The 1940s was a time of gigantic change. The United States entered the War in 1940, putting a end to the waning days of the Great Depression. Thousands of men were sent to fight the War and the women, who were left behind, entered the factories to build the armaments to support them. GI Joe, Rosie the Riveter, and pin-up girls became the language of the great conflict. Then the War ended, in the final days of 1945. Now, the Depression was gone, people had plenty of money, and the returning veterans quickly took advantage of the skills and training they could get under the newly instituted GI Bill. All that money that had accumulated during a time when there was nothing to buy was now itching to be spent. The demand was there for new products and business quickly provided the goods to accommodate this drive.
LP records and high fidelity appeared, Levittowns were sprouting everywhere, and the Broadway musical South Pacific was a monster hit with everyone singing their songs. Television, which had been shelved during the War, quickly built steam and become unstoppable when people discovered the Texas Star Theater and Milton Berle.
Only five major catalogs from Johnson Smith were distributed in the 1940's. Paper for the catalogs and prime materials for the items were difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. When the war finally ended the company still faced some major obstacles, resulting in only one catalog, 1948, appearing in the last five years of the decade.
Click on the catalog pictures below to see more about each catalog. The information will open in a new window. Close the window to return to this page.
1940 Catalog 
1942 Catalog 
1944 Catalog 
1948 Catalog