Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Cutting - Earl's Heir Killed (1926)

August 1926
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By dying in this car crash Major the Hon. Harold FitzClarence only missed being the 5th Earl by 2 years, his brother the 4th Earl died in 1928. 

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Advert - Vidor Portable radio (1950's)

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The Lady Margaret portable radio manufactured by Vidor Ltd of Erith, Kent circa 1953/4. I hope that she won't be driving while it is playing on her knee. They also produced Lady Anne and Lady Elizabeth models - some sort of specifically targeted marketing strategy?

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Cutting - Marlene Dietrich (1949?)

Probably 1949
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Marlene Dietrich became an international film star during the Silent era when language was no barrier to success. As to how old she was - this cutting dates from either 1949 or 1950 and Dietrich was born in 1901, making her 48 or even 49, but then a lady has the right to lie about her age. 'No Highway' was released in 1951. Dietrich spent the last decade of her life mostly bedridden and died in 1992.

Friday, 26 December 2014

Advert - Barratt Shoes (1926)

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Founded in Northampton in 1903 Barratt Shoes were a successful country wide chain by the 1920's. Who needs x-ray machines or special gauges to get the right size shoe when you have a pencil and a bit of paper handy?

Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Cutting - Atlantic Rower (1969)

20th July 1969
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John Fairfax was the first person to row the Atlantic solo. He set off on January 20th 1969 and arrived in Florida 180 days later on July 19th. In 1971/2 he rowed, along with Sylvia Cook, the Pacific taking 361 days. He died in Nevada in 2012 at the age of 74.

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Advert - Woolworths (1986)

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The first UK Woolworths was opened in 1909 and by the 1950's when I was a kid every High Street had one, but the last  Woolworths store closed down in 2009.

Sunday, 21 December 2014

Cutting - Blonde Spy in Flat (1938)

4th February 1938
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The trial of the Woolwich Arsenal spies and a tale worthy of John Le Carre complete with the mysterious Miss X. The whole story is very nicely written up at this website.