We have an ever growing collection of postcards that relate to horology.

Geoff said, “ I began by collecting advertising material which led me to notice how many comic postcards mentioned clocks, watches or time in some way. I started a collection and then it just gained momentum….”

We are now sorting and cataloguing these as the collection continues to grow. They are interesting on many different levels, showing a change in attitudes, society, humour and daily life.

“I’ve been amazed at the number of early comic cartoon postcards that feature references to time or horology. Clearly it is a theme that has universal appeal and leant itself to all types of humour from puns to double entendres!”  said Su

The cards have caused a lot of lively discussion at Allnutt Clocks. Subjects have ranged from theories as to why some themes are prevalent such as showing people visiting pawn shops and those who have drunk too much. We have also talked at length about sexism and attitudes to women as well as what was seen as acceptable and what was censored. It is definitely clear that humour has changed significantly. Many of the jokes don’t seem very funny to us and some are witty but shocking because of the underlying views. The majority of the horology-themed cards however are not that “saucy”. Here are some examples of the recurring themes.

Adverts

Adverts PostcardLongines PostcardWatch Advert PostcardWaterbury Advert postcard
ACPC113ACPC109ACPC108ACPC105
Mido Watch Advert PostcardLongines Advert PostcardAdvert PostcardAdvert Postcard
ACPC106ACPC107ACPC99ACPC100
Longines Watch Advert Postcard
ACPC110a

Alarm Clocks

Alarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock Postcard
ACPC-1ACPC181ACPC183ACPC184
ACPC185Humorous PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock Postcard
ACPC185ACPC186ACPC187ACPC191
Alarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardACPC194
ACPC188ACPC189ACPC193ACPC194
Alarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock PostcardAlarm Clock Postcard
ACPC195ACPC196ACPC197

Animals

Animal Postcard Black Cat Postcard White Scottie Postcard Monkey in a Hammock Postcard
ACPC39ACPC40ACPC59ACPC180

Celebrations

Celebratory PostcardValentine PostcardChristmas PostcardNew Year Postcard
ACPC84ACPC198aACPC198bACPC236
Brother Birthday Postcard
ACPC237

Children & Clocks

Children & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks Postacrd
ACPC78ACPC79ACPC80ACPC81
Children & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks PostacrdChildren & Clocks Postacrd
ACPC82ACPC83ACPC84APCP85
Children & Clocks Postacrd
ACPC218

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous PostcardChild Smashing a Watch PostcardChild Meding a Watch PostcardWhy Don't You Carry a Watch Postcard
ACPC2ACPC32ACPC34ACPC60
Why Don't You Buy a Wristwatch PostcardMan Carrying a Longcase Clock PostcardAre are Behind Time PostcardI Just Find Some Time Postcard
ACPC61ACPC62ACPC90ACPC91
Rendez-vous Mal Precise PostcardMiscellaneous PostcardFrench Horologist PostcardWatch & Russian Postcard
ACPC101ACPC102ACPC104ACPC111
Besancon PostacrdComptoir General D'Horlogerie PostcardHorologist Humour PostcardHorologist Humour Postcard
ACPC112ACPC112bACPC199ACPC200
Horologist Humour PostcardHorologist Humour PostcardTrench WW1 PostcardFine Weather Society Postcard
ACPC201ACPC202ACPC210ACPC232
Nursery Rhymes PostcardTrain Station Humour PostcardSwimmer Humour PostcardACPC242
ACPC238ACPC239ACPC240ACPC242
Limerick About Time PostcardThe Birth of Father Time PostcardAdventurer Humour Time PostcardDoes Anyone Know Where a House to Let Postcard
ACPC244ACPC245ACPC247ACPC248

Pawn Shop, Drunk, Police, Theft

Geoff Allnutt PostcardsPoliceman PostcardPawnbroker PostcardPickpocket Postcard
ACPC27ACPC28ACPC117ACPC177
Auction PostcardPawn Shop PostcardDrunken PostcardDrunken Postcard
ACPC234ACPC216ACPC14ACPC15
Drunken PostcardDrunken PostcardDrunken PostcardDrunk Postcard
ACPC17ACPC18ACPC19ACPC20
Pawnbroker PostcardDrunken PostcardDrunken PostcardDrunk & Disorderly Postcard
ACPC16ACPC21ACPC22ACPC24
Drunk PostcardDuff PostcardDrunk to Bed PostcardTheft of Clock Postcard
ACPC26ACPC25ACPC29ACPC67
Pawbroker & Drunk PostcardDrunk Carrying a Clock PostcardPawnbroker PostcardPawnbroker Clock Postcard
ACPC114ACPC115ACPC116ACPC118
Pawnbroker Watch PostcardPawnbroker Watch PostcardPawnbroker Drunk PostcardPawnbroker with Clock Postcard
ACPC119ACPC120ACPC121ACPC122
Pawnbroker PostcardPawnbroker PostcardMoneylender PostcardACPC126
ACPC123ACPC124ACPC125ACPC126
Pawnbroker PostcardACPC165ACPC167Time Postcard
ACPC127ACPC165ACPC167ACPC168
Stealing a Wallet PostcardBurglary PostcardDrunk PostcardACPC172
ACPC169ACPC170ACPC171ACPC172
Theft PostcardStealing from a Pocket PostcardStealing a Clock PostcardStealing Postcard
ACPC173ACPC174ACPC175ACPC176
Stealing at a Fairground PostcardACPC178bACPC198aDrunk being arrested postcard
ACPC178aACPC178bACPC198aACPC205
ACPC214Pawnbroker PostcardACPC231Asking a Policeman the Time Postcard
ACPC214ACPC217ACPC231ACPC246
Thive inside a clock postcard
ACPC252

Puns & Metaphors

I'm Working Overtime PostcardWorking Overtime PostcardI am Simply Killing Time PostcardI Shall be Under the Clock at 5 Postcard
ACPC3ACPC4ACPC31ACPC35
I Will be On Watch PostcardArrived Late PostcardAny Old Time PostcardDon't Be Late Postcard
ACPC37ACPC41ACPC42ACPC43
Time is Heavy on My hands PostcardKilling Time PostcardLiving on Tick PostcardJust Cuckoo About This Place Postcard
ACPC44ACPC45ACPC46ACPC47
Time to Write PostcardGet Busy PostcardTime for a Note PostcardThe Half Past Eight Habit Postcard
ACPC48ACPC49ACPC50ACPC51
I've Waited Long Enough PostcardI Must Wind Up PostcardTime is Flying PostcardBless Our Happy Home Postcard
ACPC53ACPC54ACPC55ACPC56
Ive Got Time to See You PostcardI'm Waiting Here for Kate PostcardHave a Hellish Good Time PostcardTime Simply Flies at Southsea Postcard
ACPC57ACPC58ACPC66ACPC209a
PostcardThe Time PostcardOn the Watch for a Dollar PostcardIf Jean Only Found Time Postcard
ACPC209bACPC212ACPC213ACPC235
Pun Postcard
ACPC254

Relationships

Courrting Couple PostcardCourting Couples PostcardWedding Couple Sitting on a Clock PostcardACPC86
ACPC5ACPC33ACPC36ACPC86
Maude Goodman PostcardBearing Papa's Burden PostcardCourting Couple PostcardReg Maurice Postcard
ACPC87ACPC88ACPC89ACPC92
Rowing Couple PostcardTom B PostcardRoman Humour PostcardCourting Couples Postcard
ACPC93ACPC94ACPC95ACPC98
Edwardian Couple Postcard
ACPC148

Saucy & Amusing

Wedding Couple PostcardSaucy Hospital PostcardSaucy PostcardCourting Couple
ACPC128ACPC129ACPC130ACPC131
Courting Couple PostcardSaucy Clock PostcardSuacy bar PostcardSaucy Golf Postcard
ACPC132ACPC133ACPC134ACPC135
Honeymoon Clock PostcardSaucy Clock PostcardSaucy Seaside PostcardSaucy New Year Postcard
ACPC136ACPC137ACPC141ACPC142
Saucy PostcardSaucy Late Home PostcardSaucy Seaside PostcardSaucy Policeman Postcard
ACPC143ACPC144ACPC145ACPC146
Saucy Marital PostcardSuacy Salesman PostcardSaucy Couple PostcardLeap Year Postcard
ACPC147ACPC150ACPC151ACPC152
Saucy Clock PostcardSaucy Clock PostcardSaucy Auction PostcardSwallowed A Watch Postcard
ACPC153ACPC154ACPC155ACPC156
Clock PostcardSaucy Bamforth PostcardPoliceman PostcardWaiting for the Late Ma i le Postcard
ACPC158aACPC159ACPC160ACPC166
Saucy Park PostcardSaucy Courting Couple PostcardBig Ben PostcardSaucy Statue Postcard
ACPC206ACPC207ACPC208 (1)ACPC208 (3)
Saucy Statue PostcardSaucy Policeman PostcardClock PostcardClock Postcard
ACPC208 (4)ACPC208 (5)ACPC228ACPC229
Clock PostcardExhausted New Dad PostcardHumourous Watch PostcardSaucy Postcard
ACPC230ACPC241ACPC243ACPC98

Scottish

Scottish PostcardsScottish PostcardsScottish PostcardsScottish Postcards
ACPC215ACPC223ACPC224ACPC225
Scottish PostcardsScottish Postcards
ACPC226ACPC227

Stylised Children

Stylised Children PostcardStylised Children PostcardStylised Children PostcardStylised Children Postcard
ACPC218ACPC219ACPC220ACPC221
Stylised Children Postcard
ACPC222

Women & Clocks

Women & Clocks PostcardWomen & Clocks PostcardWomen & Clocks PostcardWomen & Clocks Postcard
ACPC96ACPC97ACPC103ACPC138
Women & Clocks PostcardWomen & Clocks PostcardWomen & Clocks Postcard
ACPC139ACPC140ACPC157

Work Related

Work Related PostcardWork Related PostcardWork Related PostcardWork Related Postcard
ACPC6ACPC7ACPC8ACPC9
Work Related PostcardWork Related PostcardWork Related PostcardWork Related Postcard
ACPC10ACPC11ACPC12ACPC13
Work Related PostcardWork Related Horology PostcardWork Related Horology PostcardWork Related Horology Postcard
ACPC179ACPC256ACPC257ACPC258