I've just obtained some old magazines; thought this might be interesting.
This is 'Practical Engineering' from Feb.1940. This was during what was known as the Phoney War: Hitler had invaded Poland & we had declared war on Germany, but not much was happening. It was not until May 1940 that Hitler invaded France & the war really began.
Looking at the adverts in the magazine, it was clear that the war was very much in peoples' minds.

Love "this is Fighting talk"
Thanks for sharing chris

That Newnes war atlas must of been useful, knowing exactly where your loved one was blown to bits must of come in very handy.

It's interesting that they should start a new magazine at that time, and a weekly too, when paper supply was restricted. The supply of wood pulp from Scandinavia was cut off and there was a drive to collect waste paper and rags. The paper quality was poor and yellowed, as seen here. Remember the 'Wartime Economy Book Publishing' symbol?
Nice find, Chris. I bet they are full of good technical stuff but not giving any war secrets away!
Bri

Bri; no, I don't remember that economy symbol. I remember the one on furniture & clothing, but I can't find an illustration. I think that in 1940, shortages hadn't made themselves fully felt. I've scanned some more pages, this time from " Practical Mechanics" from 1943 & 1944. On the first page of the Feb 1944 one, there's a note about the paper shortage, just below the heading; same in the April 1943 one. In both, there's quite a few pages of "The Cyclist" but nothing from "Practical Motorist" or "Home Movies"
Hope you all find these scans interesting.

You need to copy & paste the link to the Me 323.

This is excellent stuff Chris.Great find and thanks for sharing.

Just a bit more from the cycling section. This from 1947.
Discussing the cost of touring.

"I should think it needs all of a pound a day to meet the complete expenses of a cycling tour, and that is not reckoning such personal items as tobacco, strong liquor and postage stamps."

And this advert; I can't really believe that the double entendre was intentional, but I think it's hilarious; look at the marvellous shy, eyes-cast-down expressions.

Here's the economy symbol, 2''x1.1/2'', on an electronics book of 1948.

Those small ads bring a lot back! Chemistry sets... I could buy a lot of nasty chemicals with glass and rubber tubing at the chemist in Bebington Road, between the station and Barlow Ave. What was the name?
Used to spend hours glass-bending, over the gas stove flame. Got a bunsen burner later. Gas was cheap then! Penny in the slot meter AND a rebate!
Home-made fireworks were popular at any time of the year, naturally. Potassium chlorate, strontium nitrate, sulphur, iron filings and charcoal in un-remembered proportions!
We survived somehow!

Which reminds me of war surplus equipment, Whitechapel, Praed Street, Tott. Court Road.....OK,thats enough, some other time...

Bri

Has he just given her a ream of A4 paper and a tin of Heinz beans? That's the way to a woman's heart!!

Thanks for that Bri; I remember it now. I too was an amateur chemist. Don't know the name of yours, but mine was in Prenton Rd.West, opposite the Rovers' ground. He was a great old guy who taught me a lot. Sold me my first camera too, an old 1/2plate one, with glass plates, not film. He rejoiced in the name of Percy Kingdom Bottomley. In about 1955 I worked for a time at J.W.Towers, laboratory suppliers, at the top of Brownlow Hill; that was great, I could get anything I wanted & even sometimes had stuff delivered. Yes, we did survive, with most of our parts.

I remember the name JW Towers! Did they have a catalogue of beakers, flasks, etc.? A 'Leibig's condenser' would have been useful, too!

And here's the Utility symbol:

Towers had a very large catalogue.
Thanks for the utility symbol; I never knew what it meant, looks like a very early Pacman. How about you?

No, that would be foolscap.

Not many would know foolscap nowadays!!

The utility sign was said to stand for 'Civilian Clothing 1941' so why was it used on furniture as well?