The Coloured Glass Tram Shelter Adverts


Ruby red, sapphire blue, onyx black; the jewelled tones of these early 20th century glass adverts caught my eye from at least 20 paces. But then I stood close and read the copy. Wonderful stuff.

Have a read yourself, but don't forget to do so in a cut-glass English accent.

Salvaged from trams and tram shelters in the North East of England, these adverts are my most literal 'vintage copywriting' post so far.


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ALWAYS GOOD.

You can't top that, can you? And the vibrant blue glass. Sigh.

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THIS FACT all MOTHERS OUGHT TO KNOW
BOLSOVER'S FOOD makes BABIES GROW

St Anne's Road, Rotherham.

Is J T Bolsover still there now?

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 J NEVILLE 
The FIRST CLASS Outfitter 
FOR BOOTS, DRAPERY, HOSIERY ETC

I wonder how much these cost to make? And looks like they were on display for many years.

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FOR WANT OF REST YOUR CHILD MIGHT DIE
SO GET NURSE WALKER'S "HUSH-A-BY"

Blimey.

Invitation to Comment

I think these adverts are beautiful. They're social history and art. I would have them in my home. Would you?

And how about that guilt trip from Nurse Walker?



Notes: These glass adverts were photographed at Crich Tramway Village, Derbyshire, England, "a lovingly restored period village that is also home to the National Tramway Museum" 

A great day out for the Vintage Geeks among you, follow this link to read Crich Tramway's Blog.This is a genuine recommendation, I don't do sponsored blogs.

Next Post: Emily Kitchin's Satin Wedding Dress (1878)


What is Vintage Copywriting? 

Gorgeous vintage finds, described with adoration and photographed up-close by English fashion copywriter Angela Montague. This blog fuses my day job as a fashion copywriter with my two obsessions: beautiful old things and photography.

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Comments

  1. All fabulous! I have a real thing for coloured glass and old signs, so these tick all the boxes for me.
    The Nurse Walker one is hysterical! Talk about manipulative advertising. (I'm betting Hush-A-By was made of sugar and alcohol.)

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  2. oooooooooooh - sigh! Aside from Nurse Walker, (and we think we are made guilty by modern parenting guru's!) the beauty of these signs and the quality of design and manufacture bestowed on them is breathtaking. Never seen glass ads before, only enamel - thanks x

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  3. Thank you Punctured Bicycle, glad to have found someone else with a love of coloured glass - nothing goes in recycling bin if it's a pretty colour.

    And I agree Anonymous, they are very well made. I have not seen others like them, so perhaps this was peculiar to the North East! My father (an original 60s 'Madmen') commented they must have been very expensive to make and had a long life, not like the modern campaigns which are over in a matter of weeks.

    I have Googled Nurse Walker, but she has left no trace on the modern world, apart from (now) this blog post.

    Angela

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  4. Those are beautiful! They just don't make adverts like that any more. I shall have to have a look for more when I am back home in the North East next week.

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