Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: notes

For similar April Fools' Day postcards, see Dear Sir, We Have This Day Doubled Your Salary, The Boss and Dear Sir, I Have Sent You Several Boxes of Cigars . April 1st Dear Sir, Pardon this intrusion, but as you seemed to scared to speak, or write, I took the liberty. Before proceeding farther I must tell you that I have a peculiar affliction. After drinking a few quarts of champagne, I sing, dance, and spout poetry. As my temperament is to love and be loved, I cannot resist the impulse, and don't! Understand, I am a perfect lady always, one who loves her home, but " Oh you kid ." So just press the button, and I will do the rest. Yours bubbling over with love. Mazie D.

Try Again. 'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try again, try again; If at first you don't succeed, Try again; Then your courage should appear, If you will but perservere, You will conquer, never fear, Try again, try again. Handwritten on the back of the card: "Loren & Persnelia Wright."

Who wouldn't want a sweeper for Christmas! The women depicted in this Victorian-era advertising trade card certainly seem pleased with their new Goshen sweeper and other gifts! "A Christmas gift, made by Goshen Sweeper Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. A Merry Xmas. Gies & Co., Buffalo, N.Y." Printed on the back of this advertising trade card: Our carpet sweeper is strongly made, does not easily get out of order, and lasts for years even with constant use. Sweeps easily and cleanly, backward and forward, with less wear and tear to the carpet than any other sweeper (brooms are death to carpets); goes farther into the corners, too. Doesn't spill dirt, and when you are ready it empties itself--almost, it is so simple. "The Rapid" is one name for it--all the same, it's a Goshen Sweeper; made for us. And just that is why it is better than any other. The Mowrey Latshaw Hdw. Co, Spring City, Pa. "It takes the dirt." Note: The Mowrey Latshaw Hardware Company, also known as Latshaw's Hardware, opened in 1875 and is still in business in Spring City, Pa., today, according to its Facebook page .

"Whirlpool Humming Spinner. RCA Whirlpool Home Appliances. Spin it!" This 1960s advertising giveaway came with string and instructions for removing the pre-punched center disk, opening holes to thread the string through, and pulling on both ends of the string in order to spin the disk, which produced a humming or whirring sound (the illustrations of the boy and girl show how this worked). Homemade "button buzzer" versions use a button instead of a cardboard disk. I was surprised to discover that this toy has a long and varied lineage. As Wikipedia explains in its buzzer (whirligig) article, "A buzzer (buzz, bullroarer, button-on-a-string) is an ancient mechanical device used for ceremonial purposes and as a toy. It is constructed by centering an object at the midpoint of a cord or thong and winding the cord while holding the ends stationary. The object is whirled by alternately pulling and releasing the tension on the cord. The whirling object makes a buzzing or humming sound, giving the device its common name." Wikipedia also mentions that Native American made buzzers out of wood, bone, and stone for use in ceremonies and as toys as far back as 500 B.C. It's amazing to think that counterparts to the Whirlpool Humming Spinner were in existence more than twenty-five hundred years ago!

"Dear Sir, In recognition of your valuable and efficient services, we have this day doubled your salary and reduced your working time two hours. You will also find enclosed several shares in the business which we take pleasure in presenting you. Yours truly, The Boss. April 1st." Postmarked April 1, 1910.

Ena L. Metcalf. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind.

"Sunset Park. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Skating New Year." This photographic greeting card shows sisters Beatrice, Henrietta, and Victory Baumgart (I'm not sure who's who in the photo). The Baumgart sisters operated the Sunset Park Rink in Williamsport, Pa., for a number of years in the 1930s. For a related item, see Halloween Party, Sunset Park Rink, Williamsport, Pa., 1939 (1 of 4) .