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That’s wot’s in the box.

An old 1934 Crackajack counter top display. Courtesy of the Lumsden family whose Great Uncle exhibited in his Newsagency. David Lumsden kindly provided extra detail to HRR. “My great uncle’s name was Cliff Cairns and his newsagents was at 524 Toorak Rd, Burwood, at the then tram terminus. He ran the shop up to 1950. He had been vice president of the Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association.” David also kindly attached a 1935 article of a burglary at the store where poor old Digger the canine failed in his guard duty.

Mr C. E. Cairns, newsagent, of Toorak Road, Burwood reported thieves entered his sitting-room on May 3 to find his watchdog “Digger” asleep in an armchair — and the room ransacked. A cash box containing about £12 in notes and silver had been stolen. The thieves had placed a cushion on the chair for the dog to sleep on and then covered the animal with a rug. Digger, a large terrier, is ordinarily so fierce that he will not allow customers past the counter in front of the shop. The fact that intruders gained an entry by a back window evidently upset, his calculations. (Weekly Times 11 May, 1935)

Immediately two thoughts came to mind. Firstly, glad they didn’t take the Crackajack display and secondly, I wonder if Digger knew the intruders?

Sometime back, I had thrown my hat into the ring bidding for a Crackajack box with an earlier insert (1926) – when the Crackajack Artist was the numero uno model. I pulled the pin early in the auction.

The insert in Cliff’s display has the Crackajack Grand Concert (with leather wind saving valves) as the top of the pops – it dates to 1934. Interestingly, (but not very funny) I have this model and for some unknown reason the reverse cover plate is just stamped Concert.

The Concert model was introduced to the Crackajack line in 1925 and was still available with the arrival of the Concert Grand. This was quite a different beast featuring rounded ends, so I’m not sure why the Grand would have one of its plates franked Concert?

Jack & Bingo

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don’t care if I never get back.

Jack Norworth

A recent trawl through the archives unearthed this graphic (above) from a 1926 Sun Pictorial advert. Back in February 2022, I investigated the Nautical connection with our Crackajacks (Nautical Jack) and I even loosely considered a connection with the American confectionery. The graphic really floored me as Young Jack (with Bingo) of the Cracker Jack popcorn variety is carrying Crackajack mouth organs instead of the caramelised popcorn boxes.

I remember when I was young (and the world had just begun) in the early seventies the introduction of Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs and I imagine they were somewhat similar to the Cracker Jacks. I reckon I might have had that toy on the packet.

Who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?
Without you here there’s something wrong
Yah I can’t deny this feeling
And the truth that it’s revealing
But who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?

Stu Larsen

Aussie Stu Larsen is seldom seen in our neck of the woods these days. He has no fixed abode, few worldly possessions and, over the last decade, he’s roamed the globe. I was first introduced to Stu via my son’s secondary teacher – you gotta like that! Of course one of his tunes featured subtle tones from the ol’ spit box – This Train from his 2011 EP Ryeford.

Stu doesn’t do things by the music release playbook with this EP, ‘Songs I Wrote’, being dropped three days out from Christmas. This follows the previous years EP, ‘Songs I Wish I Wrote’ released two days out from the big day. The final ditty, Who’s Gonna Catch Me off his latest, has the fist whistle melodically pushing the melody. The song rolls rhythmically along asking the question, “Who’s going to be there if you leave?” Marla adds sweet vocal and tasty harmonies into the mix.

Confirmation that the Aussie True Tone mouth organs were manufactured by F A Bohm, perhaps definitely?

Unless you know of a F A Bohn?

Mouth Organ Mimicry

About this time last year we headed off to the Dandenong Ranges National Park to meander through the forest to the Sherbrooke Falls. We had only just entered the O’Donohue track when our lug holes were filled with a range of different bird calls one after the other.

Surely (don’t call me Shirley) all species weren’t there taking turns to trill a couple of bars of their native call. It had to be a Lyrebird! A few ginger steps off the track and the majestic mimicker was revealed. And it was who we thought. Pam recorded the large passarine in action and I’ve condensed them slightly for your aural pleasure.

Of course down under we had a few Lyrebird mouth organs with Sydney’s W F Coxon’s a popular instrument early in the twentieth century. Check out Mouth Organ Mimicry.

Follow Up Single

While on the topic of my feathered friends, my second single, known in some quarters as Draftee Shuffler but better known as Ruffled Feathers, looks like being further delayed. However, on a good note (Bb) there could be some bass on the track. There is a rumour Benoit is releasing a live album of the ‘Mountain’ album launch and I might make an appearance on a toon. I wasn’t part of the band for any rehearsals and my E harp was a little dodgy (perhaps I was too), so please be kind if it makes the final cut. 

Please Explain?

WordPress provided us a year in review. I’m not sure of how to mathematically interpret my best day. 877%! Perhaps you Riff Raffers can help me on this one?

Pictorials (First of the Month)

If you haven’t caught up with this year’s first of the month, they’re Pictorials and we kicked off with Bibs & Bobs. Here’s a recent photograph of a Wonny Warbler. A photo of Southwark Scouts was attached to The Big One.

Our feature this month was Bluey Watkins & the Harmonica Humbugs. Next month relates the tale of Melbourne’s Great Mouth Organ Heist of 1930.

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