Thought at first glance this was a code wheel (woohoo), but it seems to be a whistle that is used to "send" the code, which looks like Morse to me. Oh, and it's a yo-yo too. LOL
Just when I thought this blog couldn't possibly have any more surprises for me!
First of all, yes, Keds are sneakers. Brits would call them trainers or Plimsolls, no? Keds were the originals, and remained the most popular brand for children during the Fifties and Sixties. They're still around today.
The premiums were an inducement to get kids into the shoe store to get a pair of Keds. Back in the day, children wouldn't normally consider trying on a new pair of shoes an exciting activity; knowing you were going to be bribed with a free toy at the end made it much more appealing. Also, getting a new pair of sneakers was only something you did when you'd outgrown the current pair, but knowing Keds had a new in-store premium to give away might help persuade a boy or girl to give it a shot. These days, getting the latest pair of running shoes with the newest design and features is actually a draw in itself, so there's no call for an added inducement.
The yo-yo whistle with morse code printed on the face was one premium, and here are a couple of others I remember well:
I also seem to recall yet another variant which incorporated a bit of metal foil as a reflector, the idea being that you could send silent morse code to someone by reflected sunlight. Of course this required a friend who understood Morse code…or also had the same premium, so you can see how this was meant to drive even more kids to buy Keds….
Never heard of Keds Paul and Richard. They weren't around when I would have taken any notice of fashion in England when I was a wee laddie. Thankis for sharing your memories Richard, I love the link between shoes and toys. Morse code by Sunlight - sounds fantastic! British Sixties Kids will remember the compass that came in the heels of Wayfinders shoes bought at Clarks. Stylish and life-saving! One brand of sneaker-type shoes over here are Kickers. Are they Keds as well?
For that matter, what the heck are "Keds"?
ReplyDeleteThought at first glance this was a code wheel (woohoo), but it seems to be a whistle that is used to "send" the code, which looks like Morse to me. Oh, and it's a yo-yo too. LOL
How on Earth did you find this?
Keds are sneakers, justabout the oldest brand around. See lower left on http://www.keds.com
ReplyDeleteWhy they came with yo-yo-whistle premiums is beyond me though... :)
Best
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Paul
Just when I thought this blog couldn't possibly have any more surprises for me!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, yes, Keds are sneakers. Brits would call them trainers or Plimsolls, no? Keds were the originals, and remained the most popular brand for children during the Fifties and Sixties. They're still around today.
The premiums were an inducement to get kids into the shoe store to get a pair of Keds. Back in the day, children wouldn't normally consider trying on a new pair of shoes an exciting activity; knowing you were going to be bribed with a free toy at the end made it much more appealing. Also, getting a new pair of sneakers was only something you did when you'd outgrown the current pair, but knowing Keds had a new in-store premium to give away might help persuade a boy or girl to give it a shot. These days, getting the latest pair of running shoes with the newest design and features is actually a draw in itself, so there's no call for an added inducement.
The yo-yo whistle with morse code printed on the face was one premium, and here are a couple of others I remember well:
http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.com/&pm=0&searchkeywords=keds+decoder&sin=6427
I also seem to recall yet another variant which incorporated a bit of metal foil as a reflector, the idea being that you could send silent morse code to someone by reflected sunlight. Of course this required a friend who understood Morse code…or also had the same premium, so you can see how this was meant to drive even more kids to buy Keds….
Never heard of Keds Paul and Richard. They weren't around when I would have taken any notice of fashion in England when I was a wee laddie. Thankis for sharing your memories Richard, I love the link between shoes and toys. Morse code by Sunlight - sounds fantastic! British Sixties Kids will remember the compass that came in the heels of Wayfinders shoes bought at Clarks. Stylish and life-saving! One brand of sneaker-type shoes over here are Kickers. Are they Keds as well?
ReplyDeleteWell, we live and learn. Never heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteBut I still want to know how you found this, Woodsy. Come on, tell all.