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Tag: 1940s Canada

Happy Canada Day! Roundup of Fun 1940’s & 1950’s Canadiana

This Sunday, Canada turns 151 (Happy Birthday Canada!) and as many of you know I’m a born and raised Canadian Vintage Gal and I love to show off my beloved country thru many of the vintage posts I share here. So for today’s post I have put together a collection of Vintage Canadiana that I found online. Enjoy!

vintage-posters-canada-canada-vacations1

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 


Roundup of Fun 1940’s & 1950’s Canadiana

Vintage Canadian Affairs Reconstruction Supplement Number 7 – Mining In Canada. Published for the Canadian Armed Forces by the Canadian Information Service….issued January 1946.

About: 

This booklet features information on Canada’s booming Post War mining industry and how to get involved.

“Canadian Affairs Reconstruction Supplements are intended for those in the Services who want to discuss realistically the Canada in which they will work after the war. The Supplements are prepared by the Wartime Information Board and will appear fortnightly, alternating with the regular issue of CANADIAN AFFAIRS.”

It is part of the Canadian Affairs series issued to WW2 veterans returning home from service overseas and to people emigrating to Canada. The topics in the series range from Canadian politics, starting a business, investing, returning to school, avoiding scams, etc.

This Etsy seller is selling each one individually that you see in the below photo. Check out her page HERE.

Vintage Canadian Affairs Reconstruction Supplement Number 7 - Mining In Canada - 1940s Era Post War Time Veterans Booklet
Source: Etsy

1950’s Forestville Wall Clock-Made in Canada. So cool looking!

About:

The Blackforest Clock Company of Toronto, Ontario was founded by Leopold and Sara Stossel in 1928 and imported their clocks from Germany and sold in thru jewelery and department stores across Canada.  Renamed Forestville Clock Company in 1941.During the war years this company imported its clock movements from England, the United States, and even France. However, starting in the mid 1950s German factories again became the source of most Forestville clocks (Source).

I believe you can still buy Forestville clocks today according to the website where I found info on this Canadian Brand (If any of my readers have info on this please share in the comments below).

1950s mid century Forestville clock
Source: Etsy

The Pride of London, Ontario! Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Vintage 1950’s Concert Program.

Further Reading: Guy Lombardo-Canada’s Famous Big Band Leader

Guy Lombardo 1950s Concert Program Vintage Collectible
Source: Etsy
Guy Lombardo 1950s Concert Program Vintage Collectible Inside
Source: Etsy

1950’s Wooden Bear Brooch from Banff, Alberta. Banff is the best! It is so pretty there.

Further Reading: Vintage Travel To Do List: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

1950s vintage wooden brooch of a bear and advertising Banff, Alberta Canada
Source: Etsy

Canadian Engineering Construction Toy Set, 1950’s by Multiple Toy Makers.

Vintage Canadian Engineering toy set 1950s
Source: Etsy

Montreal is a must see when you visit Canada. It’s truly beautiful and feels like you have stepped out of Canada into Europe. Below is a collection of 18 vintage snapshots that you could of purchased when visiting the city.

Montreal Canada vintage photo album.
Source: Etsy
Montreal Canada collection of vintage photos
Source: Etsy

1950’s / 1960’s brass hand painted enamel Canadian souvenir charm of Vancouver, BC.

1950's 1960's brass hand painted enamel Canadian souvenir charm
Source: Etsy

Time to hit the road and visit Ontario (my province) with this 1958 Road Map (I’m sure this map looks very different from today’s roads).

Further Reading: Vintage 1950s Travel Brochures & Pamphlets

1958 Ontario Official Vintage Road Map
Source: Etsy

This is a brand new discovery for me and I went to school for Fashion. Canada once had a magazine entitled “Women’s Reporter-The National Magazine for the Fashion Industry“. Here is the January 1948 Cover.

Do any of my readers remember this magazine? Share in the comments below if you do.

Vintage Magazine Canadian Women's Reporter January 1948
Source: Etsy

Late 1940s fashions for Women on display, including an Emma Domb design (who I have done a blog post on!).

Further Reading: Vintage Fashion Designer Spotlight: Emma Domb

1948 Fashion from a vintage magazine

“Wanted Magazines for our fighting Men”. 1940’s Original Canadian Propaganda poster.

"Wanted Magazines for our fighting Men". 1940's Original Canadian Propaganda poster
Source: Etsy

We have now come to the end of my vintage Canadiana roundup. I hope you enjoyed the post (share what you liked in the comments below) and Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Readers!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Canada Blog Posts from the 1920s-1960s (Archived)

Liz

“The Battle of the Nylons” A look into Canadian Women’s Life, Post WW2

While doing research for another blog post, I found some very interesting news stories on the CBC Archives on what life was like for Canadian Women after WW2. Here is a sampling of what they talked about…

Nylons Return Post-War: “The Battle of the Nylons”

About the Battle of the Nylons:

Via CBC Archives:

Nov 2024 update-The story on CBC archives is now gone. Sorry! I will look for something else to share here.

The battle of the nylons was fought this week and, luckily, there were no casualties. Women started lining up early in the morning outside clothing stores across the city as nylon hosiery came back on sale for the first time since 1939. As we hear in this brief radio clip (below), one merchant took no chances, erecting barricades in case of a riot. The sale went off, however, without a snag.

Air Canada (TCA at the time) flight attendants rejoice! In 1946, the post-World War II uniform reintroduced nylons. During the war, the material used to make nylons was reserved for military purposes, making the fashionable item impossible to find (Source).

1940s Vintage Photo of Air Canada (TCA) Flight Attendants in 1946 being excited about nylons coming back.
Source: Air Canada

Here are some images of similar “battles” that happened in the United States.

1940s Vintage Photo of a woman holding her nylon stockings to other women in line December 7th, 1945 in Chicago. Super 1940s fashions.
Source: Glamourdaze

A crowd of 10,000 in San Francisco await their Nylons.

1940s Vintage Photo: 1946 San Francisco Nylon hosiery queues
Source: Glamourdaze

“Feminine Curves are Back, Post War”

Forget the glamour gals — it’s cute-as-a-button Suzy from next door who’s turning the heads of ex-soldiers.

Take a listen to learn all about how men after war are looking for a curvy shaped gal (Nov 2024 update: Seems that CBC Archives has deleted all this content)

1940s Vintage Photo: “The Regular Gals” Celebrating VE Day on Bay Street in Toronto.

Further Reading: Canada Celebrates V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) May 8th, 1945: The Vintage Photos

1940s vintage photo: Celebrating VE Day on Bay Street in Toronto. vintage photo of 4 women in 1940s fashions.
Source: Wikimedia

And… “Working Women After the War”

Should women get the same wages as men? That’s the question tackled in this excerpt from a spirited radio debate about “the fairer sex” in the workplace.

A female Teamster wonders why women were applauded for keeping factories running during the war and then handed substandard pay in peacetime. A male corporate lawyer allows that there are some jobs where women excel – tedious tasks, for example. A female executive says employers may have a point because it costs more to employ women. For example, their uniforms need to be “fussier”, company washrooms need to be “brushed up” and women take rest breaks while their male colleagues continue to toil.

Take a listen…. (Nov 2024-Another clip removed by CBC)

1950s vintage photo of women Telephone Operators.

So friends, what did you think of these little snippets of postwar Canadian life (Share in the comments section below)?

Thanks for stopping by!

FURTHER READING:

Liz