Tag Archives: 1954

Albert, what’s that funny smell?…

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s dictionary word is, piepowder.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everybody likes to have a gadget or two. And also, what a good word gadget is!We’ve all got gadgets now, haven’t we? Very clever ones. Phones with everything in them, including cameras. … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, books, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, people, phones, photography, physics, reading, science, style, surrealism, thinking, war, words | Tagged 1954, 1954 Gadgets Annual, Albert and Madge, conversation, discovery, electric fire, madness, phone cameras, plastic bending, refractory, silica glass tubes, surrealism, the gadgets annual 1954, the word piepowder, W N Shaw, words | 2 Comments

Albert and Madge, and the coat hanger…

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s carefully selected colours are: raspberry red, raspberry orange, raspberry green, raspberry turquoise, raspberry black, raspberry cream, and raspberry grey.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s another old book from my modest collection of old books.Today’s, The 1954 Gadgets Annual. The items in … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, brain, colours, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, expletives, food, gods, green, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, Maths, observations, physics, puzzle, reading, religion, science, smiling, style, swearing, thinking, words | Tagged 'made off', 1954, Albert and Madge, an annual, art, bending wire, Billy next door, biscuits, conversation, hacksaw, In God's name!, magazine, observations, sawing wire, serendipity, snagging on things, style, tea and biscuits, the gadgets annual 1954, W. N. Shaw, words | Leave a comment

1954 – A use for your old screw-capped jars…

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s lunch will be baked beans on buttered toast. Me, I prefer Branston’s tinned beans over the very popular Heinz ones.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aha! That slim book from 1954. The one with a collection of favourite cuttings from the … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, books, brain, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, finance, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, irony, jobs, learning, Maths, mind, money, observations, people, physics, puzzle, reading, science, seeing, smiling, style, swearing, thinking | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, annual, beans for lunch, bicuits, Branston beans, Britain 1954, canopic jars, conversation, daft idea, discovery, Heinz, I great idea!, in the workshop, novel idea?, observations, on buttered toast, rack?, rattling!, rotating?, silly project, style, tea, the gadgets annual 1954, tinned beans, W N Shaw | 2 Comments

Albert!… No, not on my kitchen wall!…

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown. UK: Today’s ancient Egyptian deity is Sopdet. A woman with a star on her head. It is the dog star, Sirius. Click here. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s another of my old scruffy junk shop, charity shop, books. The 1954 Gadgets … Continue reading →

Posted in abstract, archeology, books, brain, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, expletives, food, gods, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, people, phones, reading, religion, seeing, smiling, style, swearing, words | Tagged 1954, Albert, art, bourbons, break-back, charity shop book, conversation, discovery, junk shop book, Madge, mousrtraps, observations, one screw fitting, paper clip, serendipity, style, tea?, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, the gadgets annual 1954, The Gadgets Magazine, W N Shaw, words | 1 Comment

Attractive table-place holders from half balls…

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s cream bun is the one, with a bite out of it, left on a low wall near the bus stop. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s another one of my old, cheap, junk shop, charity shop, purchases. The 1954 … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, brain, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, existentialism, expletives, fashion, food, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, Maths, mind, painting, people, science, serendipity, smiling, style, thinking | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, art, arts, Britain 1950s, bus stop, conversation, cream bun, dinner party, do it yourself, half balls, kith and kin, ping pong balls, razor blades, serendipity, style, surrealism, table place holders, the gadgets annual 1954, The Gadgets Magazine, Tommy, W N Shaw, words | 1 Comment

Yes, it’s called blow-football…

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown UK: Today’s quotation is from Cordwainer Smith’s story The Ballad of Lost C’mell: Only three besides Jestocost were present – the Lady Johanna Gnade, Lord Issan Olasccoaga and Lord William Not-from-here. (the Not-from-heres were a great Norstrilian … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, arts, books, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, jobs, learning, people, puzzle, reading, science, seeing, serendipity, smiling, story, words, writing | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, blow football, boisterous, C'mell, conversation, conversation., Cordwainer Smith, discovery, Gadgets Annual, gadgets magazine, holes, Johanna Gnade, Lord William Not-from-here, Norstrilia, Old North Australia, ping-pong ball, serendipity, style, The Ballad of Lost C'mell, W N Shaw, Why on earth?, with a difference!, woodwork, words | 1 Comment

Replace tape as and when necessary…

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s architectural term is, crockett – the name of an early Gothic form of a capital on top of a pillar. One with stylized leaves with the endings rolled over, similar to small volutes. Click here. … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, architecture, art, books, brain, conversation, creation, design, drama, drawing, expletives, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, puzzle, reading, smiling, style, swearing, thinking, Uncategorized, words | Tagged 1954, Albert, architectural term, Capitals, chest of drawers, clocks, conversation, crocket, dowel, drinking tea, dust, dusty, formica, Gothic form, home work, inside clocks, Madge, pillars, sawing, serendipity, slots, sodding, sticky tape, style, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, W N Shaw, words | 3 Comments

But, if you wanted to do rather a lot of glueing…

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s rather interesting word, to bandy about, is pyrheliometer. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It is another of my old, junk shop, market stall, charity shop, books, bought for a few pence a while ago – the Gadgets Annual from … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, art, arts, books, brain, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, existentialism, food, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, people, puzzle, reading, seeing, smiling, style, surrealism, thinking, Uncategorized, words | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, Billy next door, biscuits, charity shops, conversation, cups of tea, dearest..., fan-end, glueing?, junk shops, landfills, leather washer, magazines, old jusnk shop books, plunger?, pyrheliometer, serendipity, seventy years old, simple construction, soldering., style, stytlish?, surrealism, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, tinplate?, W N Shaw, well-greased, words | 2 Comments

Proficiency at working plastics can be profitable at any time…

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s interesting fish names are: the Airsac Catfish, the Goatfish, the Bitterling, the Bleak, the Loweye Catfish, and Owen’s Pupfish. Me, I’m more attracted to the ones that don’t have ‘fish’ in the name, I’m surprised that … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, brain, colours, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, drawing, dreaming, fashion, finance, food, green, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, money, puzzle, reading, science, seeing, serendipity, smiling, style, thinking, words | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, arts, bending perspex?, conversation, interesting fish names, junk shop books, landfill, making things, money making schemes, Owen's Pupfish, perspex, rocking on the table, splended, style, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, the Airsac Catfish, the Bitterling, the Bleak, the Goatfish, the loweye catfish, toast rack, UK 1950s | 2 Comments

Albert and Madge, and the disappearing…

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s octopus is the one sitting at a table outside the café, drinking coffee and operating three laptops at once. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The book is called The 1954 Gadgets Annual. It has the best items from that … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, books, brain, cafe, conversation, cool, creation, drama, drawing, existentialism, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, magic, physics, politics, puzzle, reading, science, seeing, serendipity, smiling, surrealism, thinking, words | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, Britain in the 1950s, cheap labour, chuckling?, conversation, dager, discovery, fixing things, grandchildren, landfill, mad Billy, madness, magazine, next door, poison!, poorly paid workers, puzzle your friends, repairing things, surrealism, The Gadgets Magazine, throw away, totalitarian, words | 4 Comments

You can ‘profile’, the plastic parts?…

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s old, wrinkled black and white photo, is the one of me and Clint Eastwood apparently arguing, and staring at each other, over a game of pool in a small run-down bar in Tennessee in 1966.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Come … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, archeology, books, brain, conversation, creation, design, drama, drawing, dreaming, history, humour, information, instruction, irony, jobs, learning, puzzle, reading, seeing, serendipity, style, surrealism, swearing, thinking, words, writing | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, arguing, Britain in the 1950s, cats and dogs, Clint Eastwood, conversation, discs?, gravel weeds, photo-brooch, photos, Plastic Bag, pool table, serendipity, staring, style, surrealism, tennessee, The Gadgets Magazine, W N Shaw, wrinkled black and white snapshot | Leave a comment

Old jam jars?…

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s unusual china teapot is the one shaped like Putin’s head – nice and round, but it is a very aggressive pourer.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, it’s that 1954 Gadgets Annual again!Ah, the 1950s in Britain – a time when … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, brain, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, expletives, fashion, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, people, physics, puzzle, reading, science, smiling, surrealism, swearing, sweating, thinking, words, writing | Tagged 1950s UK, 1954, Albert and Madge, an exra vase?, an iron in the fire, conversation, decorative glassware, file, gadgets, Gadgets Annual, gifts?, hearthj rug, history, jam jars, magazine, on ther fire, open the window!, paper frills, scorching scarlet, soldering iron, style, ten minutes!, the Christmas table, The Gadgets Magazine, title page, W N Shaw | 1 Comment

Dividing things over breakfast…

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s lost plectrum is the one eventually found inside the left foot of King Henry VIII’s suit of armour in the Tower of London. Click here. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s a slim book. The spine covering, which wraps … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, books, brain, conversation, cool, creation, drama, drawing, food, history, humour, information, instruction, learning, mind, puzzle, reading, science, seeing, smiling, surrealism, thinking, war | Tagged 1950s, 1954, Albert and Madge, Amazon, boiled egg, equal parts, gadgets magazine, geometry, green tie, king henry viii, London WN9, Maths and geometry, POSTLIB, repairing things, semicircles, suit of armour, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, Tower of London, triangles, W N Shaw | 2 Comments

A most attractive gift item…

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK. Today’s quotation is from Flann O’Brien’s very strange 1930s novel The Third Policeman:‘Did you ever see a bicycle-shaped coffin?’‘No.’‘It is a very intricate piece of wood-working, you would want to be a first class carpenter to make … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, books, brain, conversation, creation, design, drama, drawing, expletives, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, phones, reading, smiling, surrealism, swearing, thinking, words, writing | Tagged 1930s, 1954, Albert and Madge, attractive gift, bicycle coffin, bicycle repairs, bicycles, conversation, darning socks, Flann O'Brien, gadgets magazine, novel idea, perspex, punctures, shirt cuff, strange novel, The Third Policeman, toothpicks, W. N. Shaw, woodwork | 3 Comments

A ‘V’ with supporting blocks…

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s dictionary words are: ahungered, helminth, galingale, subdolous, nephalism, and entrepas. Please have these words looked up and placed in suitable sentences ready for Professor Mouldie’s online session first thing after breakfast tomorrow morning. Should the … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, archeology, art, arts, books, colours, conversation, cool, creation, design, drama, fashion, history, humour, information, instruction, reading, smiling, smoking, style, thinking, words | Tagged 'attractive', 1954, ahungered, Albert and Madge, awful magazine, bowsers, Britain, celery cleaner, dictionary words, entrepas, gadgets magazine, galingale, glueing, helminth, magazines, nephalism, online session, perspex, Professor Mouldie, Sidney and daisy, subdolous, teapot lid, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, unusual spectacles, upside down, W N Shaw | 2 Comments

Albert, Madge, and Her Majesty…

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s quotation is from John Steinbeck’s amusing and gripping 1945 novel, Cannery Row:The rooster who had challenged the sunrise of this very day lay dismembered and clean in water in the five-gallon can with peeled onions about … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, books, brain, celebrities, colours, conversation, cool, creation, drama, drawing, heraldry, history, humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, painting, puzzle, reading, science, smiling, theatre, thinking, words, writing | Tagged 1945, 1954, Albert and Madge, birthday, breakfast table, cake and buns, Cannery Row, chemicals, ferric, flag, Her Majesty the Queen, John Steinbeck, magic, party time!, prepared beforehand, reading, rooster, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, theatre, union flag, union jack, willow sticks | 2 Comments

Why not brighten it up with cellulose tape?…

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s octopus is the one attention seeking in the fruit and veg section of the supermarket by successfully juggling seven cucumbers at once.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s a funny little book, the 1954 Gadgets Annual. It’s something that I picked … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, brain, colours, conversation, creation, drama, Grumpiness, history, Hull.UK., humour, information, instruction, jobs, learning, reading, smiling, style, sweating, writing | Tagged 1950s Britain, 1954, Albert and Madge, cellulose tape, Colours, conversation, fumes, inquisitive fingers, ne'er-do-well, red and yellow, sheepish?, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, the old car, vandalised?, W. N. Shaw | 4 Comments

Tongued brogues Albert?…

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Dave Whatt

But first…Dulltown, UK: Today’s unusual china teapot is the one shaped like a box of wheat cereal – not a very good pourer and it is rather confusing on the breakfast table.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This morning dear reader, I thought that we … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, composition, conversation, cool, drama, existentialism, fashion, food, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, learning, people, reading, serendipity, style, surrealism, thinking | Tagged 1954, Albert and Madge, beige slip-ons, big feet, Billy next door, Britain in the 1950s, buttered toast, dearest..., gadgets magazine, Huh!..., junk shop books, magazines, nice butter, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, the back fence, tongued brogues, W N Shaw, what of it? | 2 Comments

Anybody here like geometry?…

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s confused film star is Stylvester Sallone. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Well, you see, yesterday my neighbour asked me if I’d like to draw, and then cut out from a large piece of 12 mm board, a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, architecture, art, arts, books, brain, creation, design, drawing, history, information, instruction, learning, puzzle, reading, style | Tagged 1954, 8 x 4 board, a stick and a pencil, a strip of paper, arches, architecture, arts, constructing an ellipse, curves, discovery, drawing, elegant arch, geometry, history, instruction, lockdown activity, loop of string, lustre restored, major axis, minor axis, necklaces and bangles, optical illusion, pleasing shape, serendipity, style, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, the foci, woodwork | 3 Comments

The effect is unusual and quite pleasing…

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s quotation is from Vladimir Nabokov’s 1933 novel Laughter in the Dark, which I am currently re-reading: It was a sunny evening and a little party of midges were continuously darning the air in one spot. … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, arts, books, brain, conversation, creation, design, drama, food, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, instruction, reading, style, words, writing | Tagged 1933, 1954, Albert and Madge, bobbins, buttered crumpet, clear plastic, conversation, cotton reel, discovery, drawing, erudite, history, instruction, Laughter in the Dark, midges, picture frame, plastic dust, quite pleasing, serendipity, style, The 1954 Gadgets Annual, vladimir nabokov, words, writing | Leave a comment