I was pleased to find, in a local second-hand bookshop recently, two bound volumes of "Amateur Work Illustrated" from 1883-4. This was a monthly magazine devoted to the sort of things that a Victorian gent would enjoy in his spare time - building a pipe organ; making imitation stained glass windows; taking photos to exhibit on the magic lantern; sawing away at fretwork to ornament the parlour - all good clean fun.
One regular feature of the magazine was a column devoted to copying out manufacturers' announcements about new tools, describing them in glowing terms. (Does this sound familiar?)
So it was no surprise to see this, in April 1884. (I realise they used a lot more words than we would now, but bear with it for the full period feel. I think the contributors must have been paid by the hundred words!)
So far, so good. I'd be sending off my 3s 3d in happy anticipation. But by the time the June issue comes out, we get this:
I think it's nice to see that, although we may think of ourselves as thoroughly modern and up to date, all we do is follow down the paths laid down by our forebears... :-D
One regular feature of the magazine was a column devoted to copying out manufacturers' announcements about new tools, describing them in glowing terms. (Does this sound familiar?)
So it was no surprise to see this, in April 1884. (I realise they used a lot more words than we would now, but bear with it for the full period feel. I think the contributors must have been paid by the hundred words!)
So far, so good. I'd be sending off my 3s 3d in happy anticipation. But by the time the June issue comes out, we get this:
I think it's nice to see that, although we may think of ourselves as thoroughly modern and up to date, all we do is follow down the paths laid down by our forebears... :-D