“Shavex” was the was first brush-less shaving cream, developed by Violet Van der Elst, a daughter of a coal prter and a washwoman, and herself a scullery maid. Violet became a successful businesswomen after developing a number of cosmetics, including “Shavex” and was also a campigner, best remembered for her activities against the death penalty. Shavex: No Soap – No Brush – No Lather Why do all the forces prefer Shavex? The Pefect Two Minute Shave. They’re united, these men of the Empire, united in their determination to fight for…
Tag: advert
Saving Your Pennies in 1942
To encourage people to save during the war time, advert such as these from the Post Office and Trustee Savings Bank (or TSB as we know it today) were published in local newspapers. The 1942 ‘Resolutions Twins’ arrive The adverts encouraged readers to open a savings book account and to deposit as much as they could, alongside the message to ‘spent less’ and ‘save more’ Source: Bromley & District Times, 9th Janaury 1942 (page 7)
Sunlight Flakes: Advert
Happy Thoughts of Sunlight What fun it was! The cheerful buzz of holiday folk enjoying themselves. The surf breaking gently on the sand. And the lovely ripe banana you bought for a penny! Yes, and there’ll be more good times in the sunlight when these days of war are past. So when you find it difficult to get Sunlight Flakes, remember that war conditions are the cause. It can’t be helped, although we regret that you have to go without Sunlight Flakes sometimes, But they’re worth looking and waiting for.…
Commuting in 1942
Commuting in 1942 Trains were by far the main mode of travel for any distance in Britain during World War Two, and even more so for commuters travelling into, and out of, London from the suburbs of Bromley and Kent. Between 1923 and 1947 the railways were run by the four largest railway companies in the United Kingdom, known as the “Big Four”. The name had been coined by The Railway Magazine in its issue: “The Big Four of the New Railway Era” (February 1923) The ‘Big Four’ consisted of:…
Paper Salvage Competition: 1942
Following on from Bromley’s waste salvage drive in September 1941, a competition was set up to encourage more salvage of paper from the people of Bromley and the surrounding areas. It appeal to both homes and workplaces, as well as clubs, schools, hospitals and shops to search everywhere, for what means of paper waste they could find. This advert appears in the Bromley Times in January 1942. First Prize £500 Will you help Bromley to win it? £500 will be given to National National and Local Charities, if, for the…
True Tales from The Navy: 1941
The price of Admiralty By Commander A.B. Campbell, R.D., of the BBC “Brains Trust” Minesweeper making port – at dark – and they’ve had no sleep to speak of for four days. A plane looms up – drops to 90ft, and lets go two bombs. One hits the funnel. The other explodes in the coal in the after hold, Which seems lucky at the time, for the coal absorbs the worst of the blow – and Grimsby trawlers are made to take hard knocks. But the third bomb blows her…
Don’t Delay – install an Incendiary Bomb Detector today, 1941
London had suffered 57 days of non-stop bombing from the Luftwaffe in 1940 – it was relentless. There must have been many bombs that failed to explode, so there must have been a ready made market for such a device. This advert for an Incendiary Bomb Detector appeared in the local Bromley Times newspaper in July 1941. Incendiary Bomb Detector Incendiary Bombs can be rendered non-effective If they are Dealt with Promptly This can be done if you install a detector. Many Installations completed – automatic – inexpensive DON’T DELAY…