Did you know?

'Typewriter' is the longest word that can be made using only the letters on one row of the QUERTY keyboard. Indeed, the QUERTY system was developed in 1874 by Sholes and Glidden after some very extensive testing to provide the best possible layout for touch typing. While computer keyboards have now seemingly replaced typewriters, there's still nothing quite like the meditative tap of the lead letters touching the paper, or that melodic 'ding' as you reach the end of the line. Of course, their most wonderful quality is their ability to truly transport you back in time; just play a little Jack Kerouac and you too can hang with those beat poets, in their crazy pads.

Below is Jack Kerouac's original manuscript for On The Road, which was exhibited at the British Library.


And here, Kerouac reads from the last page of On The Road, with accompanying jazz.


 

Enamelware

Enamelling is one of the oldest art forms and crafts in the world - appearing all the way back in Ancient Egypt! Enamelling was used in Egypt, during the Ming Dynasty and by the Byzantines as a form or embellishment for icons and religious relics. Following this the craft of porcelain or vitreous enamelling was carried over into practical uses in the kitchen due to it's tough and durable nature. Enamelware is exceedingly durable, hard and tough. Nowadays you can encounter both vitreous enamelware like our jugs and pitchers and painted "enamelware" like our bread bins and kitchen canisters.

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History of Dominoes

Dominoes are believed to have first appeared in mainland Europe in Italy in the 18th Century. The name comes from the word for the black and white spots on the Carnivale masks in Venice. It is believed the domino game appeared a lot earlier in history however in China.

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The First Woman In Space

On June 16 1963 Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space on the Soviet spacecraft, Vostok 6. She manually controlled the spacecraft for many of it's orbits during the 71 hour mission. Girl Power!

Watch the quite dramatic video:





When Australia Changed to Decimal Currency

Australia changed to decimal currency on 14th February 1966! It was the day pence and pounds became dollars and cents! There was even a song about it on TV!

"In come the dollars and in come the cents 
To replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence 
Be prepared for change when the coins begin to mix 
On the fourteenth of February 1966."

Watch the ad featuring the song:


History of Marbles

The classic game of Marbles has been played for thousands of years - dating all the way back to Ancient Roman and Ancient Egyptian times! 

It is thought that a German glass blower invented a device for making glass marbles in the 1840's - leading to their mass production.

Ever since then generations of children and grown ups alike have been playing this classic game, and each year the World Marble Championships are still held in the UK!

Our Ridley's Marbles Game is available here!