Odd Jobs of Bygone Days: Match Sellers

Street vendors were a common sight in cities in bygone days, selling everything from milk or live chickens to pots, matches or ink.  They also sold services, such as shoe repair, catching rats, sweeping chimneys, or even writing letters for those who could not write (this service is still provided in some Second- and Third World countries).  Such jobs provided vital income for families, but meant long days on one’s feet, regardless of the weather, with perhaps little to show for the effort.

Match Seller, Greenwich, London 1884.  Photo:  Pinterest

Christmas Catalogues of Bygone Days

I’ve written about the Montgomery Ward’s catalogue before; the catalogue I wrote about came out for the Christmas of 1934, and the images are priceless not only for their historical interest, but also the price comparisons, the cultural and social expectations of buyers’ needs, and the illustrations.  Things have changed a great deal in some ways, and very little in others:  Instead of a printed catalogue that needed to have orders placed weeks (if not months) in advance to get it in time for Christmas, we can now order things online and have an estimated delivery date that we can by and large (that’s a nautical term, just FYI!) count on.  So, without further ado, here are some images for your enjoyment (just click on them for a closer look)!