2019 Atomic Advent Calendar Gift Ideas – Day 2

Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1919-1980, but ultimately lost out to foreign manufacturing competition. Their high-end toys were common staples for catalog and department store retailers such as Sears.

This callout is from page 384 of the 1962 Sears Christmas catalog advertising a Colonial Metal House with a fallout shelter for only $5.97 ($50.87 in current dollars) to be part of Blueberry Lane in your own housing development. On other models, the fallout shelter is the garage. But there’s no need for driving when you must shelter in place. The shelter comes equipped with first aid, bedding, water, and food supplies. In addition, there’s a covered patio for watching the flash and blast.

The dollhouses produced after the 1940s were metal lithographed with plastic furniture. This set came with over 35 pieces including chairs, sofas, tables, and beds. For the fallout shelter, the plastic furniture included a cabinet sink and folded cots. You could move the patio chairs and table in for added comfort. The fallout shelter version was only briefly produced during the early 1960s. This version is now a collector’s dream.