American Science and Surplus

For much of my childhood catalogs from this company, then known as Jerryco, were a favorite. "Cover price half a buck" with a hand drawn smiling half deer, told you everything you needed to know about the product descriptions. The products themselves are a mix of new science toys, assorted surplus often with an eye towards science and technology parts, and silly novelties. The plastic finger shaped coat hooks were probably purchased just so the copywriter could call them "come hither hookers."

I recently hunted them down to buy an assortment of cheap lenses, to try restoring a Magic Lantern I found at a garage sale. And lo and behold, the website has much of the charm of the catalog, plus it has photos of some of the products to boot. (The catalog never had any photos, just drawings.) Maybe now I'll be on the mailing list again.

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