Montgomery Ward - ASTOUNDING History and VINTAGE Photos

Catering to the Customer: The History of Motgomery Ward Through Photos and Story
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[@MemoryMountain]

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[@J_Calvin_Hobbes]

Sears, Roebuck & Co. seems to have always had all the publicity around it's glory days of catalog sales. Thank you for the education on who really started catalog shopping!

[@williestyle35]

As a native of Chicago, I will confirm that Sears got a huge share of the publicity and spotlight (while they all existed). I think our society has lost a little something with brick and mortar retail dying out (however over done that had become). As for "catalog sales", the internet does bring similar results, if not so much similar experience. Good comment. ☺

[@DBAllen]

Wards, Sears and Penneys were far better places to shop than Walmart ever could be.

[@thomasm8699]

Amen.

[@cynthiaweston767]

Isn't That The Truth! Plus if they didn't have what you wanted in the store you could go to Customer Service where the catalog was n order it n get it either the next day or maybe two days.I really miss how things used to be.

[@williestyle35]

Target is the closest analog, if fairly different in scope or experience. Wal Mart not only took out competition like Zare's, K Mart, etc. *and the other mass market retailers* in different price classes, Wal Mart *also helped demolish "local" and "main street" retailers in communities across America* .

[@rdc8089]

It's interesting that the "last man standing" among the classic companies is J.C. Penney's ... I wouldn't have guessed that if you asked me decades ago when they were all thriving ...

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

I did not know Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was created by someone at Montgomery Ward. I also didn't know they were still around in any form. My first charge card was a Monkey Wards card. I think I bought some tires with it but not much else. It was cool seeing those old cars in the pictures, brought back memories of a simpler time.

[@luisreyes1963]

A fascinating tale of a defunct retailer. I remember their TV ads long ago.

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

Nowadays it's mail order online from Chinese imports. I was a small boy it was Sears and Montgomery wards catolog I would point out to my parents what I wanted for Christmas. My parents were hard working people and I ended up with whatever they could afford but was still a very happy child. They are both dead but the memories of them is what keeps me going in a cold lonely world.

[@sugakookie6303]

Oh those wish books… my sister and I used to wear those puppies out way before Christmas…we didn’t receive anywhere close to all we wanted of course but it was one way my parents, specifically my mother, knew what we were into…

[@616imhotep]

One of my favorite large dept. stores growing up. It then became a parking lot that was general downtown usage and was enjoyed as a reliable parking source for the last remaining retro theaters. Now it's the sight of a large parking garage. So called progress - aaarrg!!

[@brianburman6580]

My family shopped at the Montgomery Ward at Wonderland Mall in Livonia, Michigan mainly during Christmas time. Great memories!!

[@glennso47]

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer was part of a Christmas promotion

[@jons.6216]

The best experience I had with them was my Ward's Signature Microwave lasting a good 13 years until an electrical storm zapped it! I still get catalogs from them several times a year even though I haven't had an active account with them since the late 90s!

[@carolmiles2351]

Excellent 👍

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Bought my first VCR at Ward's "Electric Avenue" section.

[@242HP]

What I remember about Montgomery Ward is that it was the place that we got our first riding lawnmower from when I was growing up in the suburbs of New York. It was called a "Garden Mark" Turf-Trac, and had a 5 hp rear mounted engine that was behind the seat. This was the first lawnmower that my parents let me operate by myself, and I would continue to cut the grass in my parents yard for many years to come. I don't really remember going to an MW store when I was growing up, though there must have been one in the area for us to buy that lawnmower there.

[@robertchristie9434]

Ward's had a huge store on Michigan & Schaefer avenues in Dearborn Mich. My folks shopped there all the time & loved the customer satisfaction guarantee policy through the 70s. My dad also called it Monkey Wards. Great memories.

[@stevewilliams6354]

I have a Montgomery Ward. Cement mixer. Still in great shape. Still in use. Totally amazing 2023

[@okiecubsfan1961]

My first credit card was a Montgomery ward. I think i bought a stereo in college. I shopped there a lot throughout the years

[@patcurrie9888]

We had one in our local Mall, got top of the line Maytag set in 1996. The washer had to be replaced as parts no longer in stock, due to outsourcing and being swallowed up by Whirlpool. Our vintage drier is still going. Sears replaced Wards in the Mall and 2 years ago also left. Sad all around. Recently we were in Pets Mart and declined to buy some larger priced items, because we checked Amazon in the store

[@JohnShinn1960]

Eudowood plaza at Towson Md. 2:29 Been there, done it!

[@spencergroup]

Both Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold electric guitars in the '60s and '70s. If you own one today in good condition, it's probably worth quite a bit.

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

I saw an episode of Antiques Roadshow where a guy had a first edition Les Paul with the accompanying Silvertone amp purchased through the Sears Catalog and was surprised when the price came in. This was a quite a few years ago but it was valued at less than two grand. Sears also sold Harmony guitars. I learned on an old Harmony and it was like playing telephone cable but boy did it build up my muscles. The first time I played a Martin after six months initiation that old beater my fingers were flying along the neck.

[@cstuartdc]

Own my fathers Montgomery Ward shotgun now. Can’t say it’s worth a lot lol

[@harri211]

We called it "Monkey Ward" for short. I bought my first PC (bundled monitor, PC, printer) for $2.600 from there in 1996. It was a great place for EVERYTHING!

[@davidsquires154]

I, remember working for Montgomery Wards in Detroit. The, Montgomery Wards Department Store was an inner city Store located on Gratiot and 7 Mile Road on Detroit's Northeast Side. I, worked for Montgomery Wards from 1980 until 1985. In, 1985, Montgomery Wards closed the Grand River and Greenfield on Detroit's Northwest Side and the Gratiot and 7 Mile Road Stores on Detroit's Northeast Side. Now, Montgomery Ward's has been out of business for years.

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

My very first guitar came from MW......an acoustic with barbed wire strings!!.....I still have it!

[@johnthe3rd707]

Could you do one on Bon Marche the first department store? Would like to see some international business histories.

[@reyleno926]

My mother used to work for the Monkey Wards in the late ‘40’s, early ‘50’s in Portland, Ore., filling orders. I remember the vacuum tubes for sending messages, the cane furniture in the dining room. 😅🥳😢

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Older Wards in downtown Adrian Michigan had pneumatic tubes for sending papers back and forth between cashiers and 2nd floor central office... newer Toledo Ohio Wards in mall didn't...

[@wilelowman]

Montgomery Ward sued the city of Chicago to keep the Field museum from being built in Grant park. The suit lasted almost 20 years. On the last day of the trust to have it build the site was changed to where it stand today. Buckingham fountain stands on the Field museum original site.

[@joyberk1624]

My Mom shared with me that her Mom, my Grandma, used to order Baby Chicks from Montgomery Ward, when my Mom was young and they lived in Winnet Montana. (this was in the 1920s)

[@michaelwoods4495]

As Grandfather used to say, "Monkey Ward's"

[@randy5761]

They got the story about Rudolph very wrong though! Gene Autry did NOT want to sing it but his wife talked him into it lol

[@mowlessbeemore2107]

Monkey Wards.

[@kathymcel]

I miss Monkey wards, Sears, Kmart....

[@glennso47]

Montgomery Weird?

[@spazbobstinkpants]

Picture at 6:44 looks familiar. The Dynamic O.C. Smith LP caught my eye. ... ... Seems like school clothes shopping time for us in the 70s was one of the big three: Montgomery Wards, JC Penney, or Sears. And none of them were at a mall.

[@thomasm8699]

Nice to know why we kids called it "Monkies" back in the 50s. Always learning.