Looking Back- Updated 28th January 2010
Each week local history enthusiast and amateur archaeologist John Burnett, of South Kirkby, takes a look at a topic of local interest from past times.
"What?" I spoke out loudly and half a dozen people looked over their shoulder at me in the local library.
I had just read an advertisement in the Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express of December 1940 from the microfilm archives section. The ad stated that unless two pints of bile juice flowed from your liver into your bowels each day the food in your 28 feet of intestines would decay and friends would smell it coming out of your mouth. The cure was to take Carter's Little Liver Pills for only 1s-3d a pack. This ad was meant to shock and even 70 years later I was breathing into cupped hands and sniffing.
Dr Cassel's Pills of 1922 made a helpless child active again, a witness stated: "After two years she still drags one leg, but it is a pleasure to see her getting around."
Apparently these were great tablets as they also cured "terrible kidney disease waiting for death" and "child's blood spitting".
There must have been some powerful remedies around our villages because Zam Buk ointment in 1913 would mend a scalp black as ink from ringworm and Clarke's Blood Mixture cured a 13-month-old baby covered in nasty sores which had been made worse from being in hospital.
Leaving those days behind, Alec Green, of Central Garage, Hemsworth, sold the latest 1922 New Imperial motor cycle, depending on the horsepower, for between 42 and 145. Another shop in 1928 sold Hercules pedal cycles for 4-5s-6d and guaranteed them for 50 years.
I found that in the same year Milea & Son of 45, Westfield Road, Hemsworth, sold cigarettes and newspapers. His surplus newspapers were then bought by the local butchers and fish shops.
Winterburn's shop at South Elmsall sold his special cigars for 2d each and the latest style of "Chubby Umbrella".
George Walker was a horse slaughterer and would fetch any carcass. To telephone him, customers just had to dial number 8 South Elmsall. In those days to speak to J W Walker the builder you just telephoned 44, Ernest V Fox the undertaker could be reached on 53 and if you required a flat battery charging up then you rang Fred Hutt, Old Forge Garage, on 34.
Cawthorne's, of Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, in 1935 placed an ad stating "Water is Scarce! Drink Beer." Another said: "Bricks, mortar and beer is best" and of course for your hangover, two tablets of Phensic was the quick pick-me-up.
Lastly, in 1940 3lbs of your old newspapers or 4lbs of magazines could be sold for one penny … to the Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express office … What?
This column will be updated online every month. For John's weekly column see your Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express every Thursday.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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