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.
8. Cycle brackets
‘This method of supporting a cycle is particularly useful when the latter is being cleaned or overhauled. The horizontal arms of bracket BB must be a little longer than half the width of the handlebars, so that the cycle will clear the wall. The supporting blocks DD must be sufficiently far apart to allow brackets to fold back neatly against the wall. Horizontal arms BB are tenoned or halved into AA, while bracing struts CC are notched into AA and BB. A pair of stay hooks fixed into wall at EE engage with screw eyes fixed in brackets F.”
Eager readers will notice that the common joints ‘tenon’ and ‘half’ are integral to this useful project, and those lucky enough to have completed ‘Carpentry for beginners’ could knock this up by themselves. This elegant system also lends itself to a handy temporary workbench.
