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"Blasts from the Past"

The Meaning

of the Term

Blast from the Past" --- Looking back to what has happened at an earlier point in time. For many, nostalgia is looking at the advances that have been made since the time we tend to remember the most about.

For me, as a young child I remember the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. My first flying experience in a bus-stop jet when I flew to Germany in 1965. Winning the World Cup in 1966 and watching "ET go Home". I have so many memories, good and bad and I am sure anyone who visits this site can say the same.

However, some memories are those that we weren't directly involved in. Memories created by others for us which we can refer to as a form of nostalgia.

Therefore as collectors of matchbox labels, the purpose of this section of the site is to take that nostalgic look at what was said and what was done in the earlier years when the United Kingdom could still boast the best Match Manufacturers in the world, computers had not been invented and "Bic & Clic" throwaway lighters were still a twinkle in the designers eye - that's if the designer had actually been born!!!!

Much was written in the past about matchbox label collecting and not just by The British Matchbox Label & Booklet Society. Long before the BML&BS was born, a number of other dedicated successful organisations were in existence which regretfully and sadly are no longer with us.

Going back it seems to the beginning of time was "Floyd's Label Review, which at some point changed it's name to The Phillumenist. To quote from the editorial produced at the beginning of each issue, "The only Independent Magazine published continuously since 1940 devoted to the Worldwide Hobby of Matchbox Label Collection."

Although it was printed on coarse paper, and was devoid of any images, the magazine made and still makes interesting reading. I have been fortunate to acquire a few copies of these magazines from the mid-1950's and over time will reproduce them here for the benefit of those who would like to see how the hobby has changed over the fifty years since these magazines were originally produced.

As is only fitting, I acknowledge for those who painstakingly produced and supplied these magazines that the contents of them are of their effort and I produce them as a mark of great respect for their efforts in promoting the hobby to all.

This section of the site will be used to highlight the many different aspects of the hobby that have changed over the years as as already said will take a nostalgic view down memory lane.

If any collectors are able to contribute to this section of the site with either original or copy material, then I would be pleased to hear from them

Nostalgia takes various forms and is viewed differently by various people. As time permits I will add additional material to this section of the site. Please note that each new piece of nostalgia will occupy it's own page or pages and will be listed in the sub-sections of this section with a title applicable to it's subject matter.

Happy reading

Page History:
Under Construction wef 7th February 2008
Page completed and uploaded 7th June 2008

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