The way we used to shop: Forget Black Friday, Argos Christmas catalogues dating back to 1973 reveal how we used to spend our cash on Cabbage Patch Dolls and personal cassette players
- The vintage pages will likely remind adults of how they used the glossy magazine to write their Christmas lists
- Board games, toy dart boards, jigsaw puzzles and telephones were all popular products in the 1970s and 1980s
- Hefty catalogue was the primary way to shop before online but now a lot of Argos' products are listed on its website
Thousands of desperate shoppers are preparing to queue through the night as stores slash their prices ahead of tomorrow's Black Friday frenzy.
But bagging a bargain hasn't always been down to who can withstand the cold - or stay awake - the longest.
A glimpse at a series of vintage Argos catalogues proves the department store's brochure was once the definitive way to shop.
Its pages - some from as early as 1973 - were filled with classic children's toys from Cabbage Patch Dolls to personal cassette players and lawnmowers.
The photographs will likely remind adults across the country of how they used the glossy catalogue to write their Christmas lists.
Ivan Richards, a 47-year-old Argos fan from London, described the catalogue as 'a book of wishes'.
He said: 'In our house the catalogue was the definitive source for potential birthday and Christmas presents.
'The toy section was packed full of goodies with a few less interesting pages devoted to jewellery and lawn mowers. It was a book of wishes.
'To look back through these marvellous catalogues is fantastic as it brings back the thrill and excitement I felt when I was a boy.'
Changing with the times: A rare glimpse at the pages of vintage Argos catalogues proves the department store's brochure was once the definitive way to complete Christmas shopping. Cabbage Patch dolls, which children adored, featured heavily in the 1985 catalogue (left) while a selection of board games and jigsaw puzzles made for a colourful page in 1973 (right)
A different era: The catalogue's pages were filled with classic children's toys and electronics, many of which would look alien to today's children. Personal cassette players were all the rage in 1985, with the page boasting multiple models from as little as £19.99 (left). Meanwhile, telephones, which included re-dial and loudspeaker options, were popular in the store's 1988 brochure (right)
Used to be popular: Outdoor equipment such as temporary plastic swimming pools, children's tents and canvas Wendy houses are all still featured in the catalogue - but many of the products, which used to cost as little as £6.95, looked very different in 1978
Fitness fanatics: The pages are filled with gifts suitable for every family member, including those interested in sport. Two pages from the 1980 (right) and 1989 (left) catalogues show a variety of equipment on offer - from a 'slim cycle exerciser', which is 'designed to help tone muscles and shape legs', to a foot spa, which offers massages
Early versions: One catalogue shows the variety of top of the range cameras available for budding photographers in 1978. While cameras can cost thousands of pounds now, these ones ranged between £12.75 and £70
Boys with their toys: Adults across the UK will remember using the glossy magazine to work out what gifts they wanted to put on their Christmas lists. It is likely that the Star Wars memorabilia featured in the 1983 (right) was very popular as The Return of The Jedi was released in May that year
Familiar: Some of the brands featured in the vintage catalogues - including this one from 1979 - are familiar even to today's readers, with Hornby Railway trains and Matchbox racing cars still high in demand
Ready to play: Dolls became increasingly popular in the 1980s after Barbie launched in 1959. Copycat dolls - including ones that 'drink' and 'can be changed' - were available from Argos and cost as little as £3.45
Not just for children: The Argos catalogues were not just an index that children could use to look up gifts - they also included suggestions pages entitled 'Gifts for Him' and 'Gifts for Her'. The 1989 brochure recommends a chess set and leather writing case for men (left) while women were, apparently, more likely to want a shopping trolley and black shoulder bag
Throwback: A variety of hair products were available in the 1981 catalogue as women sought to imitate popular hair styles from the day. One product that modern readers might not recognise is number 10 - a hood hairdryer that looks more suited to a hairdresser rather than at home
Older models: Far from today's Xbox, the 1983 catalogue showed the various video games available including Space Invaders, Defender and Pac-Mac (left). Televisions at the time were very bulky and did not have HD screens or flat screen displays despite costing more then £300 (right)
Memorable: Enthusiasts still love to look through the Argos catalogue, with one fan describing it as 'a book of wishes'. Above, a variety of cassettes and speakers that music lovers in 1974 could buy
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