Comments on: In the Archives: When The Press Fed Us

By: TJ

TJ — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:04:50 +0000

I was going to guess that those tongs were used for placing jars in and removing them from the canning bath. So if not ice tongs, then canning tongs.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:19:17 +0000

ABC: Marshmallows were indeed not mentioned...interestingly, mass commercial production of them didn't begin until well after WWII, when one Alex Doumak patented the "extrusion" method; previously, marshmallows had been made laboriously in molds. Doumak's 1956 patent illustration for the extrusion process shows the little square candies rolling off a conveyor belt: [link] Numerous online sources say that the extrusion process was patented in 1948; not in the 1950s; I could find no evidence of this. The Doumak company still makes marshmallows today, just outside of Chicago. The popular "Campfire" brand is made by the Doumak company.

By: abc

abc — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 02:39:17 +0000

Yes, I think the Teach got it but it could also be a a pretty impressive navel piercing piece… or a marshmallow torture device… neither of which did I see mentioned in the article.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:46:56 +0000

It would be interesting to compare the old “Personals” columns with something like Twitter to find the differences between then and now. Some similarities, some differences.

On another note, readers may recall the miraculous ice-making machine in Paul Theroux’s “The Mosquito Coast.” This was an ammonia refrigerator (a/k/a “absorption refrigerator,”) a variety that uses hydrogen as part of the thermochemical cycle. Checked the book to make sure, and sure enough, here is a description from page 26 of the 1983 Avon paperback edition:

“It’s perfection!” Father said, and Polski winced at the word…”Those other ones were small. Inefficient. Low-grade coolants. They didn’t know a thing about coolants until yesterday afternoon. Gas operated…But this baby”–and he touched it tenderly–”this baby uses a new formula of high-expansion liquid, enriched ammonia, and hydrogen under pressure. She’s a scale model. I’m planning on making a huge one…”

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:46:43 +0000

That’s so cool and a bit like social media today. I know that we worry about not having privacy “these days” but it’s apparently been a thing for quite some time. I also like the old society columns that they had back in the day, too…how fun!

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:45:48 +0000

Patti: Tidbit: All of those social notes in the “Personal” columns were submitted by the participants. Before telephony, people would drop by the local newspaper office and drop off these tidbits about who was visiting at Whitmore Lake, who had a pedro party and what the decorations consisted of, who was treated to a surprise birthday party and what the gift was. People wanted those things in the paper and actively sought to have them included….because *everyone* read the paper; it was a shared experience.

Regarding your guess: I had a brief mental image of my hero Roald Amundsen, part of whose polar success consisted of strategic streamlining of his equipment. Light sledges, I mean.

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:34:32 +0000

OMG best. typo. ever!! I meant ice *tongs *. That typo should win some sort of award. Go, me!

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:33:45 +0000

Some sort of ice thongs?

I love reading the old newspapers (Argus and such) online. Those folks had it going on…they were all about who was sick, who was in town, who visited whom, births, deaths, parties, social events…it was Facebook but for the late 1890s. And I miss having a “paper” paper (no disrespect to my friends who write for the online version). My dad lives in FL half time and I love getting up and doing the crossword with him when we go and visit.