Dads old 12GA

[alwslate]

When I was a teenager living in a small town in the early 60s one of
my favorite places to go was the Sears store. As I recall they had in
the same store area new bicycles, Alstate motor scooters and guns. I
didn't have the money to buy much of anything but I sure did love to
look. Later on when I had a job at a grocery store making a little cash
I had a few of those scooters, bought used of course. I couldn't afford
a new one. I'm probably lucky to be here after owning a few of those
death traps. Most would only run about 40 mph top speed except for
one Cushman Eagle I had that would top 50 mph. The low speeds
no doubt saved a lot of lives of dumb teenagers.

 

[jimmyj]

We were catalog poor. Sears, Monkey Wards, spiegel, JC pennys and Aldens.

Aldens sold guns too. I just saw an add for their 1953 hunting catalog. Browning A5, $15x.00, Remington 870 $13x.00 and a Wnchester Model 24 at $77.00. A few bucks down and payments.

At my grandparents house the catalogs were great to read, during daylight while in the outhouse. They sent off for every free catalog. Crafty farmers, getting free TP.

In the 1957 era I purchased a Winchester Model 24 12 gauge Dbl for $70.00 at the base exchange for a present for my Father. He liked everything about it except He thought the stock didn't have enough "Drop" to it.

 

[jimmyj]

When I was a teenager living in a small town in the early 60s one of
my favorite places to go was the Sears store. As I recall they had in
the same store area new bicycles, Alstate motor scooters and guns. I
didn't have the money to buy much of anything but I sure did love to
look. Later on when I had a job at a grocery store making a little cash
I had a few of those scooters, bought used of course. I couldn't afford
a new one. I'm probably lucky to be here after owning a few of those
death traps. Most would only run about 40 mph top speed except for
one Cushman Eagle I had that would top 50 mph. The low speeds
no doubt saved a lot of lives of dumb teenagers.

In junior high I worked parttime after school and all day Saturdays for $0.45 a hour. I purchased a used All State Motor Scooter for $98.00 and it would be a "Death Trap" in today's world.

 

[mauser9]

My friend bought one of those Allstate cycles back around 68 or 69. Blue tank and it was 106 CC. First one I got to drive. Yeah would not care to go cross country on it.LOL

 

[kaaskop49]

At my grandparents house the catalogs were great to read, during daylight while in the outhouse. They sent off for every free catalog. Crafty farmers, getting free TP.

I can't believe model70hunter wrote this! This is so cool!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[DWalt]

Back in the 1950s, the Sears and MW stores were magical places for me. On the Fridays my dad got paid (he was a steelworker), we'd all head to town so he could deposit his paycheck into the account at the local bank and take out some cash for my mother to use for household expenses. Her whole life she never wrote a check or used a credit card. Everything was paid in cash. We always wandered around downtown for a while before going home (everything there was open until 9 on Friday evenings), and I really looked forward to going into Sears' and MW's basements which was where all the fun stuff was - guns, tools, hardware, and fishing tackle. I'd like to re-live those days before malls and big box stores.

 

[kaaskop49]

Back in the 1950s, the Sears and MW stores were magical places for me. On the Fridays my dad got paid (he was a steelworker), we'd all head to town so he could deposit his paycheck into the account at the local bank and take out some cash for my mother to use for household expenses. Her whole life she never wrote a check or used a credit card. Everything was paid in cash. We always wandered around downtown for a while before going home (everything there was open until 9 on Friday evenings), and I really looked forward to going into Sears' and MW's basements which was where all the fun stuff was - guns, tools, hardware, and fishing tackle. I'd like to re-live those days before malls and big box stores.

You neglected to mention that indefinable, pleasant smell that permeated these "fun stuff" areas of the stores and contributed to the allure, IMO.

BTW, your posts about the "old days" are enjoyable and bring back many previously shunted-aside memories.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[rburg]

And so far no one has mentioned Checker stores. More than just tires and batteries. They had a full line of off brand guns!

 

[BigBill]

I purchased a 30" 12ga barrel for my maverick shotgun. I'm thinking to out shoot the turkey shoot this year. I found an older Winchester 120, 12ga slug shotgun at a gun show for $175. Smooth bore by very accurate.

I have a revelation bolt action 30-06 and a double barrel 12ga from western auto. Had to order the 12ga with 30" barrels.(70's)

 

[DWalt]

And so far no one has mentioned Checker stores. More than just tires and batteries. They had a full line of off brand guns!

We had one of those Checker Stores back in the old home town when I was a kid. Near as I can remember it was sort of an auto accessories store, but sold other stuff also, like bicycles and bicycle parts, and general hardware, and they did sell some guns and ammo. One of our neighbors was the manager of the local store. There used to be a similar chain in Texas called White's. Also there was a Western Auto store there, somewhat like Checker. Back in the mid-70s, I lived in a small town in West Texas 30 miles south of San Angelo, and about the only store in town besides a local grocery store was the Western Auto. It served as the local hardware (and about everything else) store. I remember they even had a Bridal Registry.