Aldens 1978 Christmas Catalog
Aldens was a mail order catalog based out of Chicago from 1899 (not a typo) to some time shortly after 1982. This is a page from their 1978 Christmas calendar with three skateboards. I can’t ever remember seeing an Alden’s catalog despite living in the Chicago suburbs during their last gasp. Two of the models are familiar plastic boards, the Free Former (forerunner of the bidirectional popsicle stick!) and the GT Coyote II. There’s got to be thousands of Free Formers in landfills across the country. The Spinner is made from oak or kapoer [sic] which might actually be kapur. Good luck finding anything about Spinner Skateboards on google.
Yes I remember getting Aldens Christmas catalogue every Christmas! I mention it to many people when they talk about Sears Wish book and nobody seems to remember it! I was beginning to think I dreamed it up until saw this article! Thank you for this!
I loved the catalogue but also their department store.