat or sheep; yields 25 per cent. more power from a given weight of animal than any other, and with adjustable bridge to regulate the required power and motion, a 30 pound animal will do the churning; if you keep a dog, make him “work his passage.” The power can be connected to any churn sold by us.
Price….. $15.00

The illustration above shows how the double dog power can be used in operating a cream separator. When the separator is not in use and you desire to churn, connect it to tumbling rod sent with machine. A corn sheller, fan mill or sawing machine can be connected by belt from balance wheel. Separators require a high gear, and for this purpose we recommend our steel pulley, 3½x36 inches. This we can furnish at $6 extra. If iron coupling rod and coupling as shown in illustration are desired to connect and run cream separator, we can furnish them at $3 extra.

Spencer Repeating Shot Gun

ToastR — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:33:39 +0000

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.

Sheep Protector

ToastR — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:46:17 +0000

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

Ear Trumpets, Tubes, Etc.

ToastR — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:06:13 +0000

From the Sears Roebuck Catalogue of 1897:

EAR TRUMPETS, TUBES, ETC.

No. 69613. Ear Trumpet, bugle shape, made of japanned metal in three sizes, small, medium or large. Each….. $1.90

No. 69674. London Hearing Horn, nickel plated, size 2½ to 4 inches in length. They are for the use of those who are moderately deaf and are easily concealed in the hand when in use. Each….. $2.25

No. 69675. Conversation Tube of flexible mohair, 3 feet in length with rubber ends. This tube is suited to the most obstinate cases of deafness. Each….. $2.75

Burgess Shotgun

ToastR — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:16:39 +0000

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…

Electro Medical Batteries

ToastR — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:02:46 +0000

From the Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue of 1897:

ELECTRO MEDICAL BATTERIES
For Home or Physicians’ Use.

The Electro Medical Battery as a curative agent is becoming more appreciated from day to day. In cases of nervous trouble and partial paralysis it has brought about phenomenal results. The best physicians prescribe its use even when all else fails, and even under such adverse circumstances it often cures. For rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and all nervous disorders it seems to be nature’s own cure. There need be no fear from the use of these machines, as there can be no bad results derived. An invalid may use them with perfect safety. There are a great variety of electrical machines and batteries on the market, from which we have selected of each kind those in which we can furnish our customers with the best value for the amount of money expended.
(more…)

Odell Typewriter

ToastR — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:50:31 +0000

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.

“Zulu” Gun

ToastR — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:01:40 +0000

From the Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue, 1897:

“The Zulu” Breech Loading Shot Gun $3.40.

Our Genuine “Zulu” Breech Loading Shot Gun. A safe, strong and close shooter to load. The hammer must be raised to half cock, the breech block brought over by the thumb from left to right. The extractor is attached to the breech block; by pulling the block backward the shell is extracted. There is a spiral spring that carries block back to position. This is a very strong and durable gun for general purposes; 12 gauge only.

Our special price….. $3.40

From what little I’ve read, the “Zulu” guns were old single-shot muskets modified to use shotgun shells and then imported to the United States (a brief definition can be found at MidwayUSA.) It should also be noted that these shotguns were half the price of their single-barreled brethren in the Sears catalog.

Edison Mimeograph Typewriter

ToastR — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:21:53 +0000

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.

The Kombi Camera

ToastR — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:14:03 +0000

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.