30 Things From The Early 1900s That Show How Different Everyday Life Used To Be
When we think about the early 1900s, it’s easy to picture everything in black and white because that’s how we usually see it in old photographs. But people were still just living normal lives, buying stuff, going to work, using appliances, taking pictures, and apparently designing some extremely complicated-looking equipment.
That’s what makes these things from the early 1900s so interesting. They aren’t necessarily priceless treasures or objects owned by famous people. A lot of them are just everyday things that somehow survived long enough for someone to photograph them today.
Seeing them up close makes 100 years ago feel a lot more real. It also makes me appreciate that my toilet doesn’t look like something I need an engineering degree to operate.
1. “Schlitz beer found in the wall, dated 1937.”
2. “Our building (circa 1910) has a toilet with tiny sink built into the top that runs when you flush it”
3. “A functional cash register from 1915.”
4. “A doctor’s office on my delivery route has a real WW1 medical kit framed up on the wall.”
5. “My grandpa has a bottle of Listerine from 1916 that still has some Listerine in it.”
6. “1925 Prescription Pill Box”
7. “WW1 trench lighter up and running”
8. “This H.G Fischer fixed X-ray System. Circa 1915”
9. “How the Michelin Man looked in 1915.”
10. “National Geographic from January of 1925”
11. “The 1928 Toaster we still use today”
12. “This drivers license from 1926”
13. “This circular playing card deck from 1929”
14. “This teaching contract from 1923”
Contract says:
“Teachers Contract, Term 1923
This agreement between Miss ________ teacher, and the Board of Education of the ________ School, whereby Miss ________ agrees to teach in the ________ School for a period of eight months, beginning September 1, 1923. The Board of Education agrees to pay Miss ________ the sum of $75 per month.
Miss ________ agrees:
I. Not to get married. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher marries.
II. Not to keep company with men.
III. To be home between the hours of 8pm and 6am unless she is in attendance at a school related function.
IV. Not to loiter downtown in ice cream parlors.
V. Not to leave town at any time without the permission of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
VI. Not to smoke cigarettes. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is found smoking.
VII. Not to drink beer, whiskey or wine. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is found drinking beer, whisky and/or wine.
VIII. Not to ride in a carriage/automobile with any man except her brother or father.
IX. Not to wear bright colours.
X. To wear at least two petticoats.
XI. Not to dye her hair or wear makeup of any kind.
XII. Not to wear a dress more than two inches above the heel.
XIII. To keep the schoolhouse clean; to sweep the classroom floor at least once daily; to scrub the floor once weekly with hot water and soap; to clean the blackboards at least once daily.
XIV. The fire shall be started at 7am in order to warm up the room for 8am when the children arrive; to carry out the ashes at least once daily.”
15. “Prices in 1923 found in my Great Grandma’s memoir”
16. “College Application From 1922”
17. “My great-grandparents’ 1923 phonograph still works… hadn’t been tried since WWII.”
18. “The original phone still installed inside my 1930’s apartment”
19. “A anti marijuana ad from the 1930’s”
20. “Thrifted these two 1930s cameras today for $15 each”
21. “Plane ticket price in 1946”
22. “i found some 1930’s aspirin inside of an abandoned home, original pills too”
23. “This house built in 1947 has a built in seat for their telephone nook.”
24. “Only for real hipsters – Gramophone alarm clock from 1925.”
25. “Stewardess application requirements (circa 1945)”
The Application Requirements Say:
CHICAGO AND SOUTHERN AIR LINES
QUALIFICATIONS FOR STEWARDESS
1. Single – Not engaged.
2. Between the ages of 22 and 28.
3. Between 5’2″ and 5’5″.
4. Between 100 and 120 pounds.
5. Good eyesight (No glasses).
6. Good teeth (Even no gold showing when smiling).
7. Good figure.
8. Slender legs.
9. Natural color to hair.
10. At least four years of college or two years of college and two years business experience.
11. The ability to carry on a lively conversation.
12. Good carriage.
13. Even temper – must not become provoked by demands of passengers.
14. Willing and anxious to please.
15. Willing to transfer.
16. Citizen of the United States.
17. Excellent health.
Clear skin.
Nice hands.
26. “My great grandfather’s Oscar nomination from 1944.”
27. “This 1930s era gas/petrol pump”
28. “How a 1943 first aid book instructs you to help someone whose choking”
29. “My Grandmother still uses this stove from 1947”
30. “My robotics teacher has a 1948 Olympic torch”
