Catalogs

Shears and Scissors. A 28 page catalog covering all shears and scissors in detail. No prices. Printed 1950. This is the last true catalog that I know of. After this the products were split over cut sheet catalogs. Catalog pages are also available in web-size and full-size jpegs for your use.

Metal Cutting Snips is a marketing folder with six sides. It covers how snips are made, the snips product line, information on the steel and specs, and selling suggestions for dealers, including who likes which. Printed January 1952. Also see slightly different January 1950 version.

Famous Wiss Metal-Cutting Snips For Every Purpose. A smaller version of the above. Also available in a JPG version.

Booklets (Handouts)

The Wiss Story of Shears & Scissors. Printed May 1959. 10 pages plus cover. Includes: History and evolution of shears and scissors, Consider the matter of scissors (and shears), two pages explaining types of shears and scissors, a page picturing many types, Facts to remember when buying scissors, How to care for your scissors, Cutting hints, and a page of patterns available. 8-1/2" x 11".

What you should know about Shears and Scissors. A small booklet with "what they should mean to you" and "a pair of scissors for every purpose," six pages explaining different types of scissors and shears, two pages of "your choice in the matter," a page on caring for your scissors, five pages on cutting hints, and two pages explaining the Wiss quality. 20 pages. 6" x 3-5/8".

How to Prune for Better Flowers, Shrubs, Trees and Fruits. 42 pages. © 1957 J. Wiss & Sons Co., Newark, NJ. Printed February 1958.

How you can do it with Wiss Pinking Shears. 16 pages including covers. 10 pages of examples of what you can do or make with pinking shears. One page on the reasons for superiority. One page showing the Model C line of pinkers in three sizes. Printed September 1952. 5-1/4" x 8-1/4". Form PSB-9/52-25M.

Inserts (Included with Pinking Shears)

Pinking shear sales became a major product line for Wiss. Based on the quantities printed of the inserts, sales may have been 500,000 pairs per year. This was the peak years of home sewing. Women could save money by making their own clothes. Fabrics used were natural and pinking stopped unraveling. And sewing machines did not yet have serge stitching. More on pinking shears can be found on the Pinking Shear Patents page. Also see the 1940s inserts.

Model E Pink-Rite Line

A short-lived budget line. This model was 7 1/2" long, and the only Model C at the time was 9 1/2" long. Then by the end of 1950 they decided to drop this model and to instead offer the Model C in two lengths.

PSE-3-50-250M. Known to exist.

PSE-8-50-100M. Known to exist.

Model C Line

Model C: One Length. February 1950 started off the vertical folded insert for the Model C pinking shears. Prior to this they included in the box an unfolded piece of paper and a tag. Unfolded this is 3" x 15". The front discusses using and the care of the shears. The back promotes other dressmaking shears and scissors. There were two printings of these: February 1950 [PSC-2-50-250M] and August 1950 [PSC-8-50-250M]. They are identical. Apparently they sold 250,000 pairs in six months.

Model C: One Length. This April 1951 [PSC-4-51-150M] insert, with the exception of the reversed colors on the cloth swatches, is identical to the prior insert. Note that this is dated after the first of the next insert style. Possibly they continued to use this one for the 9" version?

Model C: Two Lengths. The December 1950 version [PSC-12-50-250M] was a minor update to include the new 7-1/2" CB-7 and CC-7 shears. For less than a year prior to this a 7 1/2" was being sold as a Model E. The front still discusses using and the care of the shears, but now has a chart listing the two sizes and whether CB or CC. The back is identical to the prior ones. Unfolded it is 3" x 15". An October 1951 [PSC-10-51-250M] is known to exist.

Model C: Three Lengths. The August 1952 version [PSC-8/52-250M] was an expansion of the folder. It now included the 5-1/2" length of the Model C (CC-5 and CB-5). Hence the pictures of the now three different lengths were moved to the inside. The insert was kept in the vertical format and became 2-1/2" x 18" unfolded. Scanned is the identical [PSC-8/53-250M].

Models: C & B. This December 1953 version [PSCB-250M-12/53], was announcing the new Model B (with larger teeth). The folder became horizontal, grew to 12 panels on both front and back, and when open stretches to over 29". The front lists the various pinking models and discusses using and the care of the shears. The back promotes other dressmaking shears and scissors. A September 1954 [PSCB-250M-9/54] exists and is presumed to be identical, as I have a December 1955 [PSCB-250M-12/55] which is identical to the one pictured here.

Models: C, B, & AA. This April 1956 version was announcing the new larger Model AA. It was created to replace the large Model A that had been discontinued some years earlier. When unfolded the paper stretches to over 29" wide. It is 2-3/16" high. Each side still has 12 panels. I have two identical editions: April 1956 [PSCB-250M-4/56] and March 1957 [PSCB-150M-3/57]. This folder ends with the GS-115 gift set, which has larger shears than the GS-15 gift set promoted in the prior version of this folder.

What you can do with Wiss Pinking Shears. The September 1957 [PS1-250M-9/57] is basically a shrunken version of the PSB in the above section, with the addition of a pattern order form. Opens to 12 pages. This only highlights the three lengths of the Model C. It does mention the Model AA and the new skalloping shears. Folds to 2-5/8" x 4-3/4". A [PS1-250M-4-59] is known to exist. It has the same cover as this one.

PS2-250M-4-60. Known to exist.

PS2-250M-3-61. Known to exist.

PS2-250M-11/63. Known to exist.

PS4-250M-3/63. Known to exist.

Inserts (Included with Other Shears)

FH 4 folder. This was an accordian folded insert for the FH 4 flower holding shears. When open there are 18 small pages (2-7/16" x 3-3/4"). It shows some basic flower arrangments and other Wiss garden tools. I have three editions: August 1952, March 1953, and September 1954. The first two are identical. It would appear that the first 100,000 printed in August ran out by the next Spring. The only difference between the 1953 and 1954 ones is the predecessor FH-3 model appears in the 1953 one. In 1954 it was replaced by the C4A Garden and Lobster Shears.

Lobster Shears booklet. This four page folder was included with lobster shears. Printed March 1953, when the C4A flower shears was first promoted as a lobster shears.

Wiss Hair-Thinning Shears. A piece of paper printed on two sides. The front describes them, and the back has Directions for the Use of Hair-Thinning Shears. Printed May 1954. Inventory number: H.T.S.. In 300 DPI jpeg: Front and Back. A January 1953 one with the inventory number [H.T.S. 1-53-2500] also exists. And a January 1956 one: [H.T.S 1-56-10M]

Price Lists

Shears, Scissors, Manicure Implements, Pinking Shears. Price List effective November 30, 1950.

Metal Cutting Shears, Tinners' Snips. Price List effective November 30, 1950.

Garden Shears. Price List effective August 1, 1952. Also covers garden shear replacement parts.

Shears, Scissors, Pinking Shears, & Manicure Implements. Price List effective January 4, 1954.

Cut Sheets for Dealers

PS-5 New Counter Display and Assortment! This assortment includes five pinking shears, including the new Model E pinking shear that is to be announced on June 5, 1950. Has dealer cost and retail value. [300 DPI jpeg]

Watch volume pick up with this popular new money-maker: FH-4 Flower Shears. This is an original FH-4 picture with a rivet. A year after production started they switched to a Phillips screw. Lists dealer's cost. Printed September 1952. Inventory number: FH-4-EAST. [300 DPI jpeg]

Wiss Garden Shears... All Best Sellers!. Two-sided cut sheet showing hedge shears, grass shears, and pruning shears. No prices. Printed September 1952. Inventory number: GT. [300 DPI jpeg]

A new Wiss item that's sure to spark sales! House & Garden Kit. A fabric holder with transparent acetate pockets holds a prunings shears, FH-4, and kitchen shears. Has dealer cost and retail prices. Printed September 1952. Inventory number: HGK-EAST. [300 DPI jpeg]

Wiss offers these new income producers: Lopping Shear Assortment. The L-4-E contains one each of four different types of lopping shears. Has dealer cost and retail value. Printed October 1952. Inventory number: L4. [300 DPI jpeg]

Cut Sheets: Display Units

Display, Stock Container and "Salesman" All-In-One! HD-100. This was a maple case displaying seven shears and seven scissors. Printed February 1950. East Version. One sold on eBay in November 2009. See pictures. Inventory number: HD-100-EAST. [300 DPI jpeg]

Display, Stock Container and "Salesman" All-In-One! HD-100 The same as above, but is West version printed 4/52. Inventory number: HD-100-WEST. [300 DPI jpeg]

The finest display ever developed to sell hedge, grass, and pruning shears: New GT-53. The assortment includes 12 items plus free display. Has dealer cost and retail prices. Printed September 1952. Inventory number: GT53-EAST. [300 DPI jpeg]

New Free Metal Counter or Wall Display in Four Beautiful Colors Featuring: Wiss Pinking Shears. The 3-4-1 assortment includes one each of four different pinking shears. Has dealer cost and retail prices. Printed March 1952. Inventory number: PD-1. [300 DPI jpeg]

Educational Material

Wiss Sales Manual circa 1950s. A manual explaining how to sell shears and scissors at retail. Intended to be given to retail stores. 10 pages. 8-1/2" x 11".

SNIPS: A Staple Item that Should Sell Every Day, NRHA-Bulletin No.30 circa late 1950s. Four pages written by J Wiss for the National Retail Hardware Association. 8-1/2" x 11".

Shears and Scissors, NRHA-Bulletin No.31 circa late 1950s. Four pages written by J Wiss for the National Retail Hardware Association. 8-1/2" x 11".

Catalog Sheets

This is four pages cut out of a larger catalog. The first three pages have Wiss shears, scissors (sewing, pocket and manicure), and pinking shears. The fourth page covers other brands. No prices. Circa 1950.

This is four pages. Possibly cut from a larger catalog, but there are no page numbers. It covers pinking shears, shears, scissors, and manicure implements. No prices. Circa 1950.

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