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.
1. A Simple Barometer
“Here is a simple barometer that a child can make. All that is required is an empty vinegar bottle, an empty glass jam jar and some water coloured with red ink. Half fill the bottle with the coloured water, and place the jar upside down over the bottle. Now reverse, so that the jar is standing upright, with the bottle standing in it upside down. Allow the coloured water to flow into the jar until the level of the water in the bottle is about an inch or two above that in the jar. By the rise and fall of the water in the neck, the weather may be fairly accurately foretold. Fine weather will cause it to rise, while a drop may presage rain or rough weather. A rules card fixed behind the jar enables the rise or fall to be seen more clearly.”
It’s hard to imagine that amongst the problems of a household, a weather station would be first on the list, but without a radio signal, an up to date weather report was usually unavailable. Most of us don’t consider using simple science to foretell the rise and fall of barometric pressure as a way of deciding whether to take a brolly to work. It might catch on.
