This is the Model 140 Spanish electric.  It was a single-pickup arch-top model, with a spruce top, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge.  It had white binding on the front and back, and a white pickguard, and a single AP6 with volume and tone controls.  The finish was antique brown.  It was also available as the Model 1744, which was a non-electric version.  The Model 140 sold for $49.90, and the Model 1744 sold for $36.90.  The case for either was an additional $9.90.

The Model 6 was the big brother to the Model 140.  Like the Model 140, it was an arch-top design, with spruce top and curly maple back.  It also had a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and had body binding as well as neck binding and a bone nut.  Electronics consisted of a pair of AP6 pickups, with pickup selector switch and volume and tone controls.  The price on the Model 6 was $99.90, or $65.90 for the Model 90 non-electric version.  Case for either was $15.00.

This was an unusual model - the Model 44 (right) Spanish electric flattop.  This was essentially an acoustic guitar with a pickup and controls added.  The top was spruce, with mahogany neck,  back and sides and body binding.  The fingerboard was rosewood, as was the bridge, which had bone saddles.  Price on the Model 44 was $59.90, or $36.90 for the Model 65 acoustic version.  Also offered was the Model 12 tenor guitar and it's acoustic version, the Model 17.  No details were given on either tenor model, but presumably, they were shorter-scale instruments tuned to a higher pitch.  Both tenor models sold for the same price as their standard counterparts, and a case for any of these was $9.90.

Equally unusual was Carvin's only solid-body electric for 1955, the Model 1515 (left).  This guitar was made from "hardwood" (possibly maple) with a 25.25" scale rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and a pair of pickups with volume and tone controls and a slide-selector switch.  The finish was considered "copper-bronze".  This model sold for $59.90, plus $7.90 for the case.

Carvin also sold mandolins throughout the fifties and sixties.  On the right is the Model 6512 electric mandolin, which had a single pickup, with volume and tone controls.  This instrument sold for $59.90, and the Model 1735 non-electric mandolin sold for $35.00.  Case for either was $7.00.

A Carvin banjo?  Yes, in 1955 if you wanted a banjo, Carvin could help you out.  On the left is the Model 504T tenor banjo, which had a curly maple body with resonator and rosewood fingerboard with inlaid position markers.  It sold for $49.90, and was also available in a non-tenor model, the Model 504, for the same price.

Interestingly, you could also order guitars from Martin and Fender directly from Carvin.  In all, 9 different Martin acoustics were offered, as well as the Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass.

On the left is the Student Deluxe Model 1 steel guitar.  This was a no-frills 6-string, with a plastic-covered hardwood body, single pickup with volume and tone controls, and basic tuners, and bridge/tailpiece.  It sold for $26.90.

On the right is the Model D88801 triple-neck, which was discontinued and being closed out in the catalog.  It sold for $129.90.

On the far left is the Model 607 lap steel, on the near left is the Model 807 lap steel, and on the right is the Model 608 lap steel with changer.  These had a maple neck with walnut body, ivory tuners, AP-series pickups, single volume and bass and treble controls.  The Model 607 six-string sold for $79.90, the Model 807 8-string sold for $99.90, and the Model 608 sold for $119.90.

If a guitar, steel guitar or bass wasn't your thing, you could also order a Carvin accordion.  These were evidently sold under the Carvin name, but the catalog stated that they were actually made by a famous Italian manufacturer, although it didn't say who that was.  In later years, Carvin sold accordions made by Sonola, so it's possible that is who made these models as well.

As had been the case since the beginning of Carvin's mail order business (and ever since), the first page of the catalog was reserved for an introductory letter, which served to primarily address Carvin's direct versus retail pricing advantages.