Victorian Novelties, Part 2- Things that Go “BANG” in the Night

Continuing on with the odd novelties, and in the vein of “trick or treat” for Halloween, here’s a few more little tidbits from a 1900 catalog.  You can see the prior post here.  I’m trying to screen these old ads for things that might be socially unacceptable or offensive today, but an occasional thing might slip in that I missed.

Things that go “BANG” in the night (or day)

And for a different kind of spark…

Here’s hoping we’re back and rolling, and you all can see this post properly!

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8 Comments on Victorian Novelties, Part 2- Things that Go “BANG” in the Night

  1. wundermary
    October 24, 2011 at 4:46 pm (13 years ago)

    Wow, those are some crazy novelties! The flaming watch is pretty intense and the door guard just made me think of Bug Bunny in one of those WWII era cartoons where he is the bomb tester. That last one is racy.

    • Lauren
      October 25, 2011 at 9:06 am (13 years ago)

      Hehe! Love those cartoons.
      Isn’t the last one shocking? *gasp*

  2. Miss Meadows
    October 25, 2011 at 3:59 am (13 years ago)

    That pistol watch that “will scare the life out of anyone”, would probably be a success if it was sold today. For all the girls that are afraid to go home alone in the middle of the dark night that would be the thing to have – with “an infernal machine inside of it”… :)

    • Lauren
      October 25, 2011 at 9:05 am (13 years ago)

      HA! So true!

  3. wacky tacky
    October 25, 2011 at 6:31 am (13 years ago)

    Cool! Will you be sure to find all of the offensive/socially-unacceptable ads and send them directly to me, please? People have ben telling me for years that I am both offensive and socially-unacceptable.

    • Lauren
      October 25, 2011 at 9:05 am (13 years ago)

      LOL!
      Man, there’s a TON of them in here. I actually posted one on the site because I didn’t notice it, then read all the way through and took it down. Oops?

  4. The Dreamstress
    October 25, 2011 at 4:00 pm (13 years ago)

    What fascinating items! I’ve heard of the cartridge-firing thing before. Talk about potential property damage though!

    I think you should post the socially unacceptable ones. Otherwise aren’t we just whitewashing history?

    • Lauren
      October 25, 2011 at 5:20 pm (13 years ago)

      You know, I kind of thought the same thing, but I’ve seen big heated arguments about those sorts of things on other blogs when content was posted and I admit I’m a wuss and am not sure I want to open that can of worms.

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