There doesn't seem to be any mention of the "Hawthorne" name on your catalog page, and I don't recall a 400 marked as such. I've seen Hawthorne 130's, 140's and 180's. The brand marking may have been started later than '64.
I ran across this while browsing a '64 Montgomery Wards catalog. I didn't know that the Hawthorne branded Crosman 400 was over a dollar more than the Sheridan Blue Streak at the time. I didn't know that there was a Hawthorne brand, either.I recall getting my first Sheridan at K-Mart for $40 and tax in '78. It was discounted because it had been dropped and the butt stock was chipped. My current Sheridan is a '64.I remember seeing Sheridan ads in magazines as a kid, but can't recall where. American Rifleman? National Geographic? Boys Life? Does anyone know?Be safe,J~
10 years later the Sheridan cost $39.95, and a Benji 342 or 347 cost $38.95, according to my 1974 Herter's catalog.When I started 7th grade in the fall of '69 I used to go to the library during studyhalls so I could read Boy's life, Field and Stream, and Outdoor Life (sure beat studyhall). I think it was Boy's Life where I'd see the Sheridan ads. They sounded real good, but as someone else mentioned, that was a lot of coin for a kid making $5/week on a paper route. I kick myself now for not having bit the bullet back then.
We are a bit spoiled now days, I remember when pellets and bb's were a scarce commodity, when allowances etc. and other life things were involved.
Thanks for the post and the memories, Goose.
Back in the day, Sheridans were very well-priced cuz they knew they had you a over a barrel on the ammo! Seriously, no one else was making .20 cal pellets then, so a Sheridan was a lifelong commitment!