Have You a Keen Nose For Value?

As I was researching a story about the murder of a bailiff in Sheffield by a local builder I came across the following advertisement. From The Sheffield Telegraph and Daily Independent - February 1939

 

I had never heard of the brand but ascertained that the producer of the cigarettes were Gallaghers who marketed them under the Kensitas brand. As a matter of interest I checked what the price of the cigarettes would be today factoring inflation. The answer would be approximately £2.65. 24 cigarettes nowadays would be in the £7.00 range which illustrates the effects that successive goverments have had on the price of cigarettes in particular and tobacco in general.

And as we all know indirect taxation such as exise duty and VAT always hits the poorer paid in society. mmm....

Downfall through Racing

When I first read this report I thought for a moment that Inspector Naylor was commenting on William Ibbotson's record of backing winners. It is only when I got to the end of the article that I realised they were commenting on his criminal convictions!!

From The Sheffield Telegraph & Daily Independent 1925

Turning down $5.1 million

I have just received this e-mail - after reading the mail I became suspicious when he referred to the fact that he had become disheartened with the level of fraud in the world, and harked back to the days of real trust. And this is from a Nigerian accountant!

"FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
TO (ASOPADC)
ADDRESS;PLOT 45 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ROAD,
NEW GOVERNMENT STATION LAYOUT  UMUAHIA
ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
PHONE NUMBER;+234 08102427690


Dear Sir,

Basically, from the depth of my heart I want to ask you for partnership, desperately through human consciousness of understanding I have known that there is no way somebody can actualize his real aim in life without a helpful hand. Definitely, I strongly believe that if you would agree with me you will come to the oneness of mind with me.

I am the Chief Accountant  to Abia State Oil Producing area development community (ASOPADC) ,THIS ministry  was establish by the Government  of Abia State to oversees for the welfare of all the oil producing communities in the State, and this is my six years competent experience in the office as the Chief Accountant  . Really, my main purpose of writing this formative is to acquire if you will assist me  to save money in your account  the sum of (us$17,000,000) which I want to transfer to abroad and also needed a foreign account for the transaction.

But, the unusual thing that actually disheartened me is the heavy fraud in the world today which had intently  destroyed  real  trust, yet I  believe that there are still genuine people therefore if you are interested to assist me in this transaction just sincerely forward  your  name, home address, office address, phone number, and Bank account. While your percentage will be 30%, Wholly I urge you to keep it confidential.

Thanks,

Yours Sincerely,
Nwakadibia Afarata
The Chief Accountant

Mrs Smithurst's "habit of taking a dose"

I came across the following cutting when I was researching some details on the long established Sheffield firm of Reuben Thompson who were

My grandad was manager of the firm in the 1930s and 1940's

Whilst doing this I also came across this cutting from The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 12th April 1900 relating to the death of Ann Smithurst

I'd never heard of this medicine and so a quick net search revealed that it started its life as a medication used in the treatment of cholera but due to its "narcotic properties" it proved to be one of the best selling medicines of the C19th. Its principal ingredients were a mixture of laudenum (an alcoholic solution of opium), tincture of cannabis, and chloroform, and so it readily lived up to its claims of relieving pain, as a sedative, and for the treatment of diarrhea.In fact it was highly addictive hence Mrs Smithurst's "habit of taking a dose"

Sadly the mixture was diluted throughout the C20th. The cannabis was removed from the formulation, and the amount of opiates in the medicine were progressively reduced. Shame really!

As It 'Appens

As relief at the Prince's apparent recovery floods over us at these trying times, our minds were drawn to someone who could have fixed it for him but sadly is now unable to do so

Thanks Richard

A New Year

A Happy New Year to all my reader(s)

It hardly seems to be two minutes since we (myself and the good wife) were discussing putting one or two things aside for Christmas during our weekly shopping trip; a tin of beans one week, or a packet of OXOs another, when suddenly Christmas and the New Year was upon us. 
No doubt, like yourselves, your Christmas festivities were over shadowed by the news of dear Prince Philip's heart attack, this certainly cast a gloom over proceedings, not just in our house but everywhere I visited - The Royal, The Sheaf View T'Club etc. Thank goodness that he seems to have survived this untoward threat to his Royal life - may we both wish him many more years of happiness and good health. 

Despite everything, we did our best to enjoy ourselves, a brief respite from the hard daily grind of our existence, glued, as we were to the wireless set, lest we miss the latest update regarding the recovery of our beloved Prince. Merry-making was kept to an absolute minimum (not hard when you live in the Crookes area of Sheffield) which is the correct way to conduct oneself when the Prince's life was threatened. We remained calm, dignified, and prepared, should there have been any adverse turn in our Prince's health.

Gawd bless 'im, that's what we say! 

North Norfolk police are currently investigating the discovery of a female body on the Prince's Sandringham estate. 

At the moment although the police are not ruling anything out, there have tentatively admitted that the death is not related in anyway to the Prince's recent illness.  

PS Thanks Richard