Robert Opie is surely right about the power of brand names to bring back the past. When I worked in an ‘istoric hice I would sometimes be on Laundry duty, where the goffering irons and heated drying cupboard would be ignored as visitors exclaimed over bars of Monkey Brand soap. These sixties images of Omo, Daz, Camp coffee, Lavendo polish and ‘No More Tears’ Johnson’s baby shampoo are obviously imprinted for ever on my mind. Notable that in 1956 pain relief is required for ‘One of those days?’ but by 1962 it’s OK to ask, ‘Period Pains?’
Advertisers were fond of picture stories. Here Tessa finds income and confidence by becoming a Littlewood’s agent
and poor old granny hasn’t been getting the right kind of sleep but is put right by Horlicks.
Whiteness in the wash was something of an obsession: who remembers the guilt-inducing ‘Someone’s mother isn’t using Persil’?
This may seem quaint but should you spend an evening watching ITV3 and sit through the advertisements for DulcoEase, Vanish and Cillit Bang, you may wonder how much has changed.
Finally, an idea for supper: