During the 1930s, the tobacco company W.D and H.O.Wills gave away colourful and entertaining collectors ‘cigarette trade cards’ in packets of their cigarettes. ‘Household hints’ was issued several times, in slightly different editions from 1930 to 1939. Some of the ideas look antiquated and redundant but occasionally there are forgotten gems that are pertinent today. I am sharing this series as a historical glimpse into yesterday’s home maintenance and the occasional addition to solutions for the modern home.
9. Distempering
“Wash the surface to be distempered with a large brush dipped very frequently in a large pail of water, scrape smooth and fill all cracks with plaster of Paris or plasterers putty. Apply the distemper fairly thickly with a smooth uniform action. The best method is to work in strips towards the light , ensuring that each strip is applied before the edge of the previous one is dry. Distemper splashed on paintwork and floor should be sponged off at once. Close all doors and windows while distempering otherwise the work may dry in patches. Immediately on completion, they should be opened again to ensure rapid and uniform drying.”
You don’t hear a lot of people setting about getting distemper of a Saturday morning. This is likely because viral canine distemper has largely commandeered the definition. Distemper was the best form of paint available for many post war DIYers. However, it was easily marked, could not be washed down and the surface brushed off on your new coat if you got too close the wall. It was a performing rite more suited to a secret religion. The swearing and clanking that went on inside the room during the closed door process was followed by the throwing open of the doors and windows and jubilation by all the family followed.
Nowadays we lust after it, pay through the nose for it and call it Chalk paint.
