Hilariously Irresponsible 1930s Novelty Items

Counterfeiting is fun!

Here are a bunch of socially irresponsible and politically incorrect products from the 1938 Johnson Smith & Company Catalogue of Surprising Novelties, Puzzles, Tricks, Joke Goods, Useful Articles, Etc.

Of course, it was a product of it’s time. There’s no use in wagging fingers and becoming offended by it .  Please take my snarky comments with a grain of salt – my shock and horror is all in fun.  Enjoy.

 

As long as the robbers happen to see you admiring your fake weapon, you’ll be safe and sound.

 

Yes, let’s not only ship reptiles through the mail, but lets also put in a racist joke for good measure. Way to go Johnson Smith & Company.

 

There’s just one problem.  All of this is complete and total bullshit.  I’m getting the distinct impression Johnson Smith & Company were a bunch of jerks. Their marketing strategy seems to be a combination of (1) enabling deviant behavior in youth, (2) racism, (3) animal cruelty and (4) false advertising.  Let’s read on…

 

Ha, Ha! Won’t this be fun? Let’s get this innocent old man a police beat down.

 

Inciting violence and now cheating. What’s next, novelty terrorism?

Oh, dear. I spoke too soon…

 

Words fail me.  This “Auto Scare Bomb” will provide lots of fun and hilarity…. prior to your imprisonment.

 

I don’t think it’s a great leap to realize that maybe those “bullet dice’ will work nicely with the “Ronson Repeater” strategically placed next to it in the catalog. And if it doesn’t quite work, I’m sure a little old fashioned elbow grease and some soldering (also conveniently located nearby) will get it in working order.

 

Indoor fireworks. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Make sure you hold your laughter until the unsuspecting victim begins to bite down on a chocolate made of….wait for it…… rubber! But be sure you are fully licensed in CPR and can dislodge an obstruction from a windpipe.

 

“If you don’t like this, go to hell and buy your own.”

Nice.

 

And now check out the many ways firearms can be fun!….

 

“It’s fun watching these four color cartoon comics being shown out of the barrel of the pistol.”

Suffice it to say, they had a very different idea of home entertainment in the 1930s.

 

Put this pencil sharpener in your kid’s school supplies. I’m sure the teachers will love it!

 

I repeat: What could possibly go wrong?

 

Let’s just hope that the person you’re shooting at is wearing protective eye wear.

 

“Scares thieves and surprises friends…. It looks like a Deadly Weapon, but it is merely a novel cigarette case.”

Gee, just when did we become a “gun culture” ? I was under the impression that it was a recent spiral and the fault of video games and violent movies.

Now where did I put that gun remote?

 

THE END