What Happened To?

Apologies for a longer than usual break between posts. Perhaps I had bloggers’ block or maybe it’s becoming harder to think of topics I haven’t already covered. Over the past few weeks things have occasionally popped into my head and I’ve realised that they aren’t around any more. So this is a random collection of items. The only thing they have in common is that we don’t see them any more.

Motorbikes and Sidecars

My dad used to ride a motorcycle. When he married my mum he added a sidecar. My mum finally dug her heels in when she was pregnant with me and, as she described it, was being squished into the small space, hurtling along feeling too close to the road and unable to communicate with my dad. So he bought his first car! I have no idea of the make or model of either his motorbike or the sidecar so this is a stock image of something I imagine to be similar to what they had in 1951.

TV Westerns

We acquired our first TV when I was ten in 1961. It was so exciting! We three children enjoyed many programmes such as Sketch Club, Tales of the Riverbank, Zoo Quest and David Nixon’s magic show – which led me to want to be a magician when I grew up. For a while, anyway! Adventure programmes like Whirlybirds and RCMP we also loved. But right at the top of the list were the cowboy serials. We absolutely loved The Lone Ranger and The Range Rider. I also recall Laramie and Bronco. There is no cowboy history here in Britain so we devoured those Westerns as they were a totally new genre of story-telling for us and their adventures and heroic deeds were like nothing we’d ever come across before. My brother and I even got cowboy outfits for Christmas one year.

Enid Blyton

Oh, how we loved the Enid Blyton books! When I was enjoying the ripping yarns of the Famous Five and the Secret Seven my sister, who was younger than me, was enchanted by Tales of Green Hedges and The Magic Faraway Tree. The Five and the Seven had the most amazing adventures such as catching robbers and smugglers and yet always seemed to get home in time for tea.                Although disapproved of nowadays by some, Enid Blyton was a prolific and hugely successful children’s author. At her peak she was writing fifty books a year. She usually began writing soon after breakfast, with her portable typewriter on her knee and, stopping only for a short lunch break, she continued writing until five o’clock, by which time she would usually have produced 6,000–10,000 words. Rumours that Blyton operated “a company of ghost writers” persisted, as some found it difficult to believe that one woman working alone could produce such a volume of work.

Rompers

When I was little, girl babies and toddlers wore dresses and little boys wore rompers. There were no unisex clothes, no Babygro’s, no tiny denim jeans and sweatpants and no tights, just socks.

Above is one of our family photographs of a brother and sister (they will know who they are!). The boy is in rompers and the girl in a dress.

45’s and 78’s

Music was played on discs. The very first ones were wax, then shellac and later they were made of vinyl. They were identified by their speed. When I was small the gramophone records (as they were known then) my mum and dad had were LPs (albums) which were played at 33 rpm and singles known as 78’s. Both were 12″ wide. Then, by the time I was old enough to be buying my first pop records, the singles were known as 45’s and were much smaller (7″) .

This is a potted history of the vinyl record. From 1939, Columbia Records were developing vinyl technology and in 1948, introduced the 12” Long Play (LP) 33 1/3 rpm record. The rivalry between RCA Victor and Columbia led to the introduction of another competing format by RCA, the 7”/45 rpm EP. The period where both of these formats fought for dominance from 1948-1950 was known as the “War of the Speeds.” After a few years, the 12”/33 rpm LP became the predominant format for albums, and the 7”/ 45 rpm record became the format of choice for singles. They always had paper sleeves and great care had to be taken with them as they scratched very easily. Or they could be kept in a wallet like the one below.

This is a handy little holder for 45’s which my brother gave me for as a birthday present when I was in my teens. It’s still full of my old singles. It has enough plastic wallets for 20 singles but I’ve got two in each so it’s quite a collection! There are no scratches on any of them, I was very careful with my records! The folder was really useful for taking records to parties or to friends’ houses.

Talcum Powder, Milk of Magnesia and Calamine Lotion

No bathroom was complete without a tin or two of talcum powder and a bottle each of Milk of Magnesia (for indigestion) and calamine lotion (for skin problems like sunburn, rashes and insect stings). Iodine was also popular and it’s what the teachers used to put on a cut if you fell and hurt yourself at playtime. How it stung!!!

There were everyday talcs like Johnson’s Baby Powder and, one of my mum’s favourites, Cuticura. You could also by talcum powder to go with a favourite perfume, sometimes they came in gift sets. A scented talcum powder was always a much appreciated gift for a mum, aunt or grandmother.

Credit to Google Images and Wikipedia. If anyone objects to my use of a particular image please contact me and it will be removed.

39 thoughts on “What Happened To?”

      • Another comment if I may be so bold: we didn’t have tights but we did have knitted leggings with elastic sewn into the waistband. Children’s clothes are so much more sensible these days! They look more comfortable and are easier to wash and dry. I itch just at the memory of woollen cardigans! Best wishes and lashings of ginger beer to all! Patricia

        >

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      • Yes, I’ve seen old knitting patterns for baby leggings but I have no memory of them and the blog is all about my recollections. Although I try really hard to check the facts when I’m giving dates, historical detail etc.
        My mum used to make her own ginger beer. I’d forgotten that until you mentioned ‘lashings of ginger beer’! Meryl

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  2. needless to say I remember nearly all the things you mention. The good old days when we didn’t know anything different.

    calamine lotion used to combat sunburn

    milk of magnesia for a poorly tummy

    I have a photograph of me in a little dress like yours and holding a pen

    I loved Famous Five and Secret Seven, also the Heidi books

    We had HMV 78’s and I still have them. Plus lots of 45’s. We were having a good look through the the other day and wondering what to do with them. I particularly love Nymphs & Shepherds! 

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    • Ah, Heidi!! How could I not mention the Heidi books? I adored them! I’ve enjoyed looking through my teenage 45 collection this afternoon whilst working on this post. They are staying with me in their little case, but the LPs will probably have to go, eventually. I believe they’re quite sought after by collectors now!

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  4. I fondly recall the Famous Five and Secret Seven stories and am surprised that they could be disapproved of by some today. Do you know why?

    With regard to “gramophone records” as they were titled in the record stores, the first ones we bought were the 78s which were both breakable and easily scratched, as you say. Poor reproduction with hisses and crackles but it was our music!

    Older 78s had a recording on one side only with a design of sorts on the reverse. I came across some at my grandparent’s home and seem to recall they were from around the First World War.

    John Lynch

    On Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 7:52 AM Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s

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    • These are some of the quotes I came across when researching Enid Blyton – but didn’t want to put in the blog post.
      ‘Blyton’s work has been criticised during her lifetime and after for its racism, xenophobia and lack of literary merit’.
      In 2019, plans to give her a commemorative coin were halted by the Royal Mint after members said she was “a racist, sexist homophobe and not a very well-regarded writer”.
      A 1966 Guardian article noted the racism of The Little Black Doll (1966), in which the doll of the title, Sambo, is only accepted by his owner once his ‘ugly black face’ is washed ‘clean’ by rain.
      I also know of some parents and primary schools who won’t have Enid Blyton books near their children.
      I’ve never heard of the one sided 78’s! How interesting! But, as you say, the hisses and crackles were part of our listening and I’m glad that I grew up in a house where records were played.

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      • That’s very sad regarding Enid Blyton. True or not? Impossible for me to say but, if her stories did contain such elements, they certainly weren’t evident to children at the time.

        John Lynch

        On Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 11:31 AM Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s

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      • All I can say is – that was then, this is now. We know more these days and see things differently. But we grew up with those stories and we didn’t all grow up to be racist, misogynistic, bigoted people.
        My childhood was enriched by such adventure stories! We knew it wasn’t real life but who doesn’t love a bit of escapism?

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  5. When I lived in Toronto in the mid-60s the police used motorcycles/sidecars and it wasn’t uncommon to see a policeman passing by with a passenger. If it was late at night the passenger was often inebriated. Easy to tell because they would be lolling in the seat (the passenger, that is.)

    John Lynch

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  7. What wonderful memories you ladies and gentlemen have left. I grew up between 1948 and 1969 and I too remember some lovely times. Some of my extended family influenced me who I am today with regards to making a house a home and when it comes to food. I believe you can’t work on an empty stomach and I am always baking and cooking. I bake retro things such as Louise cake, loaves, belgian biscuits, etc things our Mums probably made way back then, jams and pickles, in fact I have just made some tomato relish and apricot jam. I just LOVED seeing the wee rompers for the wee boys in your pics they are so adorable, I’m not really a fan of newborn jeans I’m a person who loves babies in knitted clothes in the winter and doll lookalikes. There was a lot of care needed back in the day with washing wasn’t there and I’m so grateful for the modern appliances of today and yes the clothes we all wear now are of mixed gender. I read a lot of novels but based on real times of ww2 and what London and surrounds went through during the blitz, wow you guys suffered, but people were so thoughtful and kind in those days of looking out for each other it’s just so changed now and I always said the Brits had beautiful baby clothes and prams for their babies, I used to buy Mothercare clothes for my children back in the day and set then sent from your beautiful country to NZ. I think I was about 19 when my parents bought a Television set and yes I do remember some of those programmes. I also read and reread a book that Enid Blyton wrote called THE BOY NEXT DOOR, it was such an adventure story, i remember in the story where the children came across an old boat on the river and it needed painting and I could almost smell the paint when they did it up, I still have it. The fashions have even changed in fact they have come back. I live to watch CALL THE MIDWIFE and it borders on what I remember of my childhood, what some people had to endure though oh dear. Thank you to the person that put up the baby photo how lovely it is and the lovely wee clothes they wore aw. The old vinyl records, the sweet tasting Milk of Magnesia, gripe water, rosehip syrup, I could go on but it was lovely talking to you all and keep in touch.

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    • Very interesting recollections and what makes these things especially interesting is not just the things themselves but the role they played in our lives.

      The mention of baking reminds me of the recent posting about tea-time and I forgot to ask the question: has anyone heard of milk loaf? My grandmother used to bake milk loaf quite often and I recall her using milk that had started to turn (pre-refrigerator days.) This gave the interior a yellowish tinge. The taste was wonderful and each loaf was quickly devoured.. My brother tried for years to find a recipe but without success so perhaps it was my grandmother’s invention. You know, not letting anything go to waste. I would love to find the recipe.

      On Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 2:20 PM Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s

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      • Hi John

        I just found the recipe online, just google Old fashioned milk loaf and presto! It’s made in a special tin

        Enjoy and I hope it’s what you are looking for, if it is and you can’t copy it I will for you and send it

        Carolyn

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      • Oh, great result! I was just about to Google it myself. My grandmother used to make a fruit loaf she called ‘cup of tea cake’. I now know it’s the one where you soak the fruit overnight in tea which crops up in various guises mainly as Irish Tea Brack.

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      • Hi John

        I have just made that loaf yesterday and it’s in the freezer. It’s called Barm Brack where you soak the fruit in tea overnight. If you want the recipe I can send it to you it’s really a lovely loaf

        Carolyn

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      • Hi John here is the recipe for Barm Brack or cup of tea bread as your Granny called it and for anyone else who would like it.

                      BARM BRACK

        In a medium - large bowl put 1 and 3/4 cups of brewed black cold tea

        1 cup brown sugar

        1 and 1/4 cups raisins or sultanas

        1/4 cup candied peel or 2 TBSP heaped of marmalade. Mix well and cover with a plate and leave overnight.

        In the morning add 1 and 1/4 cups of Self Raising flour and 1 beaten egg.

        Mix and put into a lined loaf tin and cook at 175deg C about an hour or until a skewer comes out clean

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      • Hi, Carolyn.

        I’ve been away from home the last few months. I believe my daughter-in-law is waiting until I get back (this week) before making it.

        I will keep you posted and supply pics.

        John

        On Sat, Feb 10, 2024, 4:19 PM Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s

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      • John there is a special tin that is ridged that you usually bake the milk loaf in it has ridges and when I was growing up it was called a barrel loaf and you could also buy the milk loaf

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  9. Woodleigh fields Green Apple shampoo & conditioner are so strong in my memory! I adored this product & wish it never went off the market!! It made my hair like satin & smelled divine!! Somebody remake this please!!! And cobbers lollies!! 1965 Sydney-born! Wonderful times!!

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