All your circuits belong to us

This ad could be called "the insane march of technology" - on a closer inspection, that is really what happens here.

On a previous ad from 1949, for the princely sum of $229.95 you could buy a 10-inch TV - now in 1954 you can become the proud owner of a 24-incher for the same money. Considering inflation, it's actually cheaper to buy a bigger TV.

The mechanics of the markets are the same -it's always cheaper to buy later in the cycle of adoption of a product, be it a black-and-white Admiral TV or a spankin' iPhone.

But the really important detail here is in the copy.

"AUTOMATION by Admiral", 1954
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The "Admiral precision circuits" and automated fabrication process is a distinctive selling point. This might be the first-ever advertisement of a printed-circuit product outside the military.

Awesome! Surely, a vision of things to come.

Laptop extravaganza

Nothing better than the convenience of your own private typewriter.

How the Executive guy is typing on his own without an efficient, underpaid  executive assistant to do it for him, is a mystery to me. And the Navy guy in front of the radar screen? How does he manage to get anything done?

"Lifetime partner", 1956
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This is the 1950's after all!

No more bald heads

More remedies for men worried about their thinning mane - and again this one uses a vacuum cap. Can't really tell from the ad if this is a nice latex-like swimming cap or a more rigid and uncomfortable contraption. Like a helmet.

But rejoice: the ad boldly states that this "is the only reasonable HAIR GROWER known to science". Wtf?

Total and absolute quackery in its purest form.

"No more bald heads", 1924
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A hair dryer with legs

Another fantastic piece of 1950's retrofuture gadgetry: the "mobile hair dryer".

It lets you walk, hear, talk and work. Amazing. You can even hear baby cry, whilst using it to dry your hair.

In ivory or pink, this is the first truly whisper quiet hair dryer. Or so the copy says.

"Hear, walk, talk", 1959
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All you want

Ironically, the following piece is an advertisement for toothpaste, not tobacco products.

It invites the reader to smoke all they want, with the understanding that any stains in your teeth will be wiped off by using the product. And you will also get a fresh and minty breath.

"All you want", 1949
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Tooth decay and the importance of brushing after meals only get a passing mention at the bottom of the copy, with the wording "It's mainly up to you". Nice.