We're spoiled with what we have today - both in print and online. I think the first "catalog" I ever had from Tom's was a Xeroxed listing of parts - maybe 5-6 pages total, stapled together. Same as the first one I got from JBG. They were both in the mid '80s. The first Duff's catalog I got ('82, I believe) was maybe 8 pages. K Bar S was a bit more.
Todd Z.