Why Do We Collect This Stuff?

This is an advertisement from the Saturday Evening Post for September 8, 1944 two days before I was born. World War II was still raging in Europe and the Pacific. The ad shows a young couple just starting out and their eyes are on peace, prosperity and the future. What are they deraming about? It's NOT self-fulfillment, or empowerment, or "space" -- it's CONSUMER GOODS! They are dreaming about stuff that they couldn't afford during the Depression and that isn't available because of the War. The young couple could have been my parents. With all due respect, they much preferred a trip to the appliance store to an art museum. I really love these "Consumer Goods Fantasies" -- Click here for another such ad (only much larger.) This one shows a Happy Family (Mom, Dad, Sis and Son) reveling in a Christmas Morning filled with all kinds of Consumer Goods, most of which you will find discussed in these pages. [Use your "back" button to exit the picture; download it if you want.]

Thus, it is with profound nostalgia that I look back upon a happier time when folks were quite content to dream about a Roaster, Toaster, Vacuum, Fan, or Ironer. After years of searching in the exotic areas of experience, it is very pleasing to go back to that much simpler time, to have a BLT in our Retro Kitchen.

So, with a nod to my beloved parents who survived the Depression and Saipan, here is my look at a broad range of artifacts that might have been part of everyday American home life during the Swing Era. None of these are for sale -- we use them almost every day! Have a look at our collection and feel free to ask questions or send us photos of your own Swing Era artifacts

NEW FEATURE!: Everything You Wanted to Know About Erector Sets (Updated 06_17-2008)

• A Trip to a 1932 Appliance Show
• Menus From Swing Era Restaurants
• A Look at Sreamlined Locomotives
• The 1922 Chicago Tribune Tower Design Contest and its Influence on Art Deco Architecture
• A Trip Through 1947 Follow LIFE magazine in this critical year, one week at a time just like it happened!
• Building a 1948 Cleveland Model Airplane Kit (Updated 11-15-2006)
• The Fisher Body Guild (Updated 01-18-2008)
• Click here to view our Collection of Curt Teich Large Letter Postcards (Updated 09-30-2005)
• Click here to learn how to get Patent Drawings and Diagrams (Updated 05-18-2005)
• EXPLORE how appliances work
  • Explore your Electric Iron
  • Explore your Coffee-maker
  • Explore your Waffle Iron
  • Explore a Toast-O-Lator
  • Check Out Bersted Appliances -- "Brand X" Personified
• Collectibles in the Kitchen!
  • Kitchen Mixers (Updated 01-10-2007)
  • Toasters (Updated 12-20-2006)
  • Restoration of a Toast-O-Lator (Updated 07-25-2008)
  • Irons and Ironing (Updated 7-04-2008)
  • The Westinghouse Roaster (Updated 1-12-2008)
  • Coffee Paraphernalia (Updated 01-25-2008)
  • Waffle Irons (Updated 09-07-2007)
  • Other Kitchenware (Updated 12-31-2007)
  • Remodeling a Retro Kitchen for less than $1000. (Updated 11-15-2006)
  • Replacement Cords for Appliances
• Furniture from the 30s and 40s
  • Waterfall Furniture,Chairs, Tables, etc. (Updated 09-08-2007)
  • Cavalier Cedar Chests (Updated 03-05-2008)
  • Vintage Radios (Updated 05-28-2008)
  • Vintage Televisions (Updated 01-15-2008)
  • Clocks (Updated 08-04-2006)
  • Vintage Telephones (Updated 02-19-2007)
  • Vintage Fans (Updated 10-24-2005)
  • Complete restoration of a RadioBar (yes, a Radio that is also a cocktail bar) Updated 11-22-05
• Click here to check out Vacuum Cleaners (Updated 10-27-05)
• Click here to check out our Toy Page (Updated 06-02-2008)
• Click here to check out Vintage Cameras (Updated 08-03-2008)
• Click here to check out Knicknacks and Miscellania (updated 11-15-06)
• Click here to check out Vintage Tools (Updated 02-27-2007)
• Click here to check out pictures of Architectural Oddities (Updated 09-20-05)
• Click here to check out Wheeled Vehicles (Updated 09-20-05)
• Faux Graining techniques
• Click here to look at our Pinup Collection
• Click here to send us a picture of YOUR favorite stuff!

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