Monday, August 16, 2010

Teapots and premiums

I'm showing my age here...but does anyone remember the 50s and 60s when companies gave away premiums with a purchase or sold items for box tops and a small amount of cash? My favorite is Dolly Parton talking about Breeze detergent on the Porter Waggoner TV show during the 60s. Breeze actually gave away dishtowels in their boxes of soap. (Makes you wonder how much soap you were missing in each box...) At each commerical Dolly would say with a giggle "You can't buy 'em! You can only get them in boxes of Breeze."

Well my favorite teapot is a gift from my mother...but it was also a premium from 70s. In 1976 my mother found herself an empty nester. Both my sister and I had married and moved out. Some time during this period, she started using Diet Imperial margarine. Diet Imperial began offering teacups/saucers as premiums. These bone china teacups and saucers were manufactured by Royal Windsor Bone China. Collecting the box tops and with a few extra dollars per item, my mother was able to collect 12 cups/saucers, 12 cake plates, sugar and creamer and this wonderful teapot.
Included with each china delivery were additional coupons for Diet Imperial.
When my mother gave me the complete set, she also included an old order form. Her selection was the "Forget-M-Not" pattern. And we know how much I love Forget-Me-Nots! While I suspect that Dolly's dishtowel wasn't made of the best material, this teapot is perfect and serves up a great pot of tea.

3 comments:

  1. This just furthers my love for all things vintage. What do we get for free with purchase? Nothing! We might get 30% off if we open a credit card but let's be honest, the card will cost you way more than that 30% in the future.

    I also cannot believe all the pictures on this blog. I always knew your home was beautiful but jeez. :)

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  2. Well thank you Minda!!! :) Abby says it's because of the camera...I would like to think it's the photographer! :)

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  3. What a beautiful teapot. And it was free! I remember getting glasses with my initial on them at gas stations. LOL! I was married to Glen then, so what to do with a bunch of glasses with an 'E' emblazoned on them????? Don't look too closely in our booth. Okay???

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