Gas Producers

George's memory for historical detail lead to an incredibly rich recording, detailing an insider's view of  the refrigeration and Liquor Trades in Kings Cross in the Fifties, the introduction of sealed unit refrigeration into commercial life in Australia and observations of changing social mores from a unique point of view - as a  publican in Western Australia.  On war years, George's accounts were just as sharp, documenting the social and technological changes that affected the practicalities of everyday life. While the  availability of  fossil fuels -  their environmental cost -  and our use of energy is the  moot point of current times,  it was from George that I discovered the finer details of fuel rationing during WWII - discovering those dangerous devices called 'Gas Producers'!

Jelly for Tea!

The great thing about recording oral histories is that you never know what significant details emerge out of aspects of  everyday life.  Here's a link for Peggy!  While we were discussing Silent Night refrigerators, her recollections of  jelly being a popular Australian dessert, reminded me of  the old Aeroplane Jelly ads. Hard to imagine 'aeroplane' as the branding for a dessert today!  Revisit that famous jingle at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQerOQ4cnaA And don't forget to close the fridge door!