This fascinating museum tells the story of the consumer society in the form of thousands of original items such as branded groceries, household goods, sweets, postcards, magazines and posters. As many of these items will be familiar it’s interesting to see how the packaging has evolved and been influenced by the styles and trends of the time.
The exhibition is divided into sections for each age, starting with the Victorian Period, the 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s all the way up to the 1990s.
I’ve set out below some of my thoughts and observations various different sections of the exhibition.
Victorian period
The industrial revolution heralded improvements in transport and sanitation. Many new brands arrived in the 1880s which were extolled by good packaging. Such products as sauces, pickles and condiments had previously been weighed out by the local grocer and now became available in packaged form.
In the 1840s fancy biscuits started to become available in packaged form via firms such as Huntley and Palmer or Peak Freanes. Prior to this biscuits had previously been sold loose.
Medicines, toiletries, toothpowders and dentifrices were seen as something of a luxury until this period. Prior to this people would use salt as an alternative cleaning method. In the 1890s toilet soaps became more popular.
The new products were a boom to servants – making their life a lot easier and less labour intensive.
The exhibition contains memorabilia from the Great Exhibition (promoting art and industry of the nation) at Crystal Palace in 1851 and the Boer war era (a book by Rudyard Kipling “The Absent Minded Begar” sold to raise funds for soldier’s families).
New Brands for this era:
Frys Chocolate cocoa
Bovril (launched 1886)
Lyles Golden Syrup (launched 1885)
Jacobs Cream Crackers (launched 1885)
Pears Soap (endorsed by Lily Langtree, society actress)
Oakleys Knife polish
Calvert’s carbolic soap
Pascali’s Jellies and blanc manges
Bissell carpet sweeper patented in 1896
Colman’s azure blue
1900s
Postcards: From 1894 postcards had pictorial images but on the same side as the message. In 1902 today’s format was launched with a picture on just one side. As a result sales soared. The form of communication was seen as quick and reliable. Edwardian visitors to costal resorts delighted in sending the “saucy” postcard.
Memorabilia from the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902.
Old cookers/gramaphones
The vacuum cleaner was invented by Hubert Booth (there are some good early examples on display at the exhibition). The British Vacuum Cleaner company was selling cleaners from 1902.
Electric lighting was replacing gas lighting.
1910s
This was the era of The sinking of the Titanic (1912) and the first air mail flight.
First ship to shore radio was used to catch Dr Crippen
The First World War 1914-1918 influenced design in many ways. A wave of patrotism swept the nation. Many tins and containers were decorated with allied flags and army leaders.
The cinema was a very popular form of entertainment and the dances of the day were the tango and the foxtrot.
In the market place, block soap was under attack from the brands Persil (launched 1909) and Rinso (1910)
Gravy browning in the form of Bisto and Oxo was introduced to the market. The Bisto kids first appeared in 1919.
1920s
This decade heralded a time of high unemployment. The Labour party was elected in 1924. Many people felt a strong rapport with the empire (Empire Exhibition 1924) and the great explorers of the day (Tutankahmoun discovered by Howard Carter 1922).
Radio started to become an influence. On 14 November 1922 the BBC began transmitting concerts and news programmes from 6-10pm in the evening. The first gecophone wireless was made by the General Electric Company in 1922. The Radio Times was first produced in 1923.
The opening ceremony of the British Empire Exhbition in Wembley in 1925 was broadcast. The Exhibition promoted the achievements of the Empire countries – most of which were represented. It was attended by a large number of people. The site had its own rail links and 100 electric cars for visitors to get around.
New brands of the 1920s: Meccano
1930s
Although there were some 3 million unemployed there was nevertheless an aura of optimism at this time. Homes and cars became more affordable. Art deco dominated the world of design.
New brands of the 1930s:
Monopoly
Hornby Railway sets
Terrys chocolate orange (1933)
Black magic (1933)
Milky Way (1933)
Nestles Milky Bar (1937)
1940s
Radio was the most popular form of entertainment. The nightly broadcasts during the Second World War were eagerly awaited but sometimes interrupted by Lord Haw Haw. The era saw the formation of the National Health Service (1948) and NATO (1949). In 1946 Britain hosted the “Britain can make it” Exhibition promoting the industry and commerce of the day. Womens magazines promoted a glamorous life of women in uniform in the ATS, WAAF and WRNS. Women took active roles during WW2 working in factories, driving cars, lorries, ciphering messages or as mechanics and this was very much in evidence in publications of the day.
The exhibition also contains sections for the 1970s and 1980s which I haven’t gone into here but were equally fascinating.
Towards the end of the exhibition you can actually see how packaging of various well-known brands has evolved from the very earliest form through to the latest.
The museum has a café and there is a TV screen showing a selection some amusing old TV adverts.
This is definitely a chance to really wallow in nostalgia for a couple of hours. It really just makes you realise the influence of these brands on our day to day lives.
The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising can be located at the following address:-
2 Colville Mews (off Lonsdale Road)
Notting Hill
London W11 2AR
Nearest tubes: Notting Hill Gate
Westbourne Grove
Buses: No.23
Admission: £5.80 (adults)
£2.00 (children)
£14.00 (family)
£3.50 (concessions)s
Telephone: 0207 908 0880
Website: www.museumofbrands.com