A Collection of Old-Timey Life Hacks That Prove Creativity Has Always Been a Thing

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John Summers • Contributor
Dec 30, 2024 11:00 PM EST

We like to think "life hacks" are some modern invention, a gift brought to us by the almighty powers of social media. But here's the thing—people have been hacking their way through life for centuries. They just didn't call it a hack back then; they called it ingenuity, or in some cases, desperation.

These old-timey tips and tricks are proof that human beings have always found creative solutions to everyday problems. Whether it's using bread to clean wallpaper or storing a razor blade in a matchbox (yes, really), a lot of these hacks come as an answer to a question non of us modern folks ever thought of asking but It turns out, life hacks are timeless—they're just a little quirkier when they're wrapped in vintage charm.

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  • 01
    100 IN SET How to do it No 2 HOW TO DETECT DAMPNESS IN BEDS. In order to detect dampness in a strange bed and so be warned of the danger, a small hand- mirror should be slipped between the sheets and left for a few minutes. Any mistiness or blurred appearance of the mirror's surface when withdrawn is an indication of damp- ness, and the bed should not be slept in. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. IG BELFAST & LONDON
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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    100 IN SET How to do it No 14 HOW TO CLEAN REAL LACE. To clean real lace, lay the lace on a sheet of blue or white tissue paper, and well cover with powder of calcined magnesia. Cover with more paper and place under a weight for a few days. The lace will be found to be quite clean after shaking out the pow- der, and the most delicate texture remains unin- jured. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. JO BELFAST & LONDON
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes. CALCINED MAGNESIA
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  • 05
    100 IN SET How to do it No 15 HOW TO MAKE WATER FOUNTAIN FOR CHICKS. A simple water foun- tain, ensuring a supply of fresh water for the chick- ens, can be made from a pint wine bottle, sup- ported by wire loops to a wooden upright as shown, the bottle being held inverted over an earthen- ware pan, with mouth of bottle about half an inch above bottom of pan. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. IG BELFAST & LONDON
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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    100 IN SET R How to do it No 16 HOW TO ADJUST A DOOR. The annoyance of a door rattling in windy weather can be done away with by glueing pieces of cork, A.A., in crack be- tween door and beading of doorway. The corks must be slightly thicker than the crack, and door should be shut on them until glue sets. The elasticity of cork holds door and effectually stops rattling noise. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. G BELFAST & LONDON]
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    A A Gallaher's Cigarettes. OC
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  • 09
    100 IN SET How to do it No 21 HOW TO TREAT SQUEAKY BOOTS. When new boots make a squeaking noise, a good remedy is to drive several brads in the centre of the sole. Another method is to place the sole in a dish or plate containing oil, the heel being propped up in order to immerse the whole of the sole, and the boot left until the oil has thoroughly soaked into the leather. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. BELFAST & LONDON O
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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    100 IN SET How to do it No 22 HOW TO REMOVE A TIGHT RING It FROM THE FINGER. To remove a tight ring from the finger without pain or trouble, the finger should be first well lathered with soap. will then be found that, unless the joints are swollen the ring can easily be taken off. If, however, the finger and joints are much swollen, a visit to the jeweller is advisable. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. O BELFAST & LONDON
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  • 12
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 13
    100 IN SET How to do it No 27 HOW TO CLEAN BOTTLES. To clean the interior of bottles, a little sand and water should be well shaken about inside them. This will have the effect of cleansing every part, and the bottles can then be washed out and dried. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. IG BELFAST & LONDON O
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    WATER AND SAND Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 15
    100 IN SET How to do it No 31 HOW TO CLEAN NEW BOOTS. New boots are some- times very difficult to polish. A successful method is to rub the boots over with half a lemon, allow them to dry, after which they will easily polish, although occasionally it may be found necessary to repeat the application of the lemon juice Issued by GALLAHER LTD. IG BELFAST & LONDON
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes
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    100 IN SET How to do it No 32 HOW TO CUT NEW BREAD INTO THIN SLICES. The difficulty of cut- ting new bread into thin slices can readily be overcome by the follow- ing expedient. Plunge the bread knife into hot water and when thoroughly hot wipe quickly. It will be found that the heated knife will cut soft, yield- ing new bread into the thinnest slices. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. BELFAST & LONDON
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  • 18
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 19
    100 IN SET How to do it No 36 HOW TO KEEP A PAINT BRUSH HANDLE CLEAN. To do away with the annoyance of a wet and sticky brush handle, which is so unpleasant to the amateur painter, get a piece of card or tin and make a hole in it through which the handle can be forced, as shown in the picture. This prevents the paint from running down. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. BELFAST & LONDON O
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  • 20
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 21
    100 IN SET How to do it No 37 HOW TO DRAW AN ELLIPSE WITH STRING. Size of ellipse having been determined, focuses are found by measuring off the short diameter (or width of ellipse) from ends of long diameter (or length of ellipse). Two pins should be fixed, and string or thread looped round, as shown in pic- ture. Length of loop should be from A to B. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. BELFAST & LONDON O
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes. A B
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  • 23
    100 IN SET How to do it No 40 HOW TO REMOVE GLASS STOPPER FROM BOTTLE There are several ways of overcoming the difficulty of loosening a glass stopper that is tightly fixed in a bottle, the method shown in the picture being one of the best. Tie a piece of strong string to a firm sup- port, twist it round the neck of the bottle outside the stepper and then quickly rub the bottle to and fro till the neck is hot. This causes the glass to ex- pand, leaving the stopper loose. Issued by GALLAHER LTD.
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 25
    100 IN SET How to do it No 47 HOW TO TAKE INK STAINS OUT OF A HANDKERCHIEF. A fine linen handker- chief which has had the misfortune to to become stained with ink can be restored to its original spotlessness. When the accident occurs, the hand- kerchief should at once be plunged into milk. After soaking for some time it will be found that the ink stains have disappeared. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. JO BELFAST & LONDON @
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  • 26
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 27
    53 100 IN SET How to do it No 49 HOW TO PICK UP BROKEN GLASS. To pick up broken glass quickly and cleanly a soft damp cloth will be found to be most effective, for it takes up all the small splinters. The best plan is to use an old piece of rag that can be thrown away with the glass. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. GBELFAST & LONDON
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  • 28
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 29
    100 IN SET How to do it No 61 TO SEPARATE GLASS TUMBLERS. When two glass tum- blers stick together there is a danger of breakage in trying to separate them. The simplest and most effective method of releas- ing the glasses is to put cold water in the upper one and place, the lower one in warm water. They will be found to separate at once. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. GBELFAST & LONDON O
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  • 30
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 31
    100 IN SET R How to do it No 65 TO FIT A LARGE CANDLE. If a candle is too thick to fit the candlestick, don't pare the end, but get a bowl of hot water and hold the end of the candle in it until the wax softens. If the candle is now pressed into the candle- stick, it will fit firmly. Issued by A GALLAHER LTD. GBELFAST & LONDON
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    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 33
    100 IN SET How to do it No 73 HOW TO REVIVE CUT FLOWERS. To revive choice blooms that have faded during transit, plunge the stems into hot water, and allow them to remain until the water has cooled. By that time the flowers will have revived. The ends of the stems should then be cut off and the blossoms placed in cold water in the usual way. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. IG BELFAST & LONDON O
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  • 34
    Gallaher's Cigarettes.
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  • 35
    100 IN SET Σ How to do it No 94 HOW TO JUDGE FRESHNESS OF A LOBSTER. If, when buying a boiled lobster, you are in doubt 'as to its freshness, just pull back the tail, then suddenly release it; if the tail flies back with a snap, the lobster is quite fresh: but if it goes back slowly. you may be pretty sure the lobster has been boiled and kept for some days. Issued by A GALLAHER LTD. GBELFAST & LONDON
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  • 36
    Gallaher's Cigarettes
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  • 37
    100 INSET R How to do it No 98 THREE USEFUL KNOTS. No. 1 is the Timber Hitch, which is especially useful in lifting all kinds of heavy work, such as huge beams, etc. No. 2, the Fisherman's Knot, shows a good method of joining two ropes tightly together. No. 3 is the famous Clove Hitch, which be- comes tighter the harder it is pulled. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. GBELFAST & LONDON
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  • 38
    Gallaher's Cigarettes 2 3
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  • 39
    100 IN SET How to do it No 99 HOW TO STOP A RUNAWAY HORSE. Never rush in front of the horse, Run along be- side, and with the hand nearest grip the shaft and keep the body clear by the stiffened arm. Then with the free hand, catch the reins and pull the horse to a standstill. Do not jump about, wave arms or shout. It frightens the horse. Issued by GALLAHER LTD. JG BELFAST & LONDON O
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  • 40
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