A sampling of unusual novelties from the 1937 Johnson Smith Catalog

The ancient Pythagoreans didn’t eat beans. Guess they weren’t a fan of wind music.

“The ancient Pythagoreans didn’t eat beans. Guess they weren’t a fan of wind music.”

That’s why they took so long to come up with their theorem.

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The cover of the Mad 21 comic book shows Harvey Kurtzman’s wonderful “Smithson John” catalog parody. It’s so funny you’ll swallow your gum.

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Quite before market research and focus groups… I hope.

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So you were the one!

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I’m from the wrong hemisphere to know Johnson-Smith, although the type of adverts were familiar from comics. But as an eight year old in the mid 1970’s I got for Christmas a plastic periscope with an “x-ray” attachment. A few weeks later on our first road trip caravan trip to Queensland (a 1600km/1000 mile trip) I left it on the parcel shelf of the car and it melted. I still want a plastic periscope.

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Yeah, I am trying to remember where I saw a short documentary about this guy, but can’t recall now.

I am sure a lot of little brothers got karate chopped thanks to this guy.

I would honestly find those waaaaay more useful.

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