From the "when small boys had hobbies" department
I have a few issues of "Hobbies Weekly" floating around, dating from 1933 to 1935. Hobbies Weekly, which specialises in modelling - and especially fretworking - started in 1895 and is based in Dereham, Norfolk (UK). It's still running to this day and can be found at http://www.hobbies-dereham.co.uk/. Much of the writing in this is deliciously parochial and remains a reminder of an altogether more innocent age.
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| Front cover: December 30th 1933 | Editorial: "Next week we shall be into the New Year and our Scottish friends all over the world will have ushered in 1934 with particular ceremony and jubilation. In any case, it is to be sincerely hoped that the coming year will be a real (sic) happy and a prosperous one for every reader. Make every day a bright day as much as you can and keep a cheery smile even if things are going wrong." |
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| Hints and Tips: including a handy string container, how to remove knife handles (the reason why one might need large numbers of knife-blades is not revealed) and the incredibly safe tip about handling molten lead to make lead sinkers (now wash your hands). | The Home Cinema: There's a curiously sweet serendipity about the timing of this article. Just as home cincema is once again all the rage, so it was 70 years ago. Just the technology has changed a little... |
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| Home Cinema Part 2: more details about focus control. Amusing note about how music should be employed in order to keep your audience entertained whilst changing reels of film - but that you shouldn't make it too loud. Compare and contrast with today, where the object is almost to have as much surround-sound as possible. | A Modern Fireplace Screen: well, modern circa the Art Deco 30s |
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| Miscellaneous Advertisements: Transformer repairs, Hornby loco, birds' eggs (!), cot fittings, various stamps plus the 1 Shilling "Lost Word Puzzle". | A Toy Motor in Wood: maybe I should scale this up and rebuild a 1930's classic |