Sears Roadmates Auto Test Center Play Set, circa 1970
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Artifact Overview
By the early 1960s, Sears, J.C. Penney's, Montgomery Ward, and other large department stores offered basic auto maintenance and repair services to their suburban customers in buildings adjacent to their stores. Customers could shop while having their car repaired. For children playing with this toy version, a real-life trip to Sears to have the family car fixed may have been a familiar experience.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Play set
Date Made
circa 1970
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Case produced in Taiwan for Sears, Roebuck and Company; components made by Arco Toys Ltd. in Hong Kong.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2011.47.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Plastic
Vinyl
Metal
Color
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height: 3 in (of case when folded)
Width: 7.25 in (of case when folded)
Length: 14 in (of case when folded)
Inscriptions
Printed on case top & bottom: ROADMATES / SEARS / AUTO TEST CENTER
Printed on left side: [...] OFFICIAL / EMERGENCY / ROAD / SERVICE / FOR / AAA / SEARS / MUZZLER
Printed on right side: EXPERT AUTO REPAIRS [...] / MECHANICS / ON DUTY / [...] / MADE IN TAIWAN
Printed on plastic roof to garage: SERVICE / SEARS / CENTER
Embossed on bottom of plastic garage components (4) : A / ARCO / MADE IN HONG KONG
Printed decals on orange/black lift (2011.47.1.6): DANGER / AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL / ONLY / SHUT OFF / ENGINE / TIRE INSPECTION / LUBRICATION / DRIVE TRAIN / TRANSMISSION / OIL FILTER
Printed decal on sign (2011.47.1.3): SEARS
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