As a collector of and dealer (now retired) in vintage children’s books and
ephemera I assumed this would be an easy challenge. Wrong! I found lots of old
adverts but few that filled the brief, hence I've gone with the best I could
find.
The first one comes from the back cover of The Band of Hope
Annual published in 1910. The Band of Hope was a temperance organisation for
working-class children, founded in Leeds in 1847. All members took a pledge of abstinence,
and meetings usually began with the recitation of a catchy little pledge that began
- I promise here by grace divine to drink no spirits, ale or wine.
The Band of Hope Annual
There are several interesting adverts in the annual,
including one for Dr. Hommel’s Haematogen Nerve Tonic (highly recommended by
thousands of doctors – beware of worthless imitations) and another for Quaker
Oats (millions of children eat Quaker Oats every day). But the one that really caught my attention
was this one for Wood Milne Rubber Heels – the boy in the picture looks as
though he’s enjoying the beating from his Grandpa – and why not - Wood
Milne Rubber Heels relieve shock and save nerve jar!
I had to take a second look at the following image to work out just what the dog has in its mouth. I’m not sure this advert would persuade me to purchase Sphere oval-octo suspenders. I can’t think of anything more embarrassing than having the band stop playing while I search for a dropped suspender. I prefer my undergarments to be firmly fixed thank you, and by the way - if Sphere never fails why is my suspender on the floor?
The image is not signed, but I suspect it could be by G. E. Studdy as the dog looks very much like Bonzo.
Advert found in Weldon's Ladies' Journal December 1931.
G.E Studdy's Bonzo looking remarkably like the dog in the previous advert.
I struggled to find any adverts for carts and only one
with a picture of a horse – this from Photo World published in August, 1945.
In Turf accountancy, demand for an account with William Hill meant closing our books to new accounts, in war-time, owing to shortage of staff. Happily the position is changed and this is a personal invitation to you to enrol with William Hill.
William Hill (Park Lane) Ltd
Start as a client - you'll FINISH as a friend.
That’s me finished, but you’ll find lots more vintage adverts over at
Sepia Saturday
Sepia Saturday
