Our house was a commercial for Stanley products. Mother must have used everything they ever made.
If someone gave a Stanley party and some of the attendees "booked" a party at the time, the party-giver got credits toward a gift. Some of them were pretty nice things, too.
Each party started with the dealer showing pictures of the barn where the company was born, and giving a brief history of Stanley Home Products.
Games were played; the winner won a nice little prize, and everybody else was allowed to choose a consolation prize, something like a simple sponge.
Stanley pencils with no erasers were passed out for some of the games.
Stanley made one product I remember well, sort of a lotion that you rubbed on knees or elbows or necks and rubbed it in until dirt started rolling off. Sometimes the Stanley lady made a game of this, and gave a prize to the person who rolled off the most dirt. Pretty nasty, huh?
I was never left with a babysitter in my life; where Mama went, I went. I loved going to those Stanley parties because I was allowed to play the games and choose consolation prizes just like the grownups. And of course, the hostess always served food, usually cake or cookies.
Far back in my memory I remember going to one Stanley party with Mother wearing a hoop skirt: the hem of my dress had some sort of wire (?) that made my dress stand out. Trouble is, when I sat down, my dress went UP! Very strange, and I don't think I ever wore the thing anywhere else. It must have been a style at the time, but it didn't work out for me.
I still buy a couple of Stanley items from Ebay stores. I received these pot-scrubbers in the mail today, and that's what sent me down memory lane.
Anyone else remember Stanley?
P.S. I see by my Sitemeter than one of my neighbors with DSL has spent over two hours on this site today, total. Wow! You must be catching up. Welcome, neighbor. I see you!
Some years ago, I remember, in Italy there was Stanhome that made products for home cleaning made in U.S.A.
ReplyDeleteSomeone gave a Stanhome party and then another and so on...
Sorry for my English...
I give you a salutation from Italy.
A.L.
My step-grandmother used to sell Stanley products. I remember that I often went with her to the parties she held when I was a little girl. I loved it as many times it was a group of older women who would make a pet out of me and spoil me rotten! One of my 'jobs' was to take the bingo cards, which had little red 'windows' that closed over the numbers when called, and be sure all of the little windows was open ;p
ReplyDeleteI also remember going to quilting parties and being in charge of keeping the needles threaded. I spent most of my time sitting under the quilt and listening to the women all talking... Hmmm.. I'll bet I heard things I wasn't supposed to LOL.
Thank you for reminding me of some of the simple pleasures of being a small child in the early 60's!
I graduated high school in 1982 and we had to sell Stanley products every year for home-ec from junior high all through high school.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting your trailer! Now to get the site ready and get the trailer on site.
This apartment I moved into in 1987 when I got married was the first place I ever lived with central heat and air and city water, and a full bathroom. We always had either a commode and no tub or just an outhouse and number 2 washtub for baths. I was 22 when I got married.
I remember those, Fuller Brush man, Electrolux Vacuum salesman, and many more. We had no non-generator electricity on the farm, yet they called monthly, mostly to sample my aunt's baking and get homemade cheese I think.
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