Real USSR » models

How Much Watch? Ten Watch!

Eva Muryzhnikova — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:07:08 +0000

Free postcards as a marketing ploy.

In 1959, a Soviet watchmaker MashPriborInTorg had what’s now called a solid market share of all watches and clocks made in the USSR. This ugly acronym stood for Machinery and Gadget Overseas Trade, and the factory made all the famous Soviet brands of watches which could be found in every household: Polet (Flight), Slava (Honour), Raketa (Rocket), Chaika (Seagull) and more pompous names, which in reality were good sturdy reliable watches: my Granddad had his Slava for more than 20 years, and never there was a complaint! For some reason, these goofy dolls were picked to advertise the watches, and today we have found a collection of postcards picturing a good set of such dolls wearing the Soviet tributes to fine watchmaking. Enjoy!

The set of cards

Every household I can think of now had a clock like that.

Unexpectedly, a black Pinoccio.

A sailor.

Forget me not in this lifetime.

Late for a date, no less.

Sexy Soviet Underwear. Not!

Eva Muryzhnikova — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Late 1960s. Actress Svetlana Svetlichnaja is doing a wee strip dance for a movie. This was probably the most R-rated scene of the Soviet cinematography.

Due to a series of not so fortuitous events ( the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917, the First World War, the overall rundown of the young Soviet country) women never had their needs attended to properly. Underwear was made, first and foremost, for the working class with no preferential treatment for the females so women had no choice other than to wear those sexless garments. This is probably the saddest part of the Soviet history.

Mini dress slips

These mini slip dresses were often the only specifically designed female undergarment (even the bras were made in one size up to mid-1930s). They were meant to ensure a better fit for the dresses, to provide an extra layer in winter and, for many women, it was a hygienic necessity: as the bath or shower did not feature in every household, sometimes washing up would happen only once in a few days.

Photos of the slips in an old fashion book. Circa 1950s.

The rumours have it that after the war some lucky women were brought the trophy slips from Germany — and wore them out as evening dresses. It might as well be an urban legend, but for some reason I would personally tend to believe it.

Night gowns, warm and celibate. Would have been made of thick flowery flannel.

According to some document circa 1940s, the sanitary norms were that each woman should own at least two sets of underwear which she would not wear for longer than 5–7 days.

Gym gear. God forbid.

The magazinesof those times did not offer fashionable solutions: quite the contrary, they tried to lift the spirit of women by including some not so subtle propaganda articles. “A harmoniously developed person as a builder of the communistic future has a rich inner world, as well physical health, high morality and culture”

Gymnast girls. Sport gear. Despite all medals awarded, the USSR Olympic gear was still far from flash.

There were never any fitting rooms, as bras were considered to be a hygiene item and fitting was not allowed, nor exchange was possible. Considering that the size range was really limited (say, small, medium and large), being a woman wasn’t easy. However, the diy fans were really doing it themselves – any fashion book would have a detailed tutorial on how to sew a bra. Those who succeeded at this filigree activity were doing it for friends and friends of friends, as a nice secondary income. The fabrics would be plain (not stretchy!) cotton with buttons.

Numbers 6, 7, 8 and 10 were meant to be dressy.

I guess it would be number four of five from the previous image.

Usually the new models and designs were approved once every five years as high as the ministerial level. That was the main decision-making time: even the number of buttons had to gain consent.

Something for the male: swim gear, every day wear, the Soviet boxers.

When the problem with bras what somewhat solved (or at least minimised), tights and stockings were still in huge demand. It is truly unbelievable who the country, whose engineers could envisage sending people into the outer space, could not come up with something resembling lycra to provide women with elastic tights! The Soviet stockings were made of plain cotton and were of black and nude colour. Often the supply in shops was so minimal that women had to sew stockings to a pair of underpants

DIY

In a modern movie East-West the main female character fails her mission as she gets recognized as a Russian – the guard notices her truly horrible stockings! Moreover, knowing how fragile a pair of stockings is and how difficult it is to find it in shops, Russian beauties would share tips with each other on how to prolong the life of this delicate garment: the suggestions to freeze it before wear or mend the holes with nail warnish. Nothing works, of course, but it was well worth trying.

It was hard to be a woman in the USSR

Another shop scene. Still no fitting room in sight.

By 1970, the textile industry had allowed a range of nine sizes for bras, which was more than welcome. However, the styles were still, well, behind, even by the most modest of standards. Another legend goes that when the French actor and singer Yves Montand came to Moscow and saw the Russian underwear, he laughed so hard he couldn’t stop for a while — and then bought the whole lot to display in Paris later. The exhibition, understandibly, was popular with the French and not so popular with the Russian authorities, so the relationships became tense.

Do you think it’s handmade? Beach wear, 1951

The unisex of the communism epoch would not allow any beach wear up to 1970s: before that the swimsuits were either handmade (even knitted) or women had to wear the undergarments to the beach.

A flower child of Soviet origin

The most important message here is probably that “Soviet” is not an ideology, it is about the planned economy (badly planned, unfortunately) and hence the affected every day lives of regular people who had no access to the foreign, imported, pretty things. Any item, be it a TV set or a bra, should just solely serve its purpose, and the frills are not necessary at all.

An old poster “Be prepared for work and defense”.

Funtime with Soviet Playthings

Dmitry Yakimenko — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:33:51 +0000

Red Army models

Just like children anywhere in the world, the Soviet kids needed toys to play with. Certainly the range of toys designed and produced was an enviable one, by some standards. However, the aesthetic appearance of toys was not a priority for Soviet designers — toys had to be functional and educational. Anything beyond that, like pleasant looks, was not considered to be important and, moreover, it was seen as an unnecessary indulgence. The lack of competition from the imports due to the planned economy and severe shortages of quality products in the shops actually resulted in the very poor delivery and limited variety of toys. The Soviet parents were able to get only these kinds of toys as imported toys were literally impossible to buy.

Various kinds of car models were very popular with boys…

Bulldozer

Police car

Clockwork car

Truck

Without a question, miniature models of real cars were of the best quality and were of great success with the Soviet children. Nevertheless these models were not actual toys for children: rather, they were rare collectibles for adults.

Miniature models of Soviet cars

Ambulance

Lada Wagon

Volga car

The miniatures of military equipment were another range of car models. Unlike the above lot, these ones were usually made solely from steel and therefore were very durable and more appropriate for children games.

Something military

Tank

Military truck

Armoured car

No doubt that children’s toys always reflect the current trends of the time. One of the most popular topics ever was the space exploration — so the Soviet toys designers created astronauts and moon robots.

Soviet astronaut

Moon robot

Another moon robot

And one more…

Dolls are popular with girls, in any given time in history.

Doll

Girls’ set of dolls, bathing and cooking utensils.

Arguably, the Soviet designers also cared about small children: something strange like modern days pokemons.

Cheburashka — the hero of a popular Soviet cartoon

Figurines of soldiers

Tilting doll– every girl had one.

Clocwork birds

The Soviet ideology had a huge influence over the toys’ designs.

Young Pioneers

The Red Army Collection

At the end of 1980s, the Soviet electronic industry introduced a range of pocket playstations, where the player would pick up some falling stuff (pictured: the wolf catching eggs in a basket).

Play Station

This review will not be complete without some pictures of overseas toys of the same epoch.

Barbie

Race car

Race course model

Various toys for small children