Back in the early days of the 20th century, the Sears company published mail-order catalogues that offered nearly everything: clothes, shoes, hardware, construction materials, bicycles …  they even started to make their own line of automobiles in 1906. Of course, they also carried all kinds of string instruments and double basses (probably imported from Germany, at this time). Price point: 18.95 USD to 22.85 USD.
You even got a fingerboard chart with every instrument: “It can be firmly gummed to the fingerboard, and in no way interferes with the tone or playing of the instrument.“