Here's a bundle of adverts from the 1920's & 1930's showing the variety of free gifts that were given away in comics.
They range from basic things like scraps and sweets, to novelties and practical jokes, with some magic tricks, masks and badges thrown in.
The comics are - Fairyland Tales - Rover - Adventure - Beano - Magic Comic - Wizard - Dandy - Skipper.
These date from 1924 to 1939.
They range from basic things like scraps and sweets, to novelties and practical jokes, with some magic tricks, masks and badges thrown in.
The comics are - Fairyland Tales - Rover - Adventure - Beano - Magic Comic - Wizard - Dandy - Skipper.
These date from 1924 to 1939.
A couple of the comic gifts above featured magic and mysteries for kids, but here's a batch of adverts from the local press presenting real Illusionists and Men of Mystery live on stage in Dundee theatres.
The likes of Berol, Arvi, Morritt, Raymond, Hertz, Maskelyne, Merlin, Devant and a few others.
They date from 1912 (top left) to 1941 (bottom right).
The likes of Berol, Arvi, Morritt, Raymond, Hertz, Maskelyne, Merlin, Devant and a few others.
They date from 1912 (top left) to 1941 (bottom right).
This advert in the local press dated May 1932, was a single panel optical illusion.
To find out what product they were selling (Shell Petrol) meant it had to be turned upside-down to read. However, it got me wondering, just how many people did actually make an effort to turn the entire newspaper upside-down to find out what it was? Probably not very many, especially if they were on a bus off to work! So I've put the 2 versions of the ad up on display - the one on the left is how it actually appeared in the paper, and the one on the right is how it appears when turned upside-down. Quite an amusing graphic, but maybe a touch too much hassle for some Dundonians to bother about! |
This drawing of the Caird Hall was published the day after the foundation stone was laid down in July 1914.
If it doesn't look quite right to you then that's because the main entrance pillars aren't on the image!
The pillars were actually "added on" at a later stage and were not part of the original architectural plan.
If it doesn't look quite right to you then that's because the main entrance pillars aren't on the image!
The pillars were actually "added on" at a later stage and were not part of the original architectural plan.
In order to make way for the Caird Hall and City Square, the old area in Dundee's city centre had to be demolished.
This ancient area was called The Vault and had been there for hundreds of years. Although it was an interesting place with wee back streets, wynds, closes and pends, most of the buildings by the early 1900's were in a slum-like condition.
The top 2 photos below were taken in 1929 and both have a similar headline.
The 2 middle photos were published in 1931 and are of the area around Strathmartine's Lodgings.
Bottom left is a reminder of the Vault's poor state as the photo, taken in 1928, shows that this particular section was in such a bad way that it had to be propped up to prevent it collapsing!
Bottom right is a snap which was taken in April 1932 and is of the very last day of the demolition clearance.
Goodbye old Town House.
This ancient area was called The Vault and had been there for hundreds of years. Although it was an interesting place with wee back streets, wynds, closes and pends, most of the buildings by the early 1900's were in a slum-like condition.
The top 2 photos below were taken in 1929 and both have a similar headline.
The 2 middle photos were published in 1931 and are of the area around Strathmartine's Lodgings.
Bottom left is a reminder of the Vault's poor state as the photo, taken in 1928, shows that this particular section was in such a bad way that it had to be propped up to prevent it collapsing!
Bottom right is a snap which was taken in April 1932 and is of the very last day of the demolition clearance.
Goodbye old Town House.
This mess on Downfield golf course was created by a sudden whirlwind that hit the area in July 1938.
The whirlwind lifted the shelter about 60 feet in the air, which then caused it to burst apart and fall to the ground.
The whirlwind lifted the shelter about 60 feet in the air, which then caused it to burst apart and fall to the ground.
In June 1926, this unusual wedding photo was taken in town.
The bridegroom is Albert Johan Kramer AKA "Lofty" who was 9 ft 3 in, and hails from Amsterdam. The bride is Wilhelmina Fassler who is from Switzerland but had been living in Dundee for some time. The wee fella is the brides brother, Seppeloni Fassler, and he was reputed to be the smallest man in the world. The marriage took place at Dundee Sheriff Court. |
Tourist charabancs were popular in the early 1900's.
Here's a couple of examples below.
The one on the left was photographed in July 1911 and is a group of English tourists from Newbottle who were touring Scotland. They are parked outside DC Thomson offices.
The one on the right was snapped in June 1928 and has a large gathering of Australian tourists who were about to explore Dundee.
Here's a couple of examples below.
The one on the left was photographed in July 1911 and is a group of English tourists from Newbottle who were touring Scotland. They are parked outside DC Thomson offices.
The one on the right was snapped in June 1928 and has a large gathering of Australian tourists who were about to explore Dundee.
No charabancs for this chap as he was touring on his own motorbike.
He is Zoltan Sulkowsky from Budapest in Hungary, and the photo was taken in July 1935.
Zoltan and his companion stopped off in Dundee for a short while and was actually homeward bound after having visited 63 countries!
They started their amazing "World Tour" in 1928 and 7 years later, managed to show off the vast collection of badges collected from the countries they had been to.
He is Zoltan Sulkowsky from Budapest in Hungary, and the photo was taken in July 1935.
Zoltan and his companion stopped off in Dundee for a short while and was actually homeward bound after having visited 63 countries!
They started their amazing "World Tour" in 1928 and 7 years later, managed to show off the vast collection of badges collected from the countries they had been to.
This guy is standing in the middle of a circle laid down in the High Street.
It marked the heart of Dundee and was where the original Market Cross stood. He wouldn't have been able to hang around in the circle for too long though as it was located in the middle of the tram rails to Lochee! Photo published in December 1933. |
These 2 images below could almost be set in Oxford or Amsterdam, but they are in fact, Dundee snaps.
The one on the left is a group of kids departing Morgan school in August 1930.
Picture on the right was taken in October 1932 and is a gathering of cyclists on their way to catch the Tay Ferry for Fife.
The one on the left is a group of kids departing Morgan school in August 1930.
Picture on the right was taken in October 1932 and is a gathering of cyclists on their way to catch the Tay Ferry for Fife.
In November 1933, news of a new Roller Skating Rink appeared in the local papers.
Shaw's Garage in Ward Road had been bought and was to be transformed into the new Rink.
Meanwhile, a couple of years earlier in February 1931, Dundee's Hamilton Rink was staging an attempt on the world's roller-skating endurance record by 2 Aberdonians.
Shaw's Garage in Ward Road had been bought and was to be transformed into the new Rink.
Meanwhile, a couple of years earlier in February 1931, Dundee's Hamilton Rink was staging an attempt on the world's roller-skating endurance record by 2 Aberdonians.
June 1929.
What's the cause of the crowd in Ward Road?
A protest? Someone famous just been buried in the Howff? Trams on strike?
Nope, this was the enormous gathering outside DC Thomson, waiting to find out which horse won the Derby!
They managed to have the Derby result edition of the Telegraph on sale within 3 minutes of the race finishing!
What's the cause of the crowd in Ward Road?
A protest? Someone famous just been buried in the Howff? Trams on strike?
Nope, this was the enormous gathering outside DC Thomson, waiting to find out which horse won the Derby!
They managed to have the Derby result edition of the Telegraph on sale within 3 minutes of the race finishing!
It's usually the rush of holiday makers departing town photographers capture, but in this shot, taken in July 1929, these Dundonians were snapped returning from their summer holiday.
Here's 3 local rail stations in various stages of work-in-progress.
Top, Stannergate Station in Feb 1932 being dismantled as it was no longer required.
Middle, Magdalen Green Station in Mar 1949 being restored in readiness for passengers attending the Royal Highland Show.
Bottom, Broughty Ferry Station in Dec 1934 having a foot-bridge built.
Top, Stannergate Station in Feb 1932 being dismantled as it was no longer required.
Middle, Magdalen Green Station in Mar 1949 being restored in readiness for passengers attending the Royal Highland Show.
Bottom, Broughty Ferry Station in Dec 1934 having a foot-bridge built.