Do You Remember Premiums??

Every once in a while when we find something unusual at an Estate Sale, we buy it, even though we don't have a clue what it might be worth, just for the education it can give us when we do the research.

This glass oven ware pan was just such a find last week, that I couldn't resist. What intrigued me was the big logo in the bottom with the cursive name of Mary Dunbar in it. I had never heard of that name before, but when I did the research on her, I found some very interesting information. I even found a forum where her grand daughter was chatting about what her grandmother had accomplished!

It seems that Mary Dunbar was the name given to the Jewel Tea Co.'s spokesperson in the 1920's. The lady who went by that company name was the head of the company's test kitchen, and wrote a series of cookbooks and a monthly newsletter. She is credited with the invention of the 7 minute icing recipe. There was even a Mary Dunbar seal of approval, much like the Good Housekeeping seal of today.

It seems that the Jewel Tea Co. put coupons in with their various spices and tea products, and those coupons could be redeemed for various household goods. The most well known of these was the Hall China Co. Autumn Leaf pattern china and related items. This pattern in highly collectible today. Our loaf pan was probably one of those premium items.

We have this Mary Dunbar pan listed on eBay now, if you're interested.

Premium items used to be so common. Banks gave you clocks and toasters for joining, and Service Stations gave out knives with fill-ups. I'm sure you can think of a lot more such give-aways. The customer was KING in those days. Now you're lucky if you get a pen with the company name on it, or a refrigerator magnet!!

Hmmmmmm .... something's changed over the years, hasn't it?? Now, it seems as if the mentality of most businesses and clerks is that they are doing us a favor by deigning to do business with us. I liked it better the way it used to be, thank you very much!!

Real Life Is Stranger Than Fiction!

I am truly amazed by a connection to a blogger that can only be explained as a truly strange coincidence.

I was skimming through some older posts on Ruth's (not Wheelie Catholic) There Are a Million Stories in the World blog, and I stopped in my tracks when I saw a picture she had taken of the Bakewell Tart she had in the oven. She tells how she had made one that day and was aggravated because it had spilled over in the oven.

Nothing strange here, you say?

To understand why this is so weird for me, you need to read three old posts of mine.

Give Us This Day

Kentish Tart Memories

Kentish Tart Memories - Priceless!!

If you took the time to look through the old posts, I think you'll see why I'm so amazed!!!

PS Ruth sent me her recipe.

Bakewell Tart

225g (8 oz) Shortcrust or Puff pastry.....(must admit I always try and have some ready made baked cases on standby...makes it far quicker to prepare)
110g (4 oz) Ground Almonds
110g (4 oz) Caster Sugar
50g (2 oz) Butter
3 Eggs (medium)
4 tbsp Strawberry Jam
¼ tsp Almond Essence

Flaked Almonds (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 200 °C; 400 °F; Gas 6.
Roll out the pastry on a floured surface.
Line a 900 ml (1½ pint) shallow dish or pie tin.
Mark the rim with the prongs of a fork.
Chill in the refrigerator while making the filling.
Beat the almonds with the sugar, butter, eggs and almond essence.
Spread the pastry with an even layer of jam and pour in the filling. (I sometimes use cooked pureed apple for a change)

(Scatter a few flaked almonds over the top if you like)


Bake for 30 minutes or until set.
Serve warm or cold.

If any of you good cooks try to make it, please let me know what you think of it.