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People tend to be nostalgic for things of the past. We remember stuff like Game Boys, New Coke, and video store rentals with a certain fondness, even if they weren’t that good. But the 20th century really was a different time, as people thought that smoking was good for your health, drinking while pregnant wasn’t all that bad, and telephones used to look like something Etsy witches now use to summon the devil.

Bored Panda found the wildest and most interesting ads from the past century that enthusiasts have shared on r/VintageAds and presents them to you here. You almost wouldn’t believe the stuff people would buy and sell back in the day: from seemingly useless knick-knacks from Sears to slightly, er… racist soap.

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Whiplash!! Liberate Your Eyes 👁️ 👁️ With Alice's Own Unisex Mascara 1973

A vintage advertisement for Alice Cooper unisex mascara, featuring his portrait and the product tube

Initial_Reason1532 Report

7points
POST
RELATED:
    #2

    Kellogg's 4th Annual Stick Up For Breakfast Contest. When A Sears Free Spirit Bike 1977

    A colorful 1977 print advertisement by Kellogg's featuring four children and a vintage product bicycle.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    6points
    POST
    #3

    Del Monte (Then Under California Packing Corporation / Calpak) Launched A Short-Lived Line Of Soft Drinks In The Mid-1960s (Around Fall 1964–1965)

    Psychedelic poster for Del Monte soft drinks representing odd vintage products

    Ebonystealth Report

    6points
    POST
    elladinedesisles avatar
    Elladine DesIsles
    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    26 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's nothing else quite like the meeting of Art Nouveau revival and 60s psychedelic.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #4

    Five Ways To Improve Nature's🥛 Most Perfect Food. The Five Quicks. 1967

    A classic vintage advertisement showcasing colorful milkshakes as vintage products from the past.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    6points
    POST
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    #5

    Hostess Twinkies 2004

    A funny vintage Hostess Twinkies advertisement illustration showing a beaver trying to eat a giant Twinkie

    ata3121 Report

    6points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    20 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are Twinkies not a thing anymore?

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #6

    Star-Kist Tuna (1970) With "Charlie The Tuna" Transistor Radio

    A retro print advertisement for the Charlie the Tuna transistor radio, showcase of vintage products.

    Character-Witness-27 Report

    6points
    POST
    #7

    [1962] Judy Garland In Gay Purr-Ee - “Friskies Cat Food Labels Are Free Movie Tickets!”

    Colorful vintage products advertisement featuring Judy Garland for Gay Purr-ee movie tickets.

    mistermajik2000 Report

    6points
    POST
    #8

    1966…so Much To Do By Telephone!

    A black and white retro AT&T advertisement showing nine expressions of a woman using a vintage product.

    Ebonystealth Report

    5points
    POST
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    #9

    The 70's Were A Different Time

    A vintage advertisement questioning drinking while pregnant, illustrating a vintage product trend.

    Deep_Money_6267 Report

    5points
    POST
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    #10

    Sears Gifts And Novelties (1932)

    An old catalog page showcasing various vintage products, gifts, and novelties with prices.

    ALIEN_GUARDIAN Report

    5points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    24 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sears used to carry just about everything. I always loved browsing through the encyclopedic annual Sears catalog.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #11

    Kmart Pets

    An old-fashioned K-Mart ad offering pet discounts on hamsters, parakeets, and turtles

    Ebonystealth Report

    5points
    POST
    #12

    The Virginia Slim Tool Kit. Because You Got More To Fix Than Your Face. 1974

    Vintage products advertisement for a Virginia Slims Tool Kit featuring a woman holding a hammer

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    5points
    POST
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    #13

    Kentucky Fried Chicken - September 1978 - Sarasota, FL

    A retro print ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken meal deals from K-Mart featuring a classic bucket

    RetroMan70s Report

    5points
    POST
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    #14

    No Car "Out Comforts" The New Kind Of Ford. And The New Inner Ford Is Why! 1957

    A classic magazine advertisement page for vintage products featuring Ford cars and engines

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    5points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    15 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Back when cars were beautiful.

    0
    0points
    reply
    #15

    1933 Advertisement In Delineator Magazine (Page 97) For Ironized Yeast

    Retro advertisement poster for vintage products promoting a beer-based diet for weight gain

    Ebonystealth Report

    5points
    POST

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    #16

    Frozen Haute Cuisine From 1968: Swanson International Dinners

    Vintage frozen dinners packaged in aluminum trays showcasing International Dinners from Swanson as vintage products.

    BSB8728 Report

    5points
    POST
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    #17

    1/2 The Calories Of Regular Margarine. Diet Imperials Taste Never Goes To Your Waist. 1967🧈

    Vintage products ad for Diet Imperial margarine featuring a woman in colorful 1970s attire

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    5points
    POST
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    #18

    A 1922 Mellin's Food Advert

    Vintage products ad for Mellin's Food featuring a baby girl in a white dress

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    5points
    POST
    #19

    [1939] Canada Dry - “It’s Gingervating!”

    Vintage products ad for Canada Dry Ginger Ale featuring a smiling woman snapping her fingers

    mistermajik2000 Report

    5points
    POST
    #20

    Ricardo Montalban And The 1984 Chrysler Fifth Avenue - An Island Of Luxury

    A 1984 Chrysler Fifth Avenue advertisement illustrating luxury car interiors as classic vintage products.

    AI3Iverson Report

    5points
    POST
    ubik-rex avatar
    Ubik
    Ubik
    Community Member
    11 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Khan Noonien Singh!, yeah i’m old ;)

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #21

    Philips Advertisements Featuring James Bond

    Vintage products ad with Roger Moore holding a Philips Philishave

    AI3Iverson Report

    5points
    POST
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    #22

    Van Camp's Pork And Beans [1949]

    A retro Van Camp's pork and beans advertisement showing a cartoon can character, among vintage products.

    Dickey_Pringle Report

    5points
    POST
    #23

    A 1910 Baker Electrics Advert

    Classic print ad for Baker Electrics, illustrating fascinating vintage products from early automotive history.

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    5points
    POST
    #24

    Payday 1999

    A PayDay candy bar advertisement with an elephant in a toll booth. Vintage products.

    ata3121 Report

    5points
    POST
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    #25

    A 1912 Nabisco Advert

    A retro print advertisement from 1912 for Nabisco sugar wafers, a vintage product.

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    4points
    POST
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    #26

    A 1902 Nestle's Food Advert

    A vintage print ad for Nestles Food featuring a baby sitting near a large stork bird

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    4points
    POST
    #27

    A 1911 Cooper's Underwear Advert

    An old newspaper advertisement for Cooper's Underwear showing two men holding vintage products

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    4points
    POST
    #28

    Dolly Madison Zingers 1970

    Vintage products packaging for Dolly Madison Zingers featuring Peanuts comic characters

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    4points
    POST
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    #29

    Guide - Matic Automatic Headlight Control 1962

    An old advertisement showcasing Guide-Matic automatic headlight control with vintage cars

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    4points
    POST
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    #30

    De Soto [1937]

    A classic De Soto car advertisement featuring cowboys in a desert setting with a vintage product automobile.

    Dickey_Pringle Report

    4points
    POST
    #31

    We Found The Guy Responsible For The Vega Aluminum Engine

    A retro Reynolds advertisement featuring a man in a lab coat posing with a vintage aluminum automobile engine.

    T206V70R Report

    4points
    POST
    #32

    Historic Election Campaign Buttons At Standard Oil Stations - October 1972

    An old Standard Oil dealer ad displaying collectible historic presidential campaign buttons as vintage products.

    RetroMan70s Report

    4points
    POST
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    #33

    Ridgid (April 1952)

    Vintage products ad from 1952 showing a pinup model with a Ridgid portable power drive

    StephenMcGannon Report

    4points
    POST
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    #34

    Print Ad For The 1968 Chevrolet El Camino Ss 396 From 1967

    A vintage Chevrolet El Camino ad showing two men reviewing plans next to the truck at a dusty construction site.

    bigbugfdr Report

    4points
    POST
    #35

    Underwood Deviled Ham (1916)

    Vintage products advertisement for Underwood Deviled Ham with a Halloween theme

    ALIEN_GUARDIAN Report

    4points
    POST
    #36

    Are You Having Sex Dreams Where You're Being Violated By Your Furnace? [1940]

    Vintage products advertisement for General Electric heating systems from 1940

    acidmine Report

    4points
    POST
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    #37

    Radioshack Ad 1983

    Radio Shack's Fashion Fones vintage products ad showing two women on ornate phones

    ata3121 Report

    4points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    15 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These were never that common.

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #38

    Texaco 1931⛽

    Vintage products advertisement for Texaco featuring a mechanic helping a woman

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    4points
    POST
    #39

    Highway Building, 1979

    Retro Caterpillar print ad showcasing vintage products and highway construction discussions

    guava_dog Report

    4points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    1 minute ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This seems like a pretty good ad campaign.

    0
    0points
    reply
    #40

    Ice Cream For Breakfast. Cream Of Wheat (1956)

    Vintage products ad featuring a scoop of pink ice cream on hot Cream of Wheat cereal

    Ebonystealth Report

    4points
    POST
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    #41

    Sealtest Ice Cream (1962)

    A vintage Sealtest Berry Patch ice cream print advertisement depicting retro food vintage products.

    Character-Witness-27 Report

    4points
    POST
    lyone_fein avatar
    Lyone Fein
    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    1 minute ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG. Yes, in the 1970s + ice cream half gallons came in rectangular cardboard containers. Bricks.

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #42

    Presenting Tobal No. 1 At The Galaxy Amphitheater [1996]

    Vintage video game poster featuring retro characters, representing fascinating vintage products.

    TC_support Report

    4points
    POST
    #43

    Samsung Mp3 Phone 2000

    An old Samsung Uproar MP3 phone advertisement featuring a woman with headphones. Vintage products.

    ata3121 Report

    4points
    POST
    #44

    Paper Mate Ops'n Pops Are Here. 1968🖊️🖋️

    Colorful 1970s ad for Paper Mate Ops 'n Pops vintage products

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    annaannabb avatar
    AnnaB
    AnnaB
    Community Member
    Premium     1 minute ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I collected these back in 1968. I was a sophomore in high school.

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #45

    Improve Your Pickups! Thrush 🏁the Performing Parts.1979

    Vintage products advertisement for Thrush Muffler with a couple by a blue convertible

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
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    #46

    1970s Vodka Ad

    A vintage Smirnoff vodka advertisement showcasing historical liquor marketing as vintage products.

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    3points
    POST
    #47

    Bug Too! You Can't Keep A Good Bug Down. [1996]

    An old Sega Saturn game print ad featuring Bug Too, representing quirky vintage products.

    TC_support Report

    3points
    POST
    #48

    Butter🧈bangles & 📿beads Land O' Lakes 1970

    A vintage advertisement showcasing native design jewelry from Land O Lakes as odd vintage products.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    elladinedesisles avatar
    Elladine DesIsles
    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    15 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And today, we have non-Indigenous corporations selling knock-off Orange Shirt Day tees. The Land O Lakes logo may be different now, but still far too little has changed.

    0
    0points
    reply
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    #49

    Oster Massage Instrument (And Her Dress!) [1952]

    An old-fashioned advertisement for a hand massager, highlighting unique vintage products from decades ago.

    html5gamerguy Report

    3points
    POST
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    #50

    Barbie Cereal Ad 1989

    A retro print ad for a Barbie-themed breakfast cereal, showing popular vintage products for kids.

    ata3121 Report

    3points
    POST
    #51

    Cowan's Active Service Chocolate (1917)

    An old newspaper advertisement showing military figures eating chocolate, classified as vintage products.

    mgwngn1 Report

    3points
    POST
    #52

    Coca-Cola Was Marketed As A Medicinal Tonic And Refreshing Remedy That Relieved Fatigue And Exhaustion

    An old-fashioned green Coca-Cola advertisement, highlighting vintage products and its benefits.

    Ebonystealth Report

    3points
    POST
    sarafrazer avatar
    Sara Frazer
    Sara Frazer
    Community Member
    28 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh yes, saviour of those poor, fragile women!!!/🙄

    0
    0points
    reply
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #53

    Taylor's Number 13 Insect Spray. Now A Double Action Killer!! Tested Trusted Ddt 1952 🦟🕷️🐞🪰🪳

    A 1952 Australian magazine ad for Taylor's Number 13 insect spray, showcasing vintage products of the era.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
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    #54

    A 1906 Victor Talking Machine Co. Advert

    A classic newspaper advertisement showing several models of Victor gramophones as vintage products.

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    3points
    POST
    #55

    McDonald's Country Style Mcchicken 1989

    An old advertisement for the McChicken sandwich and Diet Coke, showing vintage products pricing at 1.99.

    ata3121 Report

    3points
    POST
    #56

    Virtua Cop 2: Twice As Lethal [1996]

    Vintage products print ad for Virtua Cop 2 on Sega Saturn

    TC_support Report

    3points
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #57

    1-900-200-Sega: Hey There. Are You Tired Of This? Call Now [1996]

    Retro Sega 900 line print advertisement displaying vintage products

    TC_support Report

    3points
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #58

    Pop Art Pillows From Kleenex 1967

    Vintage 1960s Kleenex advertisement showing three women holding pop-art pillows designed like tissue boxes

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    #59

    Battleship - Warning: Before Playing, Notify Your Next Of Kin. [1996]

    A 1990s vintage video game print ad for Battleship on CD-ROM featuring a large naval warship with smoking guns

    TC_support Report

    3points
    POST
    #60

    You Can't Fake It. 🐻‍❄️ Icee 1967

    Retro 1960s advertisement for a cola ICEE showing a close-up of a woman drinking with a straw

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #61

    Back Cover Of Mad Magazine #96 (July 1965)

    A vintage Mad magazine parody ad for Kellogg's Corn Flakes featuring a marching band tuba player

    Character-Witness-27 Report

    3points
    POST
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    #62

    The Coming Meat, 1880

    A surreal vintage product advertisement showing cows inside St. Louis corned beef cans.

    create_content Report

    3points
    POST
    #63

    A Sandwich Is A Sandwich, But A Manwich Is A Meal! 1983

    An old Hunt's Manwich advertisement with a boy holding a sloppy joe, a classic vintage product.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    #64

    Vans. October 1994. ‘We Have Shoes For Moods You Haven’t Even Felt Yet.’

    A vintage Vans shoes advertisement featuring a woman lying on grass, representing vintage products.

    StephenMcGannon Report

    3points
    POST
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    #65

    Vpr-5

    Vintage products advertisement for a portable VTR video recorder camera system from Ampex.

    AI3Iverson Report

    3points
    POST
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    #66

    Kelly Tires 1950 Dependable Over Fifty Years

    Vintage products advertising illustration of a woman with a tennis racket on a Kelly Springfield tire.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
    #67

    Star Trek Sneak Preview (1966)

    Retro print advertisement for Star Trek, showing fascinating vintage products of television history.

    Character-Witness-27 Report

    3points
    POST
    #68

    A 1926 Orange Crush Advert

    An Orange-Crush drink advertisement from 1926 featuring a woman in a white hat. Vintage products.

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    3points
    POST
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    #69

    New First Time In This Country! A Fabulous American Cake- Make It Yourself In Just 4 Minutes. 1955 😋

    Weston's cake mix vintage advertisement showing a white cake with chocolate frosting.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    3points
    POST
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    #70

    Sesame Street Snacks 2001

    Bert and Ernie Sesame Street Cookie Pals advertisement with character-shaped cookies. Vintage products.

    ata3121 Report

    3points
    POST
    #71

    An 1886 Pears' Soap Advert

    Vintage products advertisement for Pears Soap featuring a hand holding a soap tablet

    Botellas_Antigues97 Report

    2points
    POST
    #72

    Mr. Fatu's Tribute To Elvis At The Red Carpet Inn In Sarasota, FL - September 1978

    Vintage products ad for dinner and show with an Elvis tribute at Red Carpet Inn

    RetroMan70s Report

    2points
    POST
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    #73

    Allstate Scooters By Sears 1960s 🛵

    A vintage products catalog page featuring 1961 and 1962 Allstate motorcycles and scooters.

    Initial_Reason1532 Report

    2points
    POST
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    #74

    Risk: War Is Hell. [1996]

    Classic 1996 Risk PC game advertisement highlighting vintage products

    TC_support Report

    2points
    POST
    #75

    Kraft Cheese [1947]

    Vintage products advert showing retro Kraft American processed cheese

    Dickey_Pringle Report

    2points
    POST
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