Page 31 - Thrapston Life June 2023

This month I am looking at how adverts for local businesses changed over a 91-year period between 1845 and 1936.
The first is a rare survivor poster in my collection advertising the sale of land by auction on the Denford Road, held at the Swan Inn on 9th December 1845 and the poster was printed in Leicester.
The next two, for Mr. Brown and Alfred King were printed in the Oundle & Thrapston Guardian newspaper on Friday December 25th 1885 (Christmas Day) and are limited to text only and factual. Although not visually appealing, they were the standard for the day and in their own way, effective. The
two testimonials for Mr. Brown’s dental
skills were written six and seven years
earlier – one hopes that subsequent
patients were just as pleased. Mr. King
was offering cheap greetings cards for Christmas and New Year, no doubt
clearing old stock.
By the beginning of the 20th century,
newer fonts had been created to give a more modern look. The Thrapston Parish magazine in 1901 carried advertisements for Joseph
Hind Payne, shown above, who, as well as being the towns dispensing chemist, was also
a photographer and offered services as shown, including instruction as to how to use your new camera.
Just a few years later in 1908, Smith & Grace Screw Boss Pulley Co. Ltd. in Midland Road, published their new catalogue with in-house drawings of their wares, two of which were incorporated into their advert published
nationally. The drawings of pulleys were included in their publicity as early as 1890
from 1936, much more emphasis was given to visual appeal
when the company were featured in an extended article in “The Implement and Machinery Review” in the April edition.
In the Thrapston & Oundle Almanack from 1936, much more emphasis was given to visual appeal as shown by Loaring & Sons Clothiers and Outfitters advert, with a rather dapper gent.
Henry Wilson, as well as showing a sketch of a pram, had two other insertions, one featuring gramophones for sale and the other bicycles.
Last month I mentioned the history display
in the new room at the library. Due to space limitations, only my article from five years ago will now be shown, changing each month.
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Eric Franklin can be contacted for comments and suggestions for future articles at: ericfranklin2@hotmail.com