Another 1954 Craftsman Catalog

[eddie hudson]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-Mechanics-Tools-Catalog-Sears-May-1954-/300648940096?_trksid=p3286.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5568348606137169620

[eddie hudson]

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[lbgradwell]

I recently bought my own copy of this catalogue, but I noticed something that I don't ever recall seeing discussed before...

You may have noticed that the vintage Craftsman catalogues are (sometimes?) marked with a Zone number from 1 through 4 which I imagine refer to a geographic region. The purpose of the zones/regions is to have different prices for the same products.

Consider the following 1954 catalogue pages from the Zone 2 and Zone 3 versions:

Zone 2:



Zone 3:




And the differences in the prices are not a consistent difference in percentage:

$7.98   $7.98   100.000%

$8.55   $8.65   98.844%

$13.60   $13.75   98.909%

$19.45   $19.75   98.481%

$31.95   $32.50   98.308%

$39.95   $40.75   98.037%

Odd...

[rusty]

The main sears catalogs came in different versions for different locations also.

I suspect the price difference will only make sense if you can factor in shipping cost from point of manufacture, weight, and local labor cost at the warehouse in the particular city that ships into a given zone.

Shipping is the primary variable for mail order....

[lbgradwell]

Shipping is the primary variable for mail order....

Aren't the prices in the catalogues in-store prices?

[rusty]

>Aren't the prices in the catalogues in-store prices?

Hmm....

Yes, I was thinking the earlier catalogs....

Still, I expect shipping is the largest factor....
(In this case, to the store from the mfg)

The other intersting thing in the early catalogs is the easy payment plan.....
The lower the balance, the higher the finance cost goes, they wanted you to borrow on credit, but they wanted you to finish paying it off too ; P

[Tool Pants]

I have seen the Zone notes on the older catalogs.  Like others have said, I guess Sears divided the country in zones.  Price might be a reason as others have said.  I also thought it might be for different area needs.  You might not market a snow plow to the Florida market, or farming equipment to New York City.

I have what I call a 1932 power tools catalog, that I bought from ebay.  Great Art Deco cover, is the reason I bought it.  Seller was from the State of Washington.  Inside the catalog was a letter from Sears in Seattle.  The letter mentions the 1832 - 1932 Bradley Centennial - which is why I call the catalog a 1932 since I need to call it something.

The letter references Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Atlanta, Memphis, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and Boston.

[eddie hudson]

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[eddie hudson]

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