Old Comic Book Ads! Did anyone ever purchase anything advertised?

[bminor]

I was idly wondering today if anyone out there in DCM Land ever buy anything from one of those advertisers in old, old comic books?

I am willing to wager there are many interesting stories that need to be told!

Never purchased anything myself, just bought the comic books!

Attached is the infamous X-RAY SPECS ad!!

B.

[Defiant1]

I never ordered the gimmick products, but I did write for a Howard Rogofsky catalog in maybe 1972 or so.

[Snard]

I'm told that one of the principals of DCM bought the miniature monkey in a teacup that you see in the Movyland Studio ads. That monkey is now full grown, and is now one of the moderators of this site!

[bminor]

I have always had my suspicions about that guy...

[Yoc]

Yep,  Mom says I used to be so cute ...
 

[larrytalbot]

Of course, some of those old comic book ads were scams for the gullible (like the X-Ray Specs!). But many others were honest and worth the price. I'll always be grateful for the ad I answered as a kid in the 1940s. It was a 'learn to play harmonica by the numbers' kit with harmonica and instructions. After learning to play by the numbers I went on to play any tune by ear. Through the years, the little original harmonica was replaced with bigger more advanced ones, and harmonica became a life-long  hobby.

I also answered a Fawcett ad to join the Captain Marvel Club for the price of a comic book (10-cents). I was a little disappointed to get only a short welcome note on a Captain Marvel letterhead and a membership card (with a key to the secret code in every issue of Captain Marvel Comics). That dime would have been better spent on a comic book. Though, I wish now that I still had that letter & card!

[Rocket Riley]

I clipped a coupon from the inside front cover of about a 1963 issue of Superman and sent a dollar for a Dinosaur book.  Still got the book, but not the comic.

[Rocket Riley]

I clipped out a coupon in a issue of Action Comics to join the Supermen of America.  This was also about 1963.  What you got for your quarter was a full color membership certificate signed by Clark Kent and a decoder card.  I still have the certificate.  What  was interesting was that the drawing of Superman on the certificate was of Superman circa 1938-39 as depicted by Joe Shuster.  I have seen pictures of later certificates that featured the Wayne Boring version of Superman.

[Yoc]

Interesting.
Feel free to scan and share it here if you like.

[bminor]

Possibly the oldest and greatest of all comic book ads...

"The insult that made a man out of Mac!"

[larrytalbot]

I have some old ads for this section, but not sure how to upload. I get as far as filling the attachment bar with my selection. But when I press 'alt+ preview,' or the Preview button, I don't see my selection on this screen. How do I get to see my upload on this screen?

[larrytalbot]

OK! I answered my own question. My upload appears on this page apparently ONLY after I upload it. Is there a way of viewing it BEFORE uploading?
Anyway, here is the second half of the Captain Marvel club goodies from the 1940s; all for 10 cents.

[erwin-k]

Possibly the oldest and greatest of all comic book ads...

"The insult that made a man out of Mac!"

During an investigation of of deceptive mail order ads Charles Atlas got called to testify before Congress. He brought successful students with him. He also explained that his company refunded his customers on request. Finally, he said that the "six week proof" in his ads meant not course completion, but that six weeks of following his instructions would more than prove that his methods were working.

Amid a cesspool of mostly phonies, Charles Atlas came out smelling like a rose.

[Yoc]

Thanks for sharing guys!
Lots of fun.

[crashryan]

Sent away for the 100 toy soldiers in a footlocker.  Was disappointed to discover the soldiers were flat plastic shapes rather than 3-D figures, and the footlocker was a printed cardboard box. However I still got plenty of mayhem out of them, so all told it was a positive experience.