Let’s go back about a hundred years for this week’s Thursday Doors post from the Cavan County Museum. If I was a gentleman waiting on a morning train to work I would probably take a seat on one of those lovely old chairs in this first image. I quite fancy the red one.
For a longer trip, I might pack my clothes in a fine old trunk such as this one.
However, if I had been a young woman in the old days I might have had lodgings in a nice little townhouse. Have a look through this next door.
Judging by the time on that mantle clock, I’m late for work.
Let’s take a closer look at the office I might have worked in.
When I finished secondary school or high school, back in the mid 70’s, I attended an office administration course at Miss Merry’s Secretarial Academy in Dublin. We had a choice of learning Gregg or Pitman shorthand but there was no choosing which typewriter to use. Our classroom contained about a dozen different versions of typewriter, from the one in the photo above to the most up to date electric one. We all took turns using every one of them because in those days we could end up working on ancient models, as they were still in use. I’m showing my age now. Needless to say, the electric one was most popular and much easier on the hands.
Being a writer and booklover, this shelf full of old books definitely caught my eye. I had to downsize my own collection to fit in our tiny house. This next image shows you what I’m left with. I think I have room for one or two more but I’ll be very selective.
Thanks so much for stopping by and if you carry on over to Norm’s blog you’ll see links to lots more doors. Next week I’ll have another in the Thursday Doors series from the Cavan County Museum.
Hi Jean, this was an interesting virtual visit to the museum. That old traveling trunk must have weighed a ton and been a bear to lug around. I much prefer my lightweight roller bag. I loved the office too, but it definitely needed a window. The view through the doors was an interesting way to do Norm’s Thursday Doors.
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Thanks, I was thinking the same thing about that trunk. Imagine having to check that in on every flight.
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I had one of those huge old Royal typewriters to play with when I was a girl. My dad found it somewhere and set me up with a ribbon and paper so I could play being a teacher or a secretary or a writer. It was a monster and I jammed the keys way too often. But it was fun.
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The keys were always jamming on those old typewriters, Ally.
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Yes they were. Probably more so for a kid goofing off. 😉
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Learned to type of one of these and in that I’m very happy we progressed. The good thing is that I learned to type with two hands, instead of two fingers like the rest of the family! Love the fourth view with the look of wood. Couldn’t decide if this was a room or a hall way. Have forgotten how narrow the rooms in Europe could be:). Books …never enough!
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That is an extra small room, Jesh. I think they were a bit short of space for the exhibit and squashed it in.
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What a treat this week, Jean:). And yes… I, too, came out of secretarial college in the 70s and for the first handful of years, I was pounding away at a hefty manual typewriter – thank you for allowing me to revisit that memory!
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Those old beasts could give you fists like Popeye, Sarah.
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And where’s a tin of spinach when you need it?
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💪
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A nostalgic look into the office days gone by. I remember those days. My father had a manual adding machine that we used to keep the books for the bowling alley he managed. click,click,click, ker-chunk.
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Lol, that’s exactly what they sounded like, Dan.
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Fun post Jean. I’m a big fan of old typewriters. Not that I used them much. Just as someone who makes a living from the printed word and appreciates their importance in history. I figure the typewriter and the printing press are probably two of the greatest inventions.
Now can you imagine working all day in that tiny little office space?
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I worked in a space that size in my teens, Norm, and shared it with another person. I was an assistant telephonist to an older lady called Dolly and we used the old style ‘doll’s eye’ switchboard. Had a blast in those days, she was eccentric but always made me smile.
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I have a “newer” old version of the typewriter, my mother’s. I love the sound, reminds me of her ❤
I'd love to have a fine old trunk like that! Fabulous!
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It would be so amazing to have a trunk like that, Joey. Any time I’ve seen one for sale they are way too expensive.
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