Things you could order over 50 years ago that you can't order now !

[scaredychicken]

I came close to buying a caiman from a local pet store, but I realized quickly that it would outgrow the 72 gallon aquarium that I had raised piranhas in.

 

[scaredychicken]

For several years now, I've wanted to order a "Jeep in a Crate" ... can't find them anywhere. I would just keep it in the crate, just because. 1940s Jeeps, Army surplus.

 

[Jstpssng]

I came close to buying a caiman from a local pet store, but I realized quickly that it would outgrow the 72 gallon aquarium that I had raised piranhas in.

Are you the reason for this?

 

[5030]

found this:

Rosin Baked Potatoes: An Almost-Lost Art

Come, explore the unique cooking technique of rosin baked potatoes and uncover an intriguing piece of culinary history with us.

thecookscook.com

Sounds moderately vulgar to me....

 

[5030]

I never did it but how about the old old time county fair "kissing " booth .

Keep your tongue in your mouth bub.....

 

[scaredychicken]

not 50 years ago yet, ... but in 1975 you could order or buy PET ROCKS

 

[scaredychicken]

you beat me to it

 

[scaredychicken]

Many, many years ago, I think it was on cereal boxes - you "could" buy land in Canada for - like a few cents. I don't recall the details but it intrigued me then and still does. I hope someone else remembers this and can provide a bit more information. I recall - I think - that some of it was near a place called Lake of the Woods. I don't know why I remember that particular place. Early '50s?

Ontario and Manitoba, Canada - bordering on Minnesota, USA

 

[JasperFrank]

You could never buy a WWII jeep in a crate. That never happened. No one has ever experienced buying a jeep in the crate in parts covered with jelly. It was a con-man that sold info on how to go to USA Military actions that posted the ads in the back of Popular Mechanics ads that just sold you a guide on how you could go to a USA Military auction in the 60's. No one ever bought a MIL Spec jeep in the way it was advertised. No One EVER bought a WWII jeep this way. Olive Drab Unicorn? The Truth behind the WW2 "Jeep In The Crate"

 

[scaredychicken]

Still could up until a very few years ago. It was called Century 21. Century 21 was owned by the Sears corporation

I didn't know that Century 21 and Sears were connected

Are you the reason for this?

I hope so

JasperFrank - I think they shipped Jeeps in a Crate, not saying the public ever had access. The myth buster thing appears legit. Thanks

 

[RandyT]

They had started phasing it out by the mid '90s. We use a lot of orange boundary paint, at one time I could give a rough estimate of when a line was done just based on the shade of orange. Most people around here buy Nelson. Their first lead free was a pretty drab, almost brown color but they've improved it a lot since then. It's bright orange and seems to hold it's color.

Kubota should find out what they are using for pigment.

I was still using the paint with the label that said contains lead as late as 1998. when I left the utility forestry career and started my own business. We had tried the lead free stuff and was having issue with our marks disappearing after just a few weeks.

 

[JasperFrank]

A cereal company said I could get a model of the Lunar Landing Modual, for 50 cents or, for so many box tops. I sent in the box tops. Saved them up for over a year. And they did send me a plastic kit to build one. It was a pretty good kit and very intricate. Wish, I still had that now.

Hot Wheels would only sell you the Chrome Boss Hoss Mustang, by mail, if you sent in enough cut off cards of other cars bought. I have a red line Chrome Boss Mustang and a Chrome Camero I will never sell these.

As an adult, I see that there isn't the same sort of compliment to brand. Hot Wheels just became exploitative with the brand and made junk. They could have just continued making excellent die-cast car toys. Some one said they could make more money doing it after the red line era way, to just make more money. This is the world we live in.

 

[RandyT]

Century 21 didn't sell kits. These were whole houses, pre-cut and delivered on site. And you could mix and match to a degree, and way before CAD. I think the financing aspect of selling things, just destroyed the actual proposition of making and providing those things. GM, and Chrysler became lending banks more than they were car companies... to their mutual downfall.
I've always just bought stuff on cash and never taken out a loan on anything. Even if I have a 853 credit score, no matter what the sales person says, as to payments and financing, I know they think they have a big fish. I'm the fish and they are the angler. I hate the entire process of limited area dealerships with a monopoly of sales.
Did I ask for Auto Driving features... No. Did I ever ask for Remote Start, No. Did I ever ask that a truck that should cost 35 thousand dollars become an plush 56,000 dollar entertainment family vehicle? NO.
It makes no sense to me that trucks got as big and expensive and complected as they have become. And I find that no one is listening that a truck, should be a simple vehicle, and easily maintained by its owner. Everyone went the the other way to complication and subscriptions and monopolized all repair to their dealerships.

If any one has a clean 1994, - pre airbag, mid-sized truck for sale, in the PNW region, I'm all ears. Cause you can't find one for sale at a reasonable price.

The Century 21 reference was more of a tongue in cheek comment. I know that Sears sold complete mail order kit houses, and there are still a few around

 

[scaredychicken]

a throwback to the 1960's vintage toys (I think they were banned ...)

clacker balls on a string

 

[alexpops]

Yeah i discovered they worked great as bolos early on, so they were banned in my house almost as soon as they came out.

 

[alexpops]

Always wanted the "two person submarine" advertised in comic books until someone told me it was more a half sunk plastic paddleboat, then i lost interest.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I bought my first hunting rifle from Montgomery Ward. It was a 7.65 Argentine Mauser. It cost me $25. I was 12.

 

[JasperFrank]

The clacker balls worked just fine till all the plastic resin kits were sold. People made their own, and these would shatter. The originals didn't shatter.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

They had started phasing it out by the mid '90s. We use a lot of orange boundary paint, at one time I could give a rough estimate of when a line was done just based on the shade of orange. Most people around here buy Nelson. Their first lead free was a pretty drab, almost brown color but they've improved it a lot since then. It's bright orange and seems to hold it's color.

Kubota should find out what they are using for pigment.

When I worked for the Health Department, the Radiation service had a set of Red tableware. Turns the red pigment was made from Uranium, and the dishes were "hot" when checked with a Geiger counter.

 

[turnkey4099]

Funny I was thinking Pet Rock when I saw this and someone posted it. I remember seeing them in stores. Someone mentioned rotary phones. We went out to lunch two days ago and stopped in a antique store. This was for sale.
View attachment 754581

Not really antique, I think you can still get them from the pone company. I have one on my nightstand still working. Of course I am pretty much of an antique myself (87) and still have a landline.