Industrial Lights

The Dawn of Industrial Lighting The history of industrial lights traces back to the late 18th century when the Industrial Revolution transformed manufacturing processes and work environments. Before the advent of electric lighting, industrial spaces relied on various lighting sources such as oil lamps, gaslights, and candles. These early lightingRead More →

Antiquing

Introduction to Antiquing in the UK Antiquing, or the art of searching for and collecting antiques, is a popular pastime in the United Kingdom. With its rich history and cultural heritage, the UK offers a treasure trove of antique shops, markets, and fairs for enthusiasts to explore. In this blog,Read More →

Cigarette Cards

The Origins of Cigarette Cards The history of cigarette cards dates back to the late 19th century when the popularity of cigarette smoking began to rise. Initially, cigarettes were sold in plain packages without any additional promotional materials. However, in an effort to boost sales and attract customers, tobacco companiesRead More →

Vintage Books

The Life of Agatha Christie Agatha Christie was born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, a seaside town in Devon, England. Her father was an American businessman and her mother was English. She had an older sister and a brother. Agatha was educated at home by her mother and wasRead More →

Super 8

Invention of Super 8 Film Super 8 film was invented by Eastman Kodak in 1965 as an improvement to the existing 8mm film format. It featured smaller sprocket holes, which allowed for a larger image area, and a cartridge system that simplified loading and unloading the film. Super 8 filmRead More →

Thomas The Tank Engine

The Creation of Thomas the Tank Engine Thomas the Tank Engine was created by Reverend Wilbert Awdry, an Anglican clergyman, in the 1940s. Awdry began writing stories about trains to entertain his son Christopher, who was sick in bed with the measles. The first book in the series, “The ThreeRead More →

Stamps

Origins of Stamps The first adhesive postage stamp was the Penny Black, introduced in the United Kingdom in 1840. This invention revolutionized the postal system by allowing postage to be prepaid by the sender rather than the recipient. Prior to the Penny Black, the cost of postage was paid byRead More →

Photography

Understanding Light and Shadows The key to creating striking black and white photos lies in how you control and manipulate light. In black and white photography, there are no colours to distract from the interplay of light and shadows. To achieve a high-contrast image, you’ll need to understand how lightRead More →

Bovril

Origins and Early Years Bovril is a meat extract that was first developed by Scottish entrepreneur John Lawson Johnston in the late 19th century. He created the product as a means of providing a concentrated, nutritious food for soldiers in the British army. The name “Bovril” is a combination ofRead More →

Books

Introduction For Centuries books have been a source of information and imagination. There are some well known authors across the genres who have produced works in the non-fiction and fiction areas. It wasn’t until I started the Wildcard Curiosities business, that I realised how frequent I come across books. FromRead More →