Categories
Handyman’s Book
I found this great Better Homes and Gardens Handyman’s Book, which is really nicely adorned with some classic mid-century “optimistic style” illustrations. Unfortunately, the illustrator is not credited in the book.
This appears to be a “man’s” companion volume to the ubiquitous, red gingham motif, ring-bound Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook that so many of us grew up with. Yes, mom was so happy with the jello-mold salads and rib-roasts that she was turning out, that Merideth Publishing thought that they’d better do something to help dad feel a little less intimidated about his new job of making that bare shell of a suburban-sprawl tract house into a home.
4 of the 7 men on this page are smoking pipes!
I love the “plumbing and wiring” section for 2 reasons:
1) uhhh… don’t know about anybody else, but except for the ground wire from my junction box that is bolted to my water main, I’ve never had to mix the two concepts together.
2) the wife and the husband both seemed pretty pleased with the fact the wife holding the frayed end of some strange electric 3-legged stool. I can’t help but wonder if the other end of the cord is still plugged in to the outlet, flayling around like a fireman’s hose. Perhaps hubby can grab his pipe and go check it out before junior comes along and touches it.
Wow, these illustrations are just excellent. How can they not credit the person who made them…
I think he’s smoking so we don’t assume he an older boy. -Everyone was so young back then -golly!
My dad had that book back in the 60′s, and the cookbook is still in my mom’s kitchen.
I have that same book! Mine is the 8th printing from 1957. I got it from my great Uncle when he moved to his retirement village in Texas. It is practically new and I simply love it!
Great find!
I love how to guides like this.
They tend to render otherwise daunting activities as simple to do projects.
Really, who needs a plumber to replace a toilet? The secret is the wax ring, teflon tape and the right wrench.
And of course, the period illustrations are just priceless. The repurposing potential of them is unlimited.