Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 November 11

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November 11

The contents of Molseworth's Tuck-Box

I'm considering putting together an interesting item as a present for someone, but have no idea what to put in it.

The idea was to present someone with a 'tuck-box' filled with period (Early 1950's) items, and suggest that it had similar contents to the 'tuck-box' of a certain Molseworth.

However, I'd like some assistance and thoughts on what might be appropriate items.

My inital list suggested...

• Cadbury Dairy Milk.
• Licorice Toffee
• Bullseyes

And then I got stuck... The suggestions of the Reference Desk would be appreciated.

I'm aware of sites like 'A Quarter of' but would appreciate some notes on period appropriate items. Sfan00 IMG (talk) 12:11, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

It might be easier to tell you what not to put in it! We never had things like yogurts until the 1970s, so no yogurts or other tubs of puddings. Knowing Molesworth, I'd be inclined to put in a mouldy apple, a banana (they had novelty value at that time), gobstoppers, dried peas for his peashooter, stale cheese sandwiches made using thinly sliced white bread and margarine (the cheaper the better, that goes for the cheese too). Although I suppose it depends on the sense of humour of the recipient! --TammyMoet (talk) 12:39, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Well, maybe not a mouldy apple, but that gives me a thought, How old are Apple Sours? Sfan00 IMG (talk) 15:04, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

And although not 'tuck' as such, I'm seriously considering putting in some appropriate 'journals' or 'comics'. It's a shame that many of the publications that would be relevant ceased publication a long time ago.Sfan00 IMG (talk) 15:15, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

1950s candy-like stuff, eh? Well, there were licorice whips, little candy dots stuck on paper, Bazooka Joe bubble gum, candy cigarettes, wax lips, and probably many others. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:29, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Those are US-specific suggestions, the OP was asking about British items. --Viennese Waltz 13:40, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Where did he say that? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:32, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Similar contents to that of Molesworth, who was a British character. --Viennese Waltz 15:36, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

He didn't say that, either. Assumptions can lead one astray. However, according to Tammy, those things existed in Britain too, so it all works out. :) ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:49, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

He certainly did say that: "suggest that it had similar contents to the 'tuck-box' of a certain Molseworth." --Viennese Waltz 15:55, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

He mentioned someone named Molesworth. It was you who told us he was British. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:18, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Perhaps somebody should have put some square brackets around Nigel Molesworth. I don't expect that it would have made any sense across the Atlantic. Alansplodge (talk) 20:21, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Sorry Gandalf, I've just seen that you linked it too... Alansplodge (talk) 20:22, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

We weren't backwards you know - we had licorice whips, Bazooka Joe bubble gum, candy cigarettes and cherry lips too! --TammyMoet (talk) 14:45, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

... except that it was liquorice, and sweet cigarettes in the UK. They were bought in sweet shops, not candy stores. Dbfirs 16:34, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Being spelled differently, did that affect how they tasted? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:37, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Not in the slightest! I commented merely in the interests of authenticity. Dbfirs 08:09, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

The spelling liquorice is an affected folk etymology; the name has nothing to do with liquor. Or is that liquour? :) μηδείς (talk) 02:02, 13 November 2013 (UTC)

The word comes from a Greek word meaning "sweet", and is akin to glucose.[1] The root of "liquor" is the same as "liquid".[2] Note EO writer's comment, "liquorice - chiefly British alternative spelling of licorice." ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:23, 13 November 2013 (UTC)

There have been at least 30 different spellings in the past, most of them from before the American/British English split, so it's difficult to determine a "best" spelling. The link with Greek "sweet" is obscure (but not doubted). The OED claims Anglo-Norman lycorys as the main etymology. Personally, I like the dialectal spelling lickerish. Dbfirs 08:08, 13 November 2013 (UTC)

Perhaps aniseed balls, pear drops, Pontefract cakes, pineapple chunks ... ? Dbfirs 14:09, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Any fule kno that Molesworth's tuck box contains a skool sausage, Radio Malt and a term's supply of prunes. In case anyone still needs context, see Nigel Molesworth. Gandalf61 (talk) 14:21, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Thanks, Gandalf. I had been guessing up till now, as this character had never crossed my path before. I would have searched if you hadn't linked him. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:52, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Thanks, keep the ideas coming :) Sfan00 IMG (talk) 15:03, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

More ideas here - definitely include gobstoppers, liquorice allsorts, and a sherbet fountain (no article!!). Sadly, you won't find Spangles. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:42, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

No article, but a section of one, at least. -Karenjc (talk) 09:52, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

"Hav you read this card? Hav you anything to declare? No buble gum no spangles no malteaser?" Tevildo (talk) 23:28, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

Jelly Babies, Rowntree's Fruit Gums, Smarties, Kit Kat, Polo (confectionery), Rolo, Crunchie, Flake (chocolate bar) and so on. Just Google 1950s british sweets and then use Wikipedia to see if they were available in the UK during that time period and are still available today. For example Opal Fruit was introduce in 1959 but is now Starburst (candy) and it's unclear when Milkybar was introduced. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 10:38, 13 November 2013 (UTC)

• Jelly Babies! Anoles on chains worn as broaches were popular gifts in the US for women in the mid Fifties. would that work? μηδείς (talk) 06:09, 14 November 2013 (UTC)

Unlikely, as schoolboys then and now have little interest in ladies' accessories, but you never know. A conker threaded on a shoelace is more likely. Given the propensity of boys to ferret away their valuables in unlikely places, I would think that there might be some cigarette cards in there too. The sweets that I liked in the 1960s were milk bottles, flying saucers, Black Jacks, Fruit Salad and shrimps, all of which could all be bought at the price of four for a penny. If I was feeling wealthy, I might have splashed out on a Mars bar (I believe we've had them in England since the 1930s). Alansplodge (talk) 18:10, 15 November 2013 (UTC)

Price for "Super Deluxe" and "Über Deluxe" of Achtung Baby

Can someone please find out what's the price for those? I will really appreciate that. Thanks. Miss Bono ^{[hello, hello!]} 17:49, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

Price where? On U.S. Amazon, I see $165.65 for the Super Deluxe and $392.42 for Uber. Whether it will be the same in yours or any other country I don't know. RudolfRed (talk) 01:59, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

Cognizant CMMI Journey (or something)

name of the Cognizant CMMI Journey in 2010 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.99.193.190 (talk) 19:17, 11 November 2013 (UTC)