Introduction Our featured image is the 1950’s magazine Woman, founded in 1937 by Oldham Press. First editor Mary Grieve until 1962. This was the first weekly magazine to be printed in colour. The magazine is still in print today published by Future PLC. By the end of 2023, there wereRead More →
Frank Hornby: The Inventor Frank Hornby (1863–1936) was an English inventor, businessman, and visionary whose contributions to the toy industry revolutionised model building and train sets. Born in Liverpool, Hornby initially worked as a bookkeeper but showed a strong inclination toward mechanical design and innovation. His enduring legacy stems fromRead More →
The History of Marbles Marbles have a long and storied past, with their origins dating back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks all played games with marbles or marble-like objects. The earliest marbles were crafted from natural materials such as stone, clay, or evenRead More →
The Thrill of Discovery Every antique has a story, and the journey of finding those stories has defined this past year. Running a small antiques business isn’t just about transactions; it’s about uncovering pieces of history and matching them with the right person. This year, the thrill of discovery tookRead More →
The Birth of Wallace and Gromit – A Stop-Motion Legacy Wallace and Gromit, the beloved stop-motion duo, were created by British animator Nick Park and first appeared in the 1989 short film A Grand Day Out. Produced by Aardman Animations, the series centres around Wallace, a quirky inventor with aRead More →
Brass ornaments have a rich history spanning centuries, with their origins rooted in ancient craftsmanship. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, was first developed in the early 1st millennium BCE. Its bright golden hue and malleable yet durable nature made it a favoured material for decorative and utilitarian objects.Read More →
British Railways and Beeching Introduction The history of British railways is long and complex, and few events in that history had a more lasting impact than the Beeching Cuts. Named after Dr. Richard Beeching, these cuts marked a period of drastic railway line closures in the 1960s, reshaping the BritishRead More →
The Origins of Josef Wagner & Company Josef Wagner was a skilled craftsman who emerged as a notable figure in the world of toy manufacturing during the early 20th century. His company, known for producing tin toys, became a major player in the booming European toy industry of the time.Read More →
The Birth of Roller Skates (18th to Early 20th Century) Roller skating, a blend of innovation and recreation, has a fascinating origin that stretches back to the 18th century. The first recorded instance of roller skates comes from 1735 when a Belgian inventor, John Joseph Merlin, created a rudimentary versionRead More →
The Origins and Development of Waterford Crystal The Founding of Waterford Crystal Waterford Crystal’s history began in 1783 in Waterford, Ireland, when brothers George and William Penrose founded the company. The Penrose brothers were already well-established merchants and exporters, but they sought to create a new venture that would produceRead More →