Old UK Print Ads

I was startled to discover that mars bars were completely different in other countries. The yanks have them mixed up with our milky way (no layer of caramel in their mars bar) and the Brits seem to have a chalkiness to them. They're a localised treat.

I suspect there are many people who’ve not tried Colman’s mustard made using the original powder. Completely different experience, can blow your head off…

This advert promotes Colman's Mixed Mustard. It highlights the convenience of the ready-mixed version, emphasizing its taste and versatility with various foods such as roasts, bacon, sausages, and cheese. The advert promises tastier meals and time savings for busy individuals. Now you can buy Colman's Mustard ready-mixed! YOU'LL find it a lot easier you. Roasts and bacon and now to serve mustard with sausages all take on a new fas- your meals. New Colman's cination with a little help from Mixed Mustard is ready-mixed Colman's. The ham sandwich, in a jar. It's modern, clean to in particular, was made for serve, ready to use the instant Colman's Mustard. you want it. And so good on so many tard save you time in those different kinds of foods! If last few busy minutes before you've never tried Colman's meals. Keep some on hand Mustard on a piece of cheese, always. Only 1/3 a jar at you've a real treat in store for your grocer's.

Mar 1958: Mixed Mustard ad from Colman's

«Now you can buy
Colman's Mustard
ready-mixed!»

An advertisement for Modern Romance featuring a free personality poster with the 12" single of "High Life". Also features readers letters and cartoons about music. FREE! Although they only sang two songs, it was really good and I'd like to thank Culture Club and Jimmy Savile for such an enjoyable day at school. Jeremy Newall, Barnet. I was watching the "British Rock And Pop Awards" a few weeks back and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great to see my favourite groups singing their hits from the last year and see clips from those fantastic videos. Why, then, was it necessary to have a group of individuals masquerading under the name of the Irving Davies Dancers contorting grotesquely and completely spoiling the effect of the live bands? Do the BBC think we want to be subjected to such disgusting dancing (if it can be called that). I am not a prude, but it marred an otherwise entertaining programme. Margaret James, Aylesbury. Staggering, isn't it? Someone at the BBC obviously thinks that writhing about on a motorbike is actually some form of "dancing". Ask anyone to "dance" in that manner down my way of a Friday night and you'd get arrested. Bring in the accused. Name, please? "Wally." Occupation? "Smash Hits competition deviser." You are charged with devising an Echo & The Bunnymen competition (Feb 3) and then printing the answer four pages later in an interview with the aforementioned band so that even the most incompetent moron could find the answer. How do you plead guilty or not guilty? "Guilty." The penalty for this crime is a £5 Record Token to be sent immediately to the person who was deprived of an Echo & The Bunnymen LP by someone who copied the the answer from the interview and whose card reached you before mine. (Wally looks ashamed). Let the accused leave the court. (Wally is led away). Julie, Cranbrook. Wally as you call him has been dealt a severe wigging and swiftly sentenced to three weeks in a Mini Metro with the Irving Davies Dancers. He won't ...

Mar 1983: High Life ad from Modern Romance

(+Personality Poster)

«FREE!»

What makes cocoa "elect"?

This advertisement promotes Mars bars as a source of energy for the troops, comparing its calorie count to staple foods like milk, eggs, bread, and lamb chops. It highlights the benefits of chocolate and glucose for sustenance and satisfaction, with a call to ration the bars by cutting them into slices. THE STUFF TO GIVE THE TROOPS! In fact, it's the stuff to give everybody who needs energy -quickly. Mars (as the chart shows) is richer in energy than many staple foods. Made with chocolate to sustain, glucose to energise, separated milk to nourish these chunky candy bars are simply packed with grand-tasting goodness. Make the most of their deli- cious satisfaction-by cutting each bar into slices. THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF RATION PERIOD No. 9 COMPARE THE ENERGY VALUES! CALORIES (for energy) I glass of Milk • 169 | Egg • 70 I slice of Bread • 100 I Lamb Chop 178 1 MARS 213

Mar 1943: Bar ad from Mars

(+Lamb Chop; Glass of Milk; Slice of Bread; and Egg)

«THE STUFF TO GIVE THE TROOPS!»

An advertisement for Rowntree's Cocoa shows a mother and daughter at a table. The daughter is getting ready to go out and the mother reminds her not to be late. The daughter replies that she will not be late, and asks that the mother get another tin of Rowntree's Cocoa to welcome Jack home. There are many cocoas not so good as Rowntree's Elect Cocoa Ras PageM "Dont' be late." "Don't be late. Remember Jack is coming home to-night." "All right, mother. I won't be late. But we've just finished the tin of Rowntree's Cocoa - be sure to get another tin in time. None but the best is good enough for Jack, so let's give him a warm welcome with a cup of Rowntree's."

Mar 1919: Elect Cocoa ad from Rowntree's

(+Cocoa)

«There are many cocoas not so good as Rowntree's Elect Cocoa»

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This is an advertisement for the Bangles' "Different Light" LP and cassette, featuring their hit single "Manic Monday". The ad shows pictures of the band members. Different Light NEW LP AND CASSETTE FEATURING THE HIT SINGLE MANIC MONDAY LP-26659 CASSETTE-40-26659 Life sounds better to music.

Mar 1986: Different Light LP ad from Bangles

(+Manic Monday)

«Different Light»

1962. Everything has a beginning. This is pre-silver-gun-carriage.

This is an advertisement for Scotch Brand Cellulose Tape, highlighting its versatility and strength for various household tasks. It comes in a dispenser, and is available in four widths and sold in popular stores. Life's little emergencies call for SCOTCH CELLULOSE TAPE You never know just when you're going to need SCOTCH Brand Cellulose Tape; but it's certain you will. Often! To do a host of jobs about the house, garden and workshop. It's so strong and sticks so tightly that you need only a few inches. And now that SCOTCH Brand costs so little, there's simply no excuse for not having some handy. From leading stores and shops such as F. W. Woolworth & Co., Boots Stationery Departments, British Home Stores, Rymans, Wymans and John Menzies.

Mar 1961: Cellulose Tape ad from Scotch

(+Tape Dispenser)

«Life's little emergencies call for SCOTCH CELLULOSE TAPE»

I was thinking that today! I miss the Observer of old so much.

1962. I kinda regret not being part of the generation where Sunday mornings would be spent reading through a behemoth of a newspaper.

1962. Everything has a beginning: the Sunday paper colour supplement.

This was a really interesting time, suddenly calculators were everywhere and the price dropped dramatically even in a period of high inflation. Five years before a basic pocket LCD calculator would have been £20/£25 and one with a memory even more.

This vintage advertisement promotes Coca-Cola as the perfect drink to enjoy with a seafood barbecue dinner. It features grilled lobster tails, French fries, and a tangy oriental butter sauce. The ad highlights the refreshing quality of Coca-Cola and its ability to enhance the taste of good food. BE REALLY REFRESHED... AROUND THE CLOCK! RECIPE: Broil frozen rock lobster tails on hibachi or table grill until they are nicely browned. Make a tangy oriental butter sauce by adding a few drops of hot pepper sauce to melted butter. Serve lobster tails with butter sauce, slice of lime, crinkle-cut frozen French fries and lettuce and tomato. Serve with ice-cold Coke. At dinner time...serve this Seafood Barbecue along with King Size Coke and be really refreshed! Only Coca-Cola gives you that cheerful lift...that cold crisp taste that makes good food more savory. Sign of Good Taste COPYRIGHT 1960 THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, 'COKE' IS A REGISTERED TRADE-MARK.

From America, Mar 1960: Coca-Cola ad (more at @OldInPrintAds.bsky.social)

(+Seafood Barbecue; Lobster Tails; French Fries; Lime; Tomato; and Butter Sauce)

«BE REALLY REFRESHED... AROUND THE CLOCK!»

This advertisement is for a Casio CQ81 calculator with clock and alarm. The price of the CQ81 is £18.95, which is less than the price of a full calculator (£12) and a digital clock with liquid crystal display and an alarm (£17). The CQ81 is large enough to operate on your desk but small enough to slip into your briefcase. It's versatile through its large 8 digit crystal display, 4 key memory, percentage and square root functions. As a bonus, it operates for well over a year on two penlight batteries. THE CASIO CQ81 PROVES THAT £12+£17 = £19 A full calculator costs around £12, a digital clock with liquid crystal display and an alarm, another £17. Yet buy them all in one stylish desk unit, the CQ 81, and they'll only cost £18.95 (R.R.P.) The CQ 81 is large enough to operate on your desk but small enough to slip into your briefcase. It's versatile through its large 8 digit crystal display, 4 key memory, percentage and square root functions. As a bonus, it operates for well over a year on two penlight batteries. Only Casio could do it for the money. CASIO CALCULATORS AND TIMEPIECES AVAILABLE FROM BOOTS, CURRYS, D.G. LEISURE CENTRES, DEBENHAMS, DIXONS PHOTOGRAPHIC, EURO-CALC, FORTNUM & MASON, GREEN'S, HOUSE OF FRASER, LASKY'S, LEWIS'S, JOHN MENZIES, RATNERS THE JEWELLERS, RYMAN, SELFRIDGES, UNDERWOODS, WALLACE HEATON, WH SMITH, WILDING OFFICE EQUIPMENT, WOOLWORTH/WOOL.CO. Also Cavendish Sales, Greaseys, Foto Value Stores, Houndsditch Warehouse, Landau Calculators, Lizars, McDonald Stores, Marble Arch Typewriters, Metyclean, Savitts Office Equipment, Savory & Moore and other leading Hi-Fi, Photographic and Department Stores, Casio Electronics Co. Ltd., Shaiburn House, 28 Scrutton Street, London EC2A4TX

Mar 1979: CQ81 Calculator ad from Casio

(+Full Calculator and Digital Clock with Liquid Crystal Display)

«THE CASIO CQ81 PROVES THAT £12+£17 = £19»

Top 3 posts of February 2026, #2...

This ad portrays a rowing team's futile journey across lakes and oceans to the South-Sea Isles for coconuts, only to realize they could've simply bought a Bounty coconut treat. It highlights the convenience of Bounty as the easiest way to enjoy tender, fresh coconut with milk or vanilla chocolate. Buy a BOUNTY-that's the easiest way to a coconut treat. 1. In-out. In-out. On they raced For coconuts, moist and rich to taste 2. Through lakes and oceans, miles and miles They rowed out to the South-Sea Isles 3. What wasted effort! All in vain, They had to row back home again 4. Bounty is the coconut treat, Tender-fresh and juicy sweet! Tender-fresh coconut with milk chocolate (blue packet) or vanilla chocolate (red packet) Only 6d-that's 2¼ oz for 6d!

Mar 1957: Bounty ad

(+Vanilla chocolate and Milk chocolate)

«Buy a BOUNTY-that's the easiest way to a coconut treat.»

This advertisement is for a range of soft drink concentrates in various flavors. It suggests enjoying them in different ways, either with plain water, ice, or soda. The advert aims to appeal to consumers by highlighting the convenience and wide range of flavors available. «Choose what you like. Rasna, soft drink - gives you an unrivaled taste and mouth watering fragrances. Orange, pineapple, lemon, Kala Katta, Mixed Fruit, Rose, Poppy seed, Masala Milk, Masala Soda. Nine fragrances. Because taste varies for each. So next time if you want a soft drink open the ready to make Rasna pack. For you It has been the flavor of soft drinks that have not been available so far. From 1 to 32 glasses, including cola»

From India, Mar 1985: Soft Drink Concentrate ad from Rasna (more at @OldInPrintAds.bsky.social)

(+Orange; Pineapple; Lemon; Kala Khatta; Mixed Fruit; Rose; Poppy Seed; Masala Milk; and Masala Soda)

«Choose what you like.»

[ENGinALT]

And finally, another Bluesky feed.... Old World Living! If it was in your homes over the decades, it'll be here! It's at @oldworldliving.bsky.social if you fancy a follow - enjoy!

Introducing another new Bluesky feed.... Old World Fashion! Fashion ads and catalogue pages from all over the world, from all through the decades! Please give @oldworldfashion.bsky.social a follow and enjoy!

Introducing a new Bluesky feed... Old World Toys! Toy adverts and catalogue pages from all over the world from so many decades gone by! Follow it at @oldworldtoys.bsky.social and enjoy!

This advertisement from W.H.Smith promotes the Parker Pen and the Parker 45 Classic Ballpen. When buying a Parker product costing £9 or more, you get £3 off the original price. The offer ends on March 28th, 1981, and availability is subject to change. This offer is only at selected British Rail bookstalls and not available in airport branches. Spend £9 on a Parker Pen and look who'll give you £3 off. W.H.Smith that's who. It means you can add extra value to Parker quality. For your £3 off, just buy a single Parker product costing £9 or more. *Off W.H.Smith normal price. Offers end 28th March 1981. Subject to availability. At selected British Rail bookstalls but not at airport branches. Prices correct at time of going to press. Another great saving Parker 45 Classic Ballpen Normal Price £4.50 Offer Price £2.99

Mar 1981: Parker Pen ad from W.H.Smith

(+Parker 45 Classic Ballpen)

«Spend £9 on a Parker Pen
and look who'll give you £3 off.»

Coming very soon, three new Bluesky feeds: Old World Toys, Old World Fashion and Old World Living. Finishing touches being applied...

Top 3 posts of February 2026, #3...

Advertisement for the Hotpoint Swallow upright vacuum cleaner. Features include: controls on the handle, disposable dust-bag, optional attachments and manoeuvrability. The Hotpoint Swallow. Built on good advice. Yours. You told us exactly what you were looking for in a new upright cleaner. And you gave us a lot of good advice. And a lot of new ideas. Ideas like the disposable dust- bag. And the controls on the handle. And an even better beating, sweeping action. You even told us what it should look like. In fact, all the things you asked for are built in. We think you'll be very pleased with the Swallow when you go along to have a look at it. And while you're looking at it, remember there's a good After Sales Service built in too. Controls We've put the controls on the handle. So it's more convenient for you to use. There's a 'Bag Full' indicator too, so you know when it needs emptying. Dustbag We've made it easy to empty. You slip the front off and there's a disposable dust-bag inside. Attachments There are optional attachments for cleaning stairs and furniture. You'll find them easy to fit. Then the Swallow is ready to clean any part of the room. Manœuvrability The Swallow will lie down flat so you can reach under beds and into awkward corners.

Mar 1973: Swallow Vacuum Cleaner ad from Hotpoint

«The Hotpoint Swallow. Built on good advice. Yours.»

An illustration shows a driver talking to a passenger in his car. The slogan suggests that their toffee is the best. Sharp's the word and Sharp's the Toffee When he knows quite well his fare Hasn't any time to spare Says the Driver... I like best of all

Mar 1933: Toffee ad from Sharp

«Sharp's the word and Sharp's the Toffee»

This vintage advertisement showcases the Wolseley-Siddeley car, praised for its comfort and reliability. The advert features a picture of the Wolseley Imperial Limousine-Landaulette. H.M. Buist of The Tatler describes the Wolseley cars as "specimens of engineering and of fine material these cars are worthy of serious study". The company encourages interested parties to request Catalogue No. 40, post-free. “The Car for Comfort and Reliability.” By Appointment to H.M. the Queen. "As specimens of engineering and of fine material these cars are worthy of serious study." H. M. BUIST, in The Tatler. Send for Catalogue No. 40. post free. (Proprietors: VICKERS, SONS & MAXIM, Ltd.), ADDERLEY PARK, BIRMINGHAM. Telegrams : " Exactitude, Birmingham." Telephone : 6153 Central. LONDON: York St., Westminster. MANCHESTER; 76, Deansgate. Telegrams : "Autovent, London." Telegrams : "Autocar, Manchester." Telephone : 831 Victoria. Telephone : 6995 Central. F 171

Mar 1910: Wolseley Imperial Limousine-Landaulette ad from Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Co.

«“The Car for Comfort and Reliability.”»

This is an advertisement for a record single featuring Cliff Richard and The Young Ones, a comedy group, performing the song Living Doll. The money is being raised for Comic Relief. The profits from this record are going to charity, and will benefit Oxfam, Save the Children, and British projects for homelessness, drug abuse, and disability. Living Doll COMIC RELIEF PRESENTS CLIFF RICHARD AND THE YOUNG ONES Living Doll Featuring: HANK MARVIN COMIC RELIEF presents CLIFF RICHARD and THE YOU GUMES Living Doll Featuring: HANK MARVIN HEY KIDS, STOP SNOGGING AND PAY ATTENTION TO ME! THIS RECORD IS MADE BY COMIC RELIEF* *ALL THE ARTISTS MONEY GOES TO CHARITY 80% TO OXFAM AND SAVE THE CHILDREN FOR WORK IN ETHIOPIA AND THE SUDAN. 20% FOR BRITISH PROJECTS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AREAS OF HOMELESSNESS, DRUG ABUSE AND DISABILITY. SO IF YOU DON'T BUY THIS RECORD YOU'RE AN UTTER, UTTER, UTTER, UTTER...... A PORTION OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY SMASH HITS wea DISTRIBUTED BY wea RECORDS LTD. A WARNER COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY.

Mar 1986: Living Doll ad from Comic Relief

(+Record)

«Living Doll»