Two More Old Books

This blog post tells the story of two more old books from the Boulton house.  These came from Randy's cousin Faye who was given them when she left home.

The first belonged to Faye's grandmother, Elsie Bushby Boulton and the label inside the front cover indicates it was given to her when she was fifteen years old from her Sunday School in Milton, England.  American author Louisa M. Alcott is famous for her Little Women book but she wrote about 270 others as well.
  Originally published in 1880, this copy was printed in London by Gilbert and Rivington but no year is indicated in the book. GoodReads gives a summary of the book as follows: 

When best friends, Jack and Jill, tumble off their sled, their injuries cause them to be bedridden for many months. Their parents fill their days with the joys of Christmas preparations, a theatrical production and many other imaginative events.

The old blue hard cover book surprised me when I realized it was close to 180 years old!   This edition of The Everyday Book and Table Book Volume III by William Hone (1780-1842) was published in 1838.  Its subtitle is:

Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, Vol. 2 of 3: Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days, in Past and Present Times, Forming a Complete History of the Year, Months, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac

It is collection of the writings of William Hone, For Daily Use and Diversion.  

Inside the front cover, a name seems to show the book first belonged to someone named Ed Hagley.  On the next page there is a stamp with the name of Randy's great grandfather, James William Bushby.

 

A note written by Elsie had been taped into the back of the book below a stamp indicating it belonged to her father, J.W. Bushby, Carpenter & Undertaker, New Milton, Hant (refers to Hampshire). Perhaps future generations may find they will bring in some money, as a similar one in better condition is offered for sale on Abebooks for about $50 and the Jack and Jill could be worth about half of that to the right person.

Regardless of their value, it is great to be able to find out about their history.  Thank you, Faye. 

Household Items

Today's post is a collection of 3 household items from the Boulton house in the 1950's and 60's.  

The first is the Five Year Guarantee and receipt for a Philips Chatelaine Vacuum Cleaner, purchased in June of 1964 for $79.  Edwin must have done some negotiation to trade an old one worth $14 to bring the total to $65.  There are lots of examples of vintage Electrolux, Kirby, Hoover and even Filter Queen vacuums online but not many Philips but maybe it looked like the one below.

The Simpson-Sears Home Pasteurizer operating instruction sheet likely dates from the 50's and the picture of the one below that was found on Etsy is likely similar to what it looked like.  The seller of this one includes this description:

In the fall & winter of 1951-1952 the Sears catalog warned customers of the dangers of raw milk and explained how the pasteurizer works. The milk is placed in the one gallon capacity removable bucket made of aluminum construction light to handle and easy to clean. After plugging it I and setting the timer the milk is heated by A 300 watt ring-type element

The receipt for the Marconi TV and antenna in 1957 shows Uncle Frank spent $288 to have the newest fad in the Boulton home.  Using the Cost of Inflation calculator, in today's money that would be over $2400.00!  

Ads From 105 Years Ago

Some of the old advertisements that survived over 100 years in the Boulton house are fascinating and give another view of life on an early Manitoba farm home.

The Case Gasoline Engine Tender advertised above held 16 barrels of gasoline at a price of $120.00 plus delivery and they promoted a 6% discount for cash.  An online source says this ad may be from 1912.

On April 12 of 1912, the Boultons received this advertisement for the International Harvester Kerosene-Gasoline tractors that ranged from 12 to 45 horsepower.

A  I H C tractor never tires - pulls as steadily at 6 o'clock at night as it did at sun up; never needs to be unharnessed, rested or fed.  It will work through the noon hour, supper hour, and all night, twenty-four hours a day, and if necessary, every day in the week.  

You often hear farmers say that the most serious thing to contend with is a short season.  Seasons are never too short when you have a tractor.  Poor crops usually result from late planting- - which gives the frost a chance to get in its destructive work.  You plant late because you could not get into the fields to plow them at the proper time.

We have in mind conditions last year, where frosts soon after harvest did not give farmers a chance to plow.  When spring opens up it will be necessary to do in a very few days the plowing that should have been done last fall.  How are you going to do it with horses?  How are you going to seed at the proper time?  The farmer who relies on horses will get his crop in late or have a short acreage.  

Francis Cook Caldwell M.D. representing the Blair Remedy Co. from Chicago sent this letter in November of 1912 "to the one addressed"...

I am informed that you have been suffering from the effects of Uric Acid poisoning, frequently manifested by Rheumatism, Kidney, Bladder, Stomach or Skin trouble or Catarrh and as a test, am willing to send you free to try, a full size $1.00 box of my KO-TI-OSH.

In case you are wondering what it was, the letter goes on to state:

IN A THOUSAND BOXES THERE IS NOT ONE GRAIN OF MORPHINE OR ANY DERIVATIVE OF OPIUM, no Codeine, no Cocaine, no Acetanilid, no Iodine of Potash, NOR ANY OTHER ELEMENT which depresses the action of the HEART, upsets the Stomach, or causes dizziness or faintness.  

On the second page the letter says:

Feeling sure that you will want to try my remedy, I am enclosing an application form showing you are entitled to the free trial, also my return envelope, and it requires only a two cent stamp for mailing.  State your conditions fully, enclose mailing expenses and let me know how you are afflicted, so I can give you valuable suggestions, simple home rules, etc., and help you get well quickly.  I will be glad to answer your questions without any charge.

The application form is not with the letter so maybe one of the Boultons tried the cure!

Bushby Relative or Frame Model?

After recently removing a Boulton family picture from its frame, I found the one of the elegant lady above hiding behind it.  Under the photo, hand written in pencil it says " 115 Gower Street W.  Brenda Johnson " The sticker on the back of the frame indicates it was made by Herbert Yates, a frame maker and gilder from 11 Petersham Road in Richmond and at Twickenham. Google Maps tells me this is in the southwest part of London a block from the Thames River and the current location of a Fish & Chips place.    

Elsie Bushby Boulton left her home in Milton, England in September of 1913 and I can only assume that she brought the frame with her.  The question I had was whether Brenda was a friend or relative or if she was a model whose picture came with the frame?  Was there even such a thing back then?

Today, 115 Gower Street is a University College of London student residence called Arthur Tattersall House.  This site gives some early history of the street and its buildings but no mention of its use in the 20th century.  

The 1901 Census of England has a 26 year old Brenda B. A. Johnson living at 108 Elgin Crescent, Kensington in London.  Her occupation is listed as a photographer.  Ten years later douments show Brenda still a photographer and not married, was living with her retired doctor father, at nearby 10 Chepstow Place, Bayswater, Notting Hill.    Her trail seems to run cold after that in London but perhaps she is the same Brenda Johnson who is noted on a ship passenger list heading to Victoria, B.C. on October 19, 1912.

Brenda Johnson was about 10 years older than Elsie and although both lived in England, I have not found any other connection between the women.  Being a photographer, perhaps she was recruited by Herbert Yates to be a picture frame model to help sell his wares?  If you know more about this mystery or have another guess, I'd love to hear from you!