Dürkopp Diana

In 1860 Nicholas Dürkopp, with Carl Schmidt, started a factory for the production of sewing machines.  In 1876, Carl Schmidt was handsomely recompensed and "allowed leave".  After that time, the factory started to produce bicycles and became very successful. Cycles under the Dürkopp name continued to be sold until 2006 though manufactured by Biria AG.

Nowadays, Dürkopp Adler AG, manufactures industrial sewing machines, so in a way you could say the company has come full circle.  It is still in Bielefeld, Germany.

This card is a reproduction of advertising published between 1900 and 1914 and was sent to me from Germany.

Butter wouldn't melt

I thought I remembered that I'd bought a reproduction advertisement for chocolate about 18 months ago. Maybe I did but the only card of that type I can find is this one for butter.

Beurre d'Isigny is still widely available today as a premium type of butter made in a specific area of northern France - and nowhere else is allowed use the name, rather like champagne.  The Bretel-Frères started off in 1865 by exporting eggs and salted butter to England but then in 1871 set up production of butter in Valognes. The ad dates from 1900.

This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted on Beth Niquette's blog, The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

A castle, of sorts

I have on my Postcrossing wishlist that I'd be happy to receive postcards with medieval castles.  Someone with a great sense of humour sent me this one from Las Vegas.  The Excalibur was opened in 1990, which in Las Vegas terms makes it an old hotel.  On the reverse it states: "a luxury hotel and casino disguised as a medieval castle".

Cocoa or cat?

There was a television ad a few years ago that showed two little girls, sisters.  The elder one asked the younger which she preferred, Daddy or chips?  The little girl puzzled all day but when supper time came and Daddy stole one of her chips, she made the decision easily - she preferred chips!

This card from the Netherlands is a reproduction of an ad for Van Houten's cocoa (considered a superior cocoa).  It provokes the same reaction in me - as fond as I am of my cat, I'd prefer to drink my cocoa myself.

This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted on Beth Niquette's blog, The Best Hearts are Crunchy.  Just click on the button to visit and join in.