O joy

Why do it yourself when you could Screw It Yourself.?

Popular Mechanics and other mags were full of useful hints and tips for people too poor to buy something ready-made - or, more likely, too damn cheap to buy it at the store when they could make it themselves. This preview of coming attractions from 1959 shows what I mean.

The Accordio-Organ! Look at the summary: “buy a used accordion, fit it into a floor-type air-tight container you build yourself.” For most people, this a deal-breaker right here - never mind tracking down a used accordion (pawn shops no longer have them hanging from the rafters like odd pleated fruit); it’s the idea of building your own air-tight cabinet in the “floor-type” style. Let’s continue: “add volume control.” Right! Sure! No problem; just get out the old volume-control adder. “...And electric blower...” Now where did I put that one? No, that’s the steam blower. Hmm. Have to smelt some metal and make one, then. “And there’s your spinet-type accordio-organ.” Voila.

The third item sums up the target market perfectly: you’ve looked at a bent wood chair and thought “now, if I could only bend wood like that.”

I’ve never thought that once in my life.

Next: it gets depressing.