1913 Victor-Victrola Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, February 5, 1913: Nothing very much for today. Went up to practice this evening.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma was going to be in her class play, and went back into McEwenville in the evening for play practice. (She probably had to come home after school to help milk the cows.)

Grandma obviously appreciated whatever culture was available in her small rural community. I recently found this advertisement for Victor Victrola’s in the March 15, 1913 issue of a farm magazine called Kimball’s Dairy Farmer.

If there is any place where a Victor-Victrola is needed and sure to be appreciated, it is in the homes of the farmers—in your house.

You haven’t the opportunities city people have for attending the theatre, opera, and musical concerts—and yet you have real need of such entertainment to rest body and mind after your day of toil.

And you can have it with a Victor-Victrola in your home. You can enjoy the world’s best music, sung and played by the same great artists who entertain the large city audiences.

You can hear whatever kind of music you like right now.

You don’t have to wait until you feel you can afford a $100 or $200 instrument—any Victor-Victrola you choose as the instrument for your home will play every record in the Victor catalog, and will give you almost as perfect music as the Victor- Victrola XVI, the instrument by which the value of all musical instruments in measured.

Any Victor dealer in any city in the world will gladly demonstrate the Victor-Victrola to you and play any music you wish to hear.

Write us for the handsome illustrated Victor catalogs.

Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N.J.

Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal, Canadian Distributors

Victor-Victrola XVI, $200, Mahogany or quartered oak

Victor-Victrola X, $75 Mahogany or oak

Victor-Victrola VI, $25, Oak

Victor-Victrola IX, $50, Mahogany or oak

Other styles $15, $40, $100, $150

Victor: “His Master’s Voice”

1913 Welch’s Grape Juice Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, January 23, 1913: Bout the same as ever.

The

Healthful Beverage

Welch’s is the drink for youth and age. It tastes good, satisfies thirst and is healthful. It contains all the health-giving qualities of the finest Concord grapes. It is a splendid temperance beverage for the home. It adds a touch of cheerful hospitality to all formal and informal affairs.

Welch’s

“The National Drink”

To maintain the high quality of Welch’s we pay from $7 to $9 per ton over the market price, thus securing only the choicest of the luscious Concords grown in the Chautauqua Grape Belt.

Welch Punch

For a dainty, unfermented punch, take the juice of three lemons, juice of one orange, one pint Welch’s Grape Juice, one quart water and one cup of sugar. Add sliced oranges and a pineapple and serve cold. Order a case and have a supply in the house.

If unable to get Welch’s of your dealer we will ship a trial dozen pints, express prepaid east of Omaha, for $3. Sample 4-oz bottle, mailed 10¢. Write for our free booklet of recipes.

The Welch Grape Juice Co.

Westfield, New York

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Since Grandma didn’t write much, I’ll share old ad I found in the February, 1913 issue of National Food Magazine.

1913 Shredded Wheat Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, January 21, 1913: Nothing to write.

Source: National Food Magazine (January, 1913)

Advertisement Text:

The Call of the Bell

It is music to Johnny’s ears if he starts the day with a warm, nourishing breakfast of Shredded Wheat

–and it’s so easy to get him off to school without fuss or worry because it’s ready-cooked and has in it everything he needs for study or play. It’s the whole wheat, cooked, shredded and baked to a crisp, golden brown.

Simply heat the biscuits in the oven a few moments to restore crispness, then pour hot milk over them adding a little cream and salt, or sweeten to suit the taste. A muscle-making, brain,-building food for children and grown-ups, for athletes and invalids, for outdoor men and indoor men, for workers with hand or brain.

The Only Breakfast Cereal Made in Biscuit Form.

Made only by

The Shredded Wheat Company

Niagara Fall, N.Y.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Since not much happened a hundred years ago today, I’ll share a 1913 advertisement I found for Shredded Wheat in National Food Magazine.

Back then you were supposed to heat the biscuits and then pour hot milk over them. Strange. . but I decided to try it.

The result—

I ended up with a hot, soft, mushy cereal. I had a difficult time getting past the texture—which was so very different from the crispiness of cold shredded wheat—but it warmed my tummy on a cold winter day.

1912 Slipper Advertisement

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Friday, December 20, 1912: Ruth came home this afternoon. Wonder if she has a fine and dandy present for me.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Ruth had been in Sunbury since the 16th. I think that she was attending a teachers’ training institute over winter break. What Christmas present did she buy for Grandma? Maybe Ruth bought Grandma some slippers. They would have been a fine and dandy present.

Source: An advertisement by the Daniel Green Felt Shoe Company in the December, 1912 issue of Ladies Home Journal

What is Ague?

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, October 17, 1912: Wish my cold would bid me farewell, but instead it seems to like me pretty well and is in not hurry about leaving.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma first mentioned having a cold six days prior to this diary entry.

I came across the Ayer’s Ague Cure advertisement, and wondered if ague was the same thing as a cold. According to the dictionary, ague refers to fever, chills, and sweating—so Grandma probably won’t have used this patent medicine to treat her cold.

Old Billiard Table Advertisment

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, October 16, 1912: How fast the days fly by. Soon it will be Christmas time. As for me it seems as if I am doing some things all the time, yet have nothing but a heap of rubbish to write about.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

What was Grandma thinking about? Christmas gifts she planned to give others? . . . or gifts she hoped to receive? Here’s a fun advertisement in the December, 1912 issue of Farm Journal that alerted parents about a potential Christmas gift (though it seems like it was aimed more at the parents of teen-aged boys than at the parents of girls.)

“Here’s your chance!”

It looks like fun, but you never can tell about this exciting game. The slightest inaccuracy will change the entire situation.

Keep Close To Your Boys!

Don’t let them grow away from you. Do you know why so many boys leave home for the city? Not many of them because of the difference in the work they will have to do. It usually is because of the difference in fun and entertainment they can have. Youth needs an outlet for its energy and enthusiasm. Don’t make your boys go away for the amusement. Bring it to them! A

BURROWES

Billiard and Pool Table

Provides just the sort of clean, wholesome, fascinating sport young men want. It enlivens the entire home atmosphere. These games probably are played and enjoyed by more people than any others in the world. Every member of your family will find constant pleasure in a Burrowes Table. It needs no special room—can be set up in a minutes on dining or library table or on its own legs or stand. Instantly dismounted and set aside. Burrowes Tables are perfect in every detail of construction. The most delicate shots can be executed with the upmost accuracy. Sizes range up to 4 1/2 x 9 foot (standard).

$1.00 DOWN

It is very easy to own a Burrowes Table by our monthly payment plan. Prices are from $15 up and terms of $1 or more down (depending on size and style selected), and a small amound each month. Balls, cues, etc. included.

Free Trial – No Red Tape

On receipts of that installment we will ship Table. Play on one week. If unsatisfactory return it, and upon it’s receipt we’ll return your deposit. This ensures you a free trial. Write today for illustrated catalog, giving prices, terms, etc.

E.T. Burrowes Co. 273 Spring St., Portland Me.

Whew, it sure plays up farm parents fears that their sons will move to the city. But, no fear, for only $1.00 down they’ll stay on the farm.

1912 Advertisement for Dr. Denton Footed Pajamas

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Monday, October 7, 1912: Am in a dilemma as to what to write.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’ll share an old advertisement for Dr. Denton Footed Pajamas that I found in the September, 1912 issue of Ladies Home Journal:

Protect Your Little Ones at Night with the Improved Dr. Denton Sleeping Garments

and secure unbroken sleep for yourself.

The Dr. Denton Garments cover body, feet and hands. Feet are part of the Garment. Hands are covered by cuffs that turn down and close with draw-string. Made from our Elastic, Knit, Mixed Cotton and Wool Fabric, specially devised to give most healthful sleep. The knit fabric carries off perspiration, maintaining even warmth if bed covers are thrown off. Prevent cold which often leads to pneumonia and other dangerous ailments. Made in eleven Sizes for children up to ten years old. Prices, 50¢ to $1.10, according to size and style.

Soft and Durable. Do Not Shrink.

Write for booklet giving Dr. Mary Wood Allen’s practical ideas on “Healthful Sleep for Children.” Be sure you get genuine Dr. Denton Garments. Our trade mark, shown above, is attached to each garment. If you cannot get them of your dealer, write us and we will see that you are supplied.

Dr. Denton Sleeping Garment Mills

500 Dean Street, Centreville, Michigan

Did Grandma’s 7-year-old brother Jimmie wore Dr. Denton Sleeping Garments?