M&S Company Archive Reminiscence Image Pack. Christmas

Transcription

1 M&S Company Archive Reminiscence Image Pack Christmas

2 Image Notes Sheet Music, c1910 Sheet music was a best-selling product at M&S, at a time when a family sing-song around the piano was a popular form of entertainment. Do you know the words to any of the carols? Christmas Toys, 1912 In this advert Father Christmas carries a sack full of M&S toys, including tennis rackets, teddy bears, dolls, toy boats, drums, trains and a football rattle. All these toys cost 1d in In this illustration, Father Christmas s coat is decorated with sprigs of holly. Christmas Tree Decorations, 1916 Christmas trees became more and more popular at the start of the 20 th century. For 5 shillings M&S would send you everything you needed to decorate yours, including tinsel, ornaments and baubles. The ladies decorating this tree wear typical Edwardian clothes. Children s Gifts, 1932 This advert comes from a customer magazine and shows prices, from 2s 6d to 5s. These gifts are for older children, when compared to the toys in the 1912 advert. The Actor s Outfit comes with lining pencil and moustaches, whilst the Chemical Set contains everything you need for carrying out chemistry experiments. Which would be your favourite? Sparks Magazine, 1934 Sparks was a staff magazine that contained stories and photographs, as well as information about new products. This front cover shows a cosy Christmas scene with a roaring fire and a snoozing dog, the mantelpiece has been decorated with holly. Christmas Air Mail Letter, 1944 During the war M&S kept in touch with all members of staff in the Armed Forces, we wrote to them and sent stories from home. These staff also kept in touch with M&S: this air mail card was sent from Lt F Myers who worked in the Footwear Department, when he was stationed in India with the South East Asia Command.

3 Image Notes Victory Christmas Dinner Menu, 1945 After the end of the Second World War, Blackpool Church Street store celebrated with a Christmas dinner. Rationing was still in place, so people would pool their coupons to have enough ingredients for a special meal. Do you think this menu looks appetising? What s your favourite part of Christmas dinner? Christmas Gloves Display, 1940s Shop windows are a useful way to promote different types of merchandise, and window display was an art in itself! This creative display highlights our range of men s and ladies leather gloves from 3s 11d. Christmas Food Display, 1950s Food has been sold at M&S since the early days on the first market stall, when customers could buy basic items such as flour, spices and confectionery. By the 1950s we were selling a much wider range, and this photograph shows some of our Christmas food including Spanish oranges, Cox s apples, Cadbury s Milk Tray, mixed nuts, sugared almonds and Rowntree s Black Magic. Christmas Greetings to M&S, 1955 These Christmas greetings were published in our staff magazine. Stars like Ruby Murray, Terry Thomas, Richard Attenborough and the Goons sent their best wishes to M&S employees. The photograph of Kenneth More is a still from his film Reach for the Sky, the photograph of Denis Price and Jill Adams was taken during filming of Private s Progress. Christmas Morning, 1957 This photograph shows a father decorating the tree and a mother wrapping presents as two children peek round the door. The photo was used in a competition the first member of staff to correctly list all the items in the picture won a guinea! Christmas Pudding, 1958 The lady in this Christmas advert wears an embroidered apron and shows off her Christmas pudding aprons were a really popular product at M&S, from full pinafores to half aprons like this. The man sneaks a mince pie while she isn t looking!

4 Image Notes Family Christmas Advert, 1960 This advert promotes a St Michael Christmas you could buy everything you needed for Christmas from Marks & Spencer. St Michael was the M&S brand name, introduced in 1928 by chairman Simon Marks, named after his father Michael, the founder of the business. Present Time, 1961 A couple swap presents on Christmas morning, just before they put their Christmas day outfits on. The lady wears a thick quilted dressing gown perfect for December mornings! Christmas Dinner, 1971 A mouth-watering Christmas dinner, complete with turkey and all the trimmings: ham, mince pies, nuts, Christmas cake, liquorice allsorts and of course, sprouts. How does this dinner compare to the Blackpool meal in 1945? Blackpool might not have had bananas! Christmas Party, 1977 This couple are enjoying a drink at a Christmas party, looks like they haven t noticed Father Christmas behind them! The pair wear typically 1970s clothing the man is wearing a black velvet jacket, the lady wears a fulllength kaftan dress

5 Sheet Music, c1910

6 Sheet Music, c1910

7 Christmas Toys, 1912

8 Christmas Tree Decorations, 1916

9 Children s Gifts, 1932

10 Staff Magazine, 1934

11 Christmas Air Mail Letter, 1944

12 Victory Christmas Dinner Menu, 1945

13 Christmas Glove Display, c1940s

14 Christmas Food Display, 1950s

15 Christmas Greetings to M&S, 1955

16 Christmas Morning, 1957

17 Christmas Pudding, 1958

18 Family Christmas Advert, 1960

19 Present Time, 1961

20 Christmas Dinner, 1971

21 Christmas Party, 1977