Local shops and their wares

If you were short of ideas for Christmas presents 100 years ago, Bideford traders have plenty of suggestions to help you:

A W Bennett of Market Place urges readers to give presents that will be APPRECIATED, including table lamps, coal vases and bird cages.

 A Lewis of 43 Mill Street offers high class slippers and footwear, also a large selection of toys.

Slippers can also be bought from Watts' in Mill Street.

And there's already a 'great Xmas bargain sale' at B A Wilcox in the High Street. 

Heywood & Cock have a special show of choice but inexpensive fabrics, including Crepe-de-Chene at 5/11d a yard and coloured Jap Silks at 2/11d.  If you want to redecorate for Christmas, The Central Paint Warehouse at 27 High Street Bideford has a choice selection of paper hangings and paint. Also in Bideford, your bumpy mattress can be remade and returned the same day by G Lang of 7 Grenville Street; new furniture is available from G H Passmore of Allhalland Street and Bishops of 16 Market Place, both shops having clearance sales of chairs and settees.

For gifts for gentlemen, visit William Short in Mill Street. 

Useful articles for Yuletide gifts can be purchased from W J Cording & Son in Grenville Street. And if you want to buy something for chlidren, go to W Wood's in Meddon Street.  

After securing a personal visit to the largest Factory in England, Braddick's Store has a 'Christmas Show' and for you can buy a Fairy Cycle and build the Eiffel Tower with Meccano:

Obviously pot pourri and incense burners aren't a modern phenomenon as they can be purchased from Hopson's Stores in Allhalland Street, along with the 'most confortable chair sold today' the LAXELAIZY.

Do you need a gong? Go to H I Meredith in the High Street.

Thinking of our tummies, you can get 'Calafornian fruits', pine apple, apricotts and other specialities from The London Central Meat Co. Ltd in Mill Street and Christmas cakes can be purchased from Brooks' Cafe.

Something that has lasted is Atora suet but a comepetitor, Sueflakes, doesn't seem to have.

If your budget stretched to something more expensive, a large advert from Heard Brothers garage in Bideford caught our eye this month. The Buick and Chevrolet names are recognised but not those of Calcott and Oakland - the former was based in Coventry and began as a bicycle manufacturer; the latter, Oakland, was American, a short-lived brand owned by General Motors.

Ford cars were more affordable but still beyond the reach of most people as the average weekly wage was around £2-10-0 to £3 in 1922 and you could buy a house for £600.