And there was much rejoicing...

[ffutures]

I've just received a message from House of Fraser which authorizes me to reproduce as much of the 1939-40 Army and Navy store catalogue as I like. They're not sure if they still own the copyright, but have said I can use it anyway if they do.

My feeling on this is to go for a representative assortment of pages, with an emphasis on equipment for adventurers; guns, cameras, medical, clothing, etc.

Any suggestions on things I should be looking at? Bearing in mind that the catalogue is more than 1000 pages and I sure as hell can't put the whole lot on line.

Comments

[willplant.livejournal.com]

That's a great result.

I think the equipment for adventurers has to be the way to go.

In terms of guns: it would be interesting to see if there are there any rules on who can buy which items - i.e. having to be a serving soldier

Is there an index? If so that might be worth including to give a flavour of what has not been reproduced.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Basically you needed a firearms license for most guns (unless you were exporting them), that was about it.

Did you want the index (46 pages) or the contents page?

[willplant.livejournal.com]

it sounds like the contents page might be more useful - that's quite some tome!

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

One quick scan later:

There are about 70 pages of preliminary stuff, then the departments etc. are as follows:

• GROCERY AND CONFECTIONERY 1-62
  
• PROVISIONS, MEAT, FISH, POULTRY, BREAD, CAKES, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, PLANTS 63-72
  
• TOBACCO, CIGARS, PIPES 73-99
  
• WINES AND SPIRITS 100-101
  
• TURNERY, IRONMONGERY, REFRIGERATORS, GAS AND ANTHRACITE STOVES, GRATES, FENDERS, FIRE-IRONS, TOOLS, PAINTS, HOUSEHOLD FITTINGS AND REQUISITES, BUILDERS' MERCHANDISE, RANGES, SANITARY APPLIANCES, WALL PAPER, ELECTRICAL FITTINGS, SHADES AND APPLIANCES, OIL LAMPS, 102-290
  
• BUILDING, DECORATING AND ELECTRICAL PLANT, 291-294
  
• STATIONERY, ARTISTS' MATERIALS 295 - 385
  
• DRUGS, PERFUMERY, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS 386 — 441
  
• JEWELLERY, CLOCKS, WATCHES, PLATE, CUTLERY 442-566
  
• GUNS, BOATS, FISHING TACKLE, NATURALIST 567-603
  
• LADIES' SHOES (First Floor.) 604 - 608
  
• DRAPERY, FURS, BABY LINEN, MILLINERY, COSTUMES, SEWING MACHINES, PERAMBULATORS 609 - 652
  
• TAILORING (LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S, GENTLEMEN'S AND BOYS' OUTFITTING 653 - 689
  
• GENTLEMEN'S BOOTS 690-695
  
• CHINA AND GLASS 696-726
  
• GAMES, PORTMANTEAUS, MOTOR CASES AND LUNCHEON BASKETS. CAMP EQUIPMENT, SADDLERY, MOTOR CAR ACCESSORIES, TOYS, RADIO, TELEVISION, GRAMOPHONES, CYCLES 727-839
  
• BOOKS, BOOKBINDING, FOREIGN STAMPS 840 - 871
  
• FANCY GOODS AND FITTED DRESSING BAGS 872-904
  
• PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS AND STUDIOS, OPTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 905-927
  
• REFRESHMENTS, CATERING AND HIRE, RESTAURANTS 928-942
  
• FORAGE, COAL (Ground Floor.) 943-944
  
• SEEDS, GARDEN REQUISITES, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS 945-991
  
• ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT 992-1001
  
• FURNITURE, PICTURES 1002-1054
  
• PIANOS AND MUSIC, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 1055-1061
  
• CARPETS, CURTAINS, FURNISHING FABRICS, DYEING AND CLEANING 1062-1078
  
• BLINDS 1079-1081
  
• CHURCH FURNITURE, FUNERALS, MEMORIALS 1082-1095
  
• HAIRDRESSING, CHIROPODY, MANICURE 1096-1098
  
• MOTOR CARS 1099
  
• FORWARDING, REMOVALS, WAREHOUSING 1100-1101
  
• AUCTION, HOUSE AND ESTATE AGENCY, INSURANCE 1102-1104
  
  EXPORT AND TRAVEL BUREAU 1105-1124
  
  INCOME TAX AND INVESTMENT AGENCY 1125

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

If you do the contents page and pop it online, we can have a look at it and see what else might be suitable for adventures apart from the guns/cameras/clothing you've already thought of?

[nojay.livejournal.com]

I wish now that I had scanned in a Intel catalogue from 1973 I had at one time. It listed everything Intel made in less than a hundred pages and that included the development systems -- 8 kbytes of DRAM on a board cost about a thousand bucks, as I recall.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That would definitely still be in copyright, unfortunately, although Intel might have said OK if you asked.

[nojay.livejournal.com]

It was more for my own records than to publish it; I passed the catalogue onto an academic who was interested in the early history of microprocessors.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I have no intelligent suggestions but I do think choosing might be fun.