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Cigarettes and spoons: Christmas gifts from years ago | Cigarettes and spoons: Christmas gifts from years ago |
(about 7 hours later) | |
It's not always easy to pick the perfect gift for that special someone - but brands know how to convince the Christmas shopper to open their wallet, suspend their parsimony and shell out on luxuries and "must haves". | It's not always easy to pick the perfect gift for that special someone - but brands know how to convince the Christmas shopper to open their wallet, suspend their parsimony and shell out on luxuries and "must haves". |
However, some of these advertisements of the past might not have pulled upon our heart - or purse - strings as much as current campaigns (unless ladies back then were more into cutlery than perhaps they are today). | However, some of these advertisements of the past might not have pulled upon our heart - or purse - strings as much as current campaigns (unless ladies back then were more into cutlery than perhaps they are today). |
Take this stroll down memory lane to the days when gentlemen would delightedly rip open a pack of cigarettes under the tree, while the children got busy with their molten glass kits and mother rejoiced over her sit-down ironing board. | Take this stroll down memory lane to the days when gentlemen would delightedly rip open a pack of cigarettes under the tree, while the children got busy with their molten glass kits and mother rejoiced over her sit-down ironing board. |
What women want? | What women want? |
Domestic drudgery appears to be a theme when it came to finding something special for the lady in your life. | Domestic drudgery appears to be a theme when it came to finding something special for the lady in your life. |
Whether it was the thousands of people writing to Mrs Christmas in the hope of unwrapping a sit-down ironing board, or the "ideal present" of a beige-handled stainless steel set of batter spoon and apple corer, the place for females was most definitely in the home. | Whether it was the thousands of people writing to Mrs Christmas in the hope of unwrapping a sit-down ironing board, or the "ideal present" of a beige-handled stainless steel set of batter spoon and apple corer, the place for females was most definitely in the home. |
It wasn't all work work work, though. | It wasn't all work work work, though. |
Once the chores had been done, every good wife made herself attractive for her husband. | Once the chores had been done, every good wife made herself attractive for her husband. |
As one advert for hair tape (yes, hair tape) went: "When you were a little girl, receiving a Christmas doll was very important. Now being one is". | As one advert for hair tape (yes, hair tape) went: "When you were a little girl, receiving a Christmas doll was very important. Now being one is". |
One for the women's libbers. | One for the women's libbers. |
If that wasn't inspirational enough, there was also an array of lascivious Father Christmases to pander to. | If that wasn't inspirational enough, there was also an array of lascivious Father Christmases to pander to. |
Acceptable methods of keeping them happy seemingly included: wearing a transparent negligee while admiring Santa's shiny footwear (in an advert for boot polish); and trimming the tree while up a ladder wearing high heels, seamed stockings and a short skirt (in an advert for stockings, which came in sizes "tall, tiny and in-between"). | Acceptable methods of keeping them happy seemingly included: wearing a transparent negligee while admiring Santa's shiny footwear (in an advert for boot polish); and trimming the tree while up a ladder wearing high heels, seamed stockings and a short skirt (in an advert for stockings, which came in sizes "tall, tiny and in-between"). |
For those who felt their figures or faces were not up to scratch, there were plenty of aids on the market. | For those who felt their figures or faces were not up to scratch, there were plenty of aids on the market. |
Nuns - not usually fans of cosmetics - were used to sell cases of perfumed toilet powder, while a company called Sargol tried to persuade women with their tablets that "well-developed bodies" were always admired, whether "at the theatre or in the ballroom". | Nuns - not usually fans of cosmetics - were used to sell cases of perfumed toilet powder, while a company called Sargol tried to persuade women with their tablets that "well-developed bodies" were always admired, whether "at the theatre or in the ballroom". |
Something for the man of the house | Something for the man of the house |
Once the house was spick and span, caring womenfolk would also ensure their husbands were comfortable and well-supplied with smoking paraphernalia and slippers. | Once the house was spick and span, caring womenfolk would also ensure their husbands were comfortable and well-supplied with smoking paraphernalia and slippers. |
But the man of the house would not receive gifts much more exciting than their wife's festive accumulation of spatulas. | But the man of the house would not receive gifts much more exciting than their wife's festive accumulation of spatulas. |
Cigarettes in bulk, razor blades and nightwear were on the list. | Cigarettes in bulk, razor blades and nightwear were on the list. |
You might also be interested in | You might also be interested in |
Men are such simple folk, this advert suggests, that they desire nothing more than a "colourful ensemble" to feel "a king in his own castle". | |
Meanwhile, the gift of "a longer lifetime" can be provided by... smoking a pipe. | |
With a carefree disregard for accurate interpretation of statistics, the people at Kaywoodie announced that one can "add to a man's years" by giving him a pipe. All on the grounds that "doctors" found "pipe-smokers live longer than other types of smokers". | With a carefree disregard for accurate interpretation of statistics, the people at Kaywoodie announced that one can "add to a man's years" by giving him a pipe. All on the grounds that "doctors" found "pipe-smokers live longer than other types of smokers". |
But presumably not longer than non-smokers. | But presumably not longer than non-smokers. |
The crowd-pleasers | The crowd-pleasers |
Some gifts were for all the family to enjoy. | Some gifts were for all the family to enjoy. |
There was literally no situation that could not be improved with a Thermos container, one advert suggests. | There was literally no situation that could not be improved with a Thermos container, one advert suggests. |
Whether buying a present for a yachtsman sweetheart or a physician uncle, Thermos had it covered. | Whether buying a present for a yachtsman sweetheart or a physician uncle, Thermos had it covered. |
Described as the receptacle that "unites summer and winter", perhaps the insulated items were best used in the autumn. | Described as the receptacle that "unites summer and winter", perhaps the insulated items were best used in the autumn. |
Having a phone on a Christmas wish-list isn't merely a modern phenomenon. | Having a phone on a Christmas wish-list isn't merely a modern phenomenon. |
The "hand-microphone" of 1933 - allegedly popularly known as the "handy" - was coveted by well-to-do Brits, who were urged to write to the General Post Office in London to order one. | The "hand-microphone" of 1933 - allegedly popularly known as the "handy" - was coveted by well-to-do Brits, who were urged to write to the General Post Office in London to order one. |
"Both charming and permanently useful" as well as being "shapely in design and efficient in use", those lucky enough to own one could also buy a special cosy to keep it snug. | "Both charming and permanently useful" as well as being "shapely in design and efficient in use", those lucky enough to own one could also buy a special cosy to keep it snug. |
For the kids | For the kids |
Children were in the position of receiving gifts that were both boring - like a box of handkerchiefs - to some that were frankly alarming. | Children were in the position of receiving gifts that were both boring - like a box of handkerchiefs - to some that were frankly alarming. |
The Gilbert glass-blowing kit provided "fascinating and instructive fun" while the company's other safety-unconscious pre-teen gifts included a molten lead-casting kit and a chemistry set with ingredients and instructions on how to make explosives. | The Gilbert glass-blowing kit provided "fascinating and instructive fun" while the company's other safety-unconscious pre-teen gifts included a molten lead-casting kit and a chemistry set with ingredients and instructions on how to make explosives. |
The Atomic Energy Lab, complete with radioactive samples, allowed children to create and watch nuclear reactions. | The Atomic Energy Lab, complete with radioactive samples, allowed children to create and watch nuclear reactions. |
Among other activities, the lab set suggested "playing hide and seek with the gamma ray source", challenging players to a game using a Geiger counter to locate a radioactive sample hidden in a room. | Among other activities, the lab set suggested "playing hide and seek with the gamma ray source", challenging players to a game using a Geiger counter to locate a radioactive sample hidden in a room. |
Helpfully, also popped into the kit was a coupon for ordering replacement uranium and radium through the post. | Helpfully, also popped into the kit was a coupon for ordering replacement uranium and radium through the post. |
Decades later, it was (perhaps unsurprisingly) described as "the world's most dangerous toy". | Decades later, it was (perhaps unsurprisingly) described as "the world's most dangerous toy". |
Less "exciting!" but possibly more "safe!" than the Atomic Energy Lab was the traditional sled - the version marketed by SL Allen and Co was bafflingly aimed at every "live" girl and boy. | Less "exciting!" but possibly more "safe!" than the Atomic Energy Lab was the traditional sled - the version marketed by SL Allen and Co was bafflingly aimed at every "live" girl and boy. |
And moving further along the safety scale - although not completely without risk - was the Fox's Glacier Mint. Like most small, hard choking hazards, it was "the ideal gift for kiddies' parties" and would certainly aid "a digestive Christmas". | And moving further along the safety scale - although not completely without risk - was the Fox's Glacier Mint. Like most small, hard choking hazards, it was "the ideal gift for kiddies' parties" and would certainly aid "a digestive Christmas". |
Food "glorious" food | Food "glorious" food |
Unlikely to aid a digestive Christmas are these delights - an edible candle concocted from cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and gelatin, with a handful of walnuts chucked in to make the texture truly tempting. | Unlikely to aid a digestive Christmas are these delights - an edible candle concocted from cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and gelatin, with a handful of walnuts chucked in to make the texture truly tempting. |
And sophisticated housewives were urged to keep the treats flowing by encasing leftovers in jelly. Jell-o suggested putting sweetcorn, carrots and cauliflower in sweet lemon or lime flavour. | And sophisticated housewives were urged to keep the treats flowing by encasing leftovers in jelly. Jell-o suggested putting sweetcorn, carrots and cauliflower in sweet lemon or lime flavour. |
It may have been better to stick with the children's nuclear reactor. | It may have been better to stick with the children's nuclear reactor. |
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