20 Century old life hacks that still work wonders today
We just love the old ways of doing things, sure, some things can be done better now but they used to manage amazing things with very little resources and that’s reflected in the hacks below.
We’ve been playing in the Outdoor Revival Office and put a few of them to good use, see how you do with them and let us know.
During the 1900s, cigarette manufacturers used to put stiffening cards into their packs of cigarettes to give them strength and help make them last longer.
In the 1910s, Gallaher Ltd of Belfast & London and Ogden’s Branch of the Imperial Tobacco Co printed “How-To” series, with clever hints for both everyday and emergency situations.
From steaming out a splinter to stopping a mad dog, these cigarette cards told you the smart way to handle many of life’s problems.
Someone during this time had an ingenious idea to put trivia, artwork and even famous people (Elvis Presley anyone?) and athletes onto the stiffening cards.
1. How to Extract a Splinter
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
Gallagher’s Cigarettes made a special series of 100 cards that included “How to do it”, useful tips and tricks for everyday problems in the early 20th Century.
2. How to Light a Match in the Wind
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
3. How to Tell the Points of the Compass with a Watch
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
The whole 100 card collection was recently digitized and made part of the New York Public Library’s George Arents Collection.
You can visit the NYPL Digital Collections at digitalcollections.nypl.org/ to see all 100.
4. How To Treat Sprains
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
5. How To Make a Fire Extinguisher
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
6. How To Carry a Heavy Jug
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
7. A Hint When Boiling Potatoes
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
8. How To Kill a Tree Stump
George Arents Collection Photo credit
9. How To Make Corks Fit
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
10. How To Pull Out Long Nails
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
11. How To Measure With Coins
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
12. How To Detect Escaping Gas
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
13. How To Cool Wine without Ice
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
14. When Boiling Cracked Eggs
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
15. How To Preserve Valuable Vases
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
16. How To Remove Sea Stains from Brown Shoes
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
17. How To Make a Simple Gate Latch
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
18. How To Clean an Oil Painting
How To Clean an Oil Painting Photo Credit
19. How To Test Butter
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
20. How To Draw a Circle Without a Compass
George Arents Collection Photo Credit
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We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.
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