Electric Shock Therapy Machine

On Monday mornings the Curator, with the assistance of two volunteers, audit the Museum store, and take objects out and put them away again. It's fairly arduous, but it keeps the store in good order and we very occasionally find objects we had no idea we had!

This Monday passed we stumbled upon this Victorian electric shock therapy machine from around c1870s. In the late 19th century these machines (and adaptations of them!) were very popular due to the scientific discoveries being made at the time. In late-Victorian newspapers it is not uncommon to see advertisements for "electric corsets", "electric hairbrushes", and "electric belts" - mad-cap inventions in hindsight, but important nonetheless to the developments made in using electricity to enhance our daily lives.

 

The label on the Machine reads:

Connect two metallic cords or wires with the sockets in the ends of the Box, and apply handles connected with the other ends of the metallic cords or wires to any part of the person through which is desirable to pass the current of Electricity. Then turn the crank, regulating the strength of the current by the speed, and by the knob at the end of the box : it being desirable to increase the strength to that degree most agreeable to the patient. It is less unpleasant to the patient if wet sponges are placed in the ends of the handles and these applied to the skin, as they prevent the prickling sensation. The sponges should never be put inside the Box while wet as they rust the machinery. In applying it for the Toothache, Tic-Doloreaux or Neuralgia, the operator takes one Handle and places fingers or sponge over the part affected, while the patient hold the other Handle. In applying it to the foot place one of the Handles in the Water with the foot, and hold the other in the hand, or apply it to any other part of the person. The Bearings and Spring must be oiled occasionally".

 

The machine is now on display in our Chemist Shop.

“From our Photographic Collection”, by Pat Harvey

THE EARLY MOTORIST

                                                                                Ref P057: A couple of early motorists with their car

Some of you will remember Gordon Christie, a true St Andrean who had great depth of knowledge of all things relating to St Andrews. He was 94 years old when he died in 2009.

The business, Christie Brothers, was established in 1908 by Gordon’s Father and Uncle, James and Jack Christie, who were initially cycle builders. They made the “Bell Rock Cycle”. Producing a hand made cycle was a very skilled and time consuming job. By 1921 Christie Brothers’ garage in Bridge Street was a very busy place. They became motor engineers, cycle repairers and retail agents for Triumph and A.J.S. Motor Cycles. They also sold petrol.

The Museum has benefited greatly from Gordon Christie by way of photographs and from information on a wide variety of subjects.

Have you ever thought about how and where early motorists obtained the fuel for their vehicles?  In 1980 a school teacher wrote to Gordon asking this question. This was his reply:-

“Early motorists had difficulty in buying petrol until a London oil refining company ironically named Carless, Capeland and Leonard started a light benzene (or benzoline) and named it “petrol”, borrowing from the French word pétrole.

My late father and Mr Wilson (Wilson’s Garage) would send off a letter ordering the petrol from this London firm. It was sold to them in four two gallon sealed cans. The cans fitted into a wooden box. The boxes were sent off by rail to St Andrews and were delivered by the local horse-drawn railway lorry to their garages.

I remember in the early 1920’s the three Petrol Companies’ motor lorries delivering the cans of petrol at my father’s garage. They were:-

   Pratts – green cans 

   Shell – red cans

   British Petroleum, known as BP – green cans with a yellow shield.

In the middle of the 1920s garages went over to manual pumps. At the top part of the pump were two glass containers. The operator pumped petrol up into one of the containers with an oscillating handle, then emptied that into the car’s tank while pumping up petrol to fill the other container. This was a slow method of refuelling.”

 

Now we know!  

 

A mysterious festive tradition

There are many wonderful festive traditions that have stood the test of time, the most obvious being the kind act of gift giving. Although the exchanging of gifts at Christmas is still customary today, it seems that in St Andrews in the not-so-long-ago past, Hogmanay was also a time to look forward to for local children.

As the photograph shows, children would visit local shops and receive gifts in a tradition called ‘cake day’. We believe that this photograph was taken outside of Birrell's grocery store at 89 South Street (now a restaurant called 'Zizzi'). Unfortunately, there is no further information about ‘cake day’ - does anyone know what date this fell on? One would assume it to be New Years Day but, as far as I am aware, most stores are closed on the 1^st of January. I wonder if 'cake day' happened in other towns? It would be nice to find out more information about cake day as it is such a lovely tradition that now, sadly, appears to be lost to us.

“From our Photographic Collection”, by Pat Harvey

  The first time I saw this photograph it was on display in one of our exhibitions some years ago. I was horrified and couldn’t believe the Curator was displaying a dead bird in a dog’s mouth!

   The exhibition was “Every Home Comfort” and was about St Andrews Hotels, past and present. The picture was with information on West Park Hotel which was in St Marys Place where the Students’ Union now stands. It was built in 1866 by David Bryce, an Edinburgh architect, presumably as a house.  It became a hotel in the 1900s and was run throughout its history by the Stewart family.  During the First World War it was used to billet officers.  The Stewarts originally leased the hotel, but with the money made from accommodating the officers, they were able to buy the property.  It had over an acre of beautiful gardens and was known as a popular place for quiet afternoon teas. There are some good photographs of the hotel and grounds in the Museum’s Collection.

  The answer to the photograph was as follows:-  Ross, the dog, and David, the pigeon, belonged to the Stewart family and “performed” for hotel guests.  The pigeon, which was very much alive, was perfectly safe in the retriever’s soft mouth.  They were the best of friends.  Sometimes David perched on Ross’ head or sat on his back. The photographs (we have another five) were probably taken by Mr Cowie. They appeared in newspapers of the day c. 1936.

  The University bought the hotel in 1967, demolished it and built a new Students Union on the site.  There was considerable objection at the time.

Cowan's Bonzo Toffee Tin

Each day, as I walk around the Museum turning the lights on for our 2pm opening, I encounter this little guy's face.

As a self-confessed crazy dog lady (yes, they exist!) I adore this little tin. If I was given this tin of toffees as a gift, I would appreciate the tin more than it's contents. Seeing as this tin makes me smile every day I thought it was only right to find out a bit about who made it. Thankfully, in my (google!) search I came across this fantastic website, which tells me all about the manufacturer and the 'Bonzo' brand. It seems that these tins came in different sizes, and were made in the 1920s by Cowan & McKay in Glasgow. Bonzo was a popular cartoon created by George Studdy from the early 1920s, and appeared in The Sketch. He was the face of many adverts from tobacco, confectionary and cars, and he also featured in short film, in games and on postcards. 'Bonzo' memorabilia is collectible - it looks like I may have a new collecting obsession!

St Andrews during the Great War - Preparing the Collection

Yesterday marked one year before the 100^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War. In preparation of our own exhibition on St Andrews during the Great War next summer, I have been preparing objects in the collection that could be displayed. Today, I came across this photo-postcard of the children of St Andrews on parade during Sir Douglas Haig’s visit to the Town in 1919.

 

In 1916 Haig was elected rector at the University of St Andrews whilst Commander-In-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force. He unveiled the war memorial, a stones-throw away from the Museum, in September 1922.

As well as the postcard, British Pathe have this silent film of the parade.

St Andrews in the 1920’s: The Horses Road by Museum Volunteer Betty Bushnell

Some months ago my niece asked me why I was talking about the 'horse-road'. We had been discussing the resurfacing of Market Street. She had often noticed that I used that expression. The question made me think: was that not the correct name? I had not realised that I was saying anything unusual! And then I asked myself when I had last seen a horse in Market Street: certainly not since the war - unless in some infrequent festivity.

 When I  first knew the town however, there were far more horses than cars - so older generations would have used that name and, no doubt, as a young child I must have been warned; 'don't go out onto the Horse Road, keep to the footpath' (footpath rather than 'pavement' whether it was tarmaced paved or just dirt). Thus the word had come naturally to me – and remained so over all these years!

We arrived in St Andrews in 1925 and were met at the station by one of the fleet of hansom cabs which always met the trains. A dozen years or so later, these had not long been replaced by motorised taxis then back again came the horse and carts in war-time! I have a feeling that they were then retained longer than necessary in the fifties as by then the tourist attraction had been realised.

 Generally speaking, shop-deliveries in the mid-twenties were made by either horse-drawn vehicles or boys on bicycles with very large baskets in front, and displaying the Shopkeeper's name and trade prominently on the bicycle. I think I'm right in saying that the various bakers made regular deliveries once or twice a week ……

Johnston's stables were situated where Johnston Court is now, with access from both North Street and Market Street, while towards the West end of South Street was Wilson's stables.  One individual memory that has remained vivid: I was walking in Market Street with my Grandmother when suddenly, a runaway horse burst out of Johnston's and galloped down the road, hotly pursued by a couple of men. Suddenly, at the junction with Bell Street it stumbled and crashed to the ground. In vain my Grandmother was trying to hussy me away – not far enough however, to avoid my hearing the shot ring out, telling us that the animal must have broken one or more legs and was being put down. I wonder if it was the cause of the cobbles being replaced by a smooth surface?

 

 A happier memory is of being pulled down to the sea in one of the horse-drawn bathing machines on the West Sands. It was quite difficult to undress and put one's bathing-suit on while in motion! Even more difficult to dry oneself and dress on the return journey!

 

 When the Lammas Fair arrived in August they were not allowed into the town until early on the Friday – or Monday for South Street – morning. Consequently, a long queue of horse-drawn and some mechanised wagons and other vehicles could be seen the previous evening on the coast road.  During the duration of the fair the horses were allowed to stay tethered on the grass verges beyond the town's boundary.

 

 I have often wondered why the streets did not quickly become smelly and dirty (remembering how we suffered in the past with dog mess). This must have been due to the efficiency of the unobtrusive refuse workers who, with their hand carts, brooms and shovels seemed to appear from nowhere. Whether they were employed officially or not, I do not know.

 

If I ever inadvertently refer to the road as the 'horse road' in future, perhaps you will now forgive me!

                                                                                 Johnston’s Livery Stables, 117—119 Market Street