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.
13. Fire-lighting Made Easy
“In place of the usual method of kindling a fire with wood, the following will be found cheap and efficient. Keep a large jar about three quarters full of paraffin, and soak a large dead cinder in it overnight. To light the fire, lay a piece of newspaper over the bottom of the grate, put the paraffin soaked cinder in the middle, and cover it with fairly small lumps of coal. Then ignite the paper. The cinder will burn sufficiently long enough to kindle the coal. Before lighting the fire, by this or any other method, always thoroughly clean out the dust and ashes from the frets and the bottom of the grate to ensure maximum draught.”
Its the thought of a dead cinder that dates this piece of advice. That and the jar of paraffin. It summons up a shed or back garden where the jar of paraffin rests out of harm’s way. This is a great idea if you have a safe place to store it, and somewhere to get it from. Paraffin was advertised on TV until the 70s and there was often a coin dispenser in the local garage where you could fill a tin can to take home.I am not endorsing this tip.
