1950s Business Calendars From Kilcock
Among the many postcards and other ephemera found in the Kildare Local Studies collections are three small business calendars dating from 1953/54 advertising local business in Kilcock.
Each card, marked as ‘A Photocraft Production 27 Essex Street Dublin’, follows an almost identical template with attractive images of the business, their products, contact details and a calendar for the year 1954. When folded, they measure a miniscule 7cm by 9cm so they were likely designed to fit in a pocket of clothing rather than a calendar that would hang on a wall.
The three local businesses that feature are:
- Cott’s of Kilcock Co. Kildare with the tag line from the proprietor Turlough Cott “I guarantee everything I sell!”
- John Finn Draper and Outfitter, Church Street Kilcock.
- Bill Byrne General Merchant, The Square Bar, Kilcock “Always A Good Drink”
Interestingly, Billy Byrne was the only business to advertise a phone number ‘Kilcock 5’.
Cott’s provides the most detailed sales pitch, with a lengthy list of products they sell and promises of free delivery everywhere, after sales service and confidential easy payments.
