80 years ago, the small retailer, such as a radio dealer, would probably find this to be a very economical way to advertise. For $8.50, he would get everything necessary to print postcards himself, and then he could mail them out for one cent.

The device is a small mimeograph, or stencil duplicator.  The mimeograph should not be confused with the spirit duplicator, or ditto machine, although it often is.  The mimeograph used a stencil, a thin membrane which was physically cut by a typewriter without a ribbon.  The ink was forced through the resulting holes, making a very good image.

This inexpensive model was smaller than most, but could print a postcard in much the same way that one would use a rubber stamp.

If you’re looking for another antique method of printing, check out my hectograph page.

The ad appeared 70 years ago this month in Radio Retailing magazine, January 1951