Old Ways

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

 

If you have any comments then please drop us a message on our Outdoor Revival Facebook page

If you have a good story to tell or blog let us know about it on our FB page, we’re also happy for article or review submissions, we’d love to hear from you.

We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.

Outdoor Revival – Reconnecting us all with the Outdoors

Paul Pinkerton

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