Shown here as it appeared 80 years ago is the service shop of  Sam Tagart, who had recently moved his shop to this fine modern store at 37th & W. North Avenue, Milwaukee.

The move to a prime location was made possible by direct mail advertising. The January 1941 issue of Radio Service Dealer reported that Tagart started out by mailing 250 direct mail ads four times per year to radio set owners, along with occasional mailings to radio dealers. At first, he got a return of about 10%, which worked its way up to 20%. He had recently increased his mailings to 1200 each time.

Part of his success was the spic-and-span shop shown here. He worked on sets in view of his customers, and many regular customers came from those who watched him work. Above his workbench is a mirror, which allows him to easily keep an eye on the front of the store.

The building that housed Tagart’s shop is no longer standing, but the building next door is.  There’s now a Citgo gas station where that shop once stood: