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

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Flying Down to Rio
Fred and Ginger's first film

Click to look at all the covers of Model Airplane News from 1929-1969.

Air, Rail and Auto in the Swing Era

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Jukeboxes

The Technology of Music (Updated 01-15-2009)

Everything You Wanted to Know About Erector Sets

• Pittsburgh Streetcars
• The Art of William Holbrook Beard
• The Story of Mother Angot -- Fishwives and Free Speech
• 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
• The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild
• Click here to view our Collection of Curt Teich Large Letter Postcards
• Click here to learn how to get Patent Drawings and Diagrams
• 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 07-03-2010)
  • Toasters (Updated 10-15-2009)
  • Restoration of a Toast-O-Lator (Updated 03-08-2010)
  • Irons and Ironing (Updated 06-22-2010)
  • The Westinghouse Roaster (Updated 08-14-2010)
  • Coffee Paraphernalia (Updated 08-14-2010)
  • Waffle Irons (Updated 06-03-2009)
  • Other Kitchenware (Updated 08-17-2010)
  • Remodeling a Retro Kitchen for less than $1000.
  • Replacement Cords for Appliances
• Furniture from the 30s and 40s
  • Waterfall Furniture,Chairs, Tables, etc. (Updated 03-08-2010)
  • Cavalier Cedar Chests (Updated 08-16-2010)
  • Vintage Radios (Updated 04-11-2010)
  • Vintage Televisions (Updated 12-07-2009)
  • Clocks (Updated 08-26-2009)
  • Vintage Telephones (Updated 03-08-2010)
  • Vintage Fans (Updated 03-23-2010)
  • Complete restoration of a RadioBar (yes, a Radio that is also a cocktail bar)
• Click here to check out Vacuum Cleaners (Updated 03-16-2009)
• Click here to check out our Toy Page (Updated 06-19-2010)
• Click here to check out Vintage Cameras (Updated 09-27-2009)
• Click here to check out Knicknacks and Miscellania (updated 07-11-2010)
• Click here to check out Vintage Tools (Updated 06-30-2010)
• Click here to check out pictures of Vernacular Architecture (Updated 06-22-2010)
• Click here to check out Sports Memorabilia (Updated 02-23-2009)
• Click here to check out Wheeled Vehicles (Updated 11-16-2009)
• Faux Graining techniques
• Click here to look at our Pinup Collection
• Energy and Environment in the Swing Era
• Click here to send us a picture of YOUR favorite stuff!

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