Retro Musings

Retro Musings includes magazine adverts and catalogue scans from 1930's to 1990's, plus anything else which takes my fancy (like LP covers and knitting patterns).

Go to Brands & Products to see a list of all the items I have added so far, or view by category or decade via the menus above and below.

Latest Additions

Sears ~ Lingerie Adverts [1968] “The Doesn’t Slip”

“It doesn’t cling, doesn’t creep, doesn’t twist.”
These four swinging sixties Non-Cling underwear ads by Sears are from 1968.

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Kmart Kids Clothing ~ Adverts [1980’s]

“Kmart. Yes. Kmart.”
These ads for Kmart kids clothing are all from 1987.

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Category: Childrenswear
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Acrilan ~ Womenswear Adverts [1956]

“Now… jersey you can wash and wear!”
These women’s fashion ads for Acrilan fabric date from 1956.

Category: Womenswear
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Acrilan ~ Womenswear Adverts [1955]

“A luxury sweater of Acrilan.”
These women’s fashion ads for Acrilan fabric date from 1955.

Category: Womenswear
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Leonardo Strassi ~ Menswear Adverts [1964-1969]

“Peppier than pepperoni and getting hotter every season!”
These ads for men’s Italian clothing line Leonardo Strassi date from 1964-69.

Category: Menswear
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Jaymar Slacks ~ Menswear Adverts [1966-1979]

“Sansabelt… the greatest thing that ever happened to men’s slacks!”
These men’s trouser ads by Jaymar are from 1966-79.

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Category: Menswear
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Fisher Body ~ Car Adverts [1962-1968]

“Seat fabrics elegant enough to inspire a famous fashion designer.”
This ad campaign by Fisher Body (an automobile manufacturer owned by General Motors) ran from 1962-68. Many ads feature glamorous models wearing haute couture.

Category: Cars
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Fisher Body ~ Car Adverts [1957-1959] “Hovercar” Illustrations

“Makes time stand still.”
These amazing space-age style ads for Fisher Body date from 1957-59 and are a collage of photography and illustration.

Category: Cars
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Pontiac ~ Car Adverts [1959-1969] Illustrations by Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman

“The only car with wide track wheels.”
These lovely illustrations for various Pontiac cars date from 1959-69. The artwork was created by Art Fitzpatrick (AF), who drew the cars, and Van Kaufman (VK), who drew the backgrounds.

Category: Cars
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Du Pont: Paint ~ Decorating Adverts [1958-1959]

“Buy the paint that’s worth the work… the beauty lasts!”
These super adverts for Du Pont paints date from 1958-59.

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Category: Home Improvements
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Toy Kitchen Sets ~ Catalogues [1960’s-1980’s]

“She’ll wash clothes, run water, turn knobs! Busy, busy in her Frigidaire kitchen! It’s all pink… and just her size!”
From mothers little helpers to mini gourmet chefs, here’s a collection of toy kitchen sets from 1962 to 1989.

Category: Toys & Games
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Creepy Catalogue Clowns [1960’s-1980’s]

Like any normal human being, I have a healthy hatred of clowns. One stood on my foot once, and then there was Poltergeist. That said, here is a collection of clowns from various catalogues dating from 1962 to 1989. My favourite clowns are the ones being punched by small boys.

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Hanes ~ Lingerie Adverts [1965-1967] “The Great Leg”

The great look. The great leg.
Between 1965-67, Hanes released a series of adverts with a distinctly urban feel to them, of which I’ve found four different styles.

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Burlington Cameo ~ Lingerie Adverts [1968-1969]

“You can even bend over and still be a lady.”
These four Burlington Cameo pantyhose adverts date between 1968-69.

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Fashion Fair ~ Perfume Adverts [1986-1987] “Eunece”

“It’s a girls best friend!”
These four ads for Eunece perfume by Fashion Fair are from 1986-87. These two chaps were fighting over the same lady for a long time!

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Category: Cosmetics
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Borgana ~ Womenswear Adverts [1954-1957]

“Looks more like fur than fur itself.”
These ads for Borgana fake fur coats are from 1954-57.

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Category: Womenswear
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Frigidaire ~ Kitchen Appliance Adverts [1966] “Space Age Refrigeration”

“Frigidaire announces space age refrigeration!”
These futuristic, sci-fi inspired Frigidaire ads are from 1966. They all feature sixties clad models wearing bubble space helmets (or possibly fish bowls).

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Category: Kitchen
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Children’s Nightwear ~ Catalogues [1980’s]

Here’s some children’s nightwear from various 1980’s catalogues.

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Kelvinator ~ Kitchen Appliance Adverts [1954-1959] “Foodarama”

“And now! Fabulous “Foodarama” by Kelvinator!”
These ads for Kelvinator’s “Foodarama” fridge/freezer are from 1955-59.

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Category: Kitchen
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International Fashions ~ Menswear Adverts [1972-1975]

“Unmistakable international…unquestionably today’s fashions.”
These ads for International Fashions date from 1970-75. They feature daringly dressed men with a lady hanging around admiringly.

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Swank ~ Menswear Adverts [1972-1974]

“Your Saturday Night 3pc special makes you the big gun.”
These small black and white ads for Swank date from 1972-74 and feature some splendidly named men’s suits, descriptions and poses.

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Category: Menswear
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Smith House Of Leather ~ Menswear Adverts [1972-1976]

These small black and white ads for Smith House Of Leather date from 1972-76 and feature some slightly awkward models.

Category: Menswear
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Michelangelo Knitwear ~ Menswear Adverts [1969-1970]

The Fine Art of Italian Knits
These three ads for Michelangelo knitwear date from 1969 to 1970 and feature America Baseball player Walt Frazier.

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Category: Menswear
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Salem [1989-1992] Cigarette Adverts

Fresh On The Scene
These Salem cigarette adverts are from 1989-92. The chaps appear to be “getting fresh” with the ladies in these ads to mixed responses!

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Category: Smoking
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Edison Electric Institute ~ Electricity Adverts [1965-1967]

“You live better electrically.”
These Gold Medallion Home ads are from 1965-67. Look how happy electricity makes them!

Category: Home Improvements
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Honda ~ Scooter Adverts [1985-1986] Celebrity Ads

In 1985-86, a rather bizarre collection of celebrities put their names to Honda Scooters for both magazine and TV commercials.

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Category: Bikes
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TCB ~ Hair Care Adverts [1987] Illustrated

“We make you look good!”
These three illustrated TCB ads are from April, May and June of 1987.

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Category: Hair
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Yardley ~ Perfume Adverts [1956-1957] Madame Alexander Dolls

“Makes you feel so fresh and feminine.”
These five Yardley ads for are from 1956-57. The dolls in the images were designed by Madame Alexander, a company which has been making dolls since 1923.

Category: Cosmetics
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