General knowledge quiz on past times

A central heating radiator

These days British homes generally have central heating in one form or another. In the early 20th century, how were most homes heated?

Keying in a phone number on a modern phone

Nowadays phones can call directly to almost anywhere in the world. In the first part of the 20th century, though, a caller had to get an operator in the telephone exchange to connect to a long distance number. What did callers dial to connect to an operator?

Cyclist wearing a cycle helmet

These days most cyclist wear a helmet specially made for cycling safety. What was the usual practice in most of the 20th century?

1st and 2nd class postage stamps

These are recent first and second class UK postage stamps. What do you know about UK postage costs in the 1930s?

Shopping trolley

These days food in wide varieties is readily available. In wartime of the 1940s, every morsel, if available, had to be paid for. How much do you think it would have cost a family of two adults and a child to use the salt and pepper pots (the cruet) on a five-day holiday in 1941?

Computer

Nowadays children use media devices and television for watching films. In the early 20th century right up until televisions became common, they went to the cinema, known then as the pictures - when of course they or their parents could afford it. When was this for most children?

Smart phone

The quickest way to send a message nowadays is to text or phone. In the mid 20th century many homes had no phone. So what was the quickest way to get a message through to someone some distance away?

Loaf of bread

Nowadays the cost of a Supermarket loaf depends on its type, quality and where it is bought. There was less choice in the past. So how much do you think a large loaf of white bread from a high street chain of bakers would have cost in the early to mid 1960s? This was of course before UK money was decimalised.

Fashion spectacles

The shape of spectacle frames and lenses depends on fashion and personal preference, but this was not always so. What were frames and lenses like before the middle years of the 20th century?

Suburban semi-detatched house

This is a 1930s suburban house on the outskirts of London showing how it has been updated over the years to modern standards. Its asking price was £800,000 when accessed in 2017, but it probably went for less. How much do you think my father paid for the same house in 1938?