The owner of this collection of household items was a woman 'who never threw anything away'. Born in 1914 and married in 1939, her life as a young woman would have been affected by the Great Depression and, like many women of her generation, she continued to make economies long after it was probably necessary for her to do so. She folded department store wrapping paper for re-use, saved the instruction booklets from household products, and kept the remnants of all the medications that she had ever taken. Her house in suburban Sydney was a testament to her careful housekeeping: her best outfits were neatly stored with labels stating what occasions she had worn them to, and her only daughter's bedroom remained intact with all its toys, many of them home-made. Most of the items acquired by the Powerhouse Museum from this house represent the kind of domestic products and ephemera associated with baby care and the management of family health during the 1940s to 1960s in suburban Sydney.

According to the label, Vicks and Vaporub are registered trade marks of Richardson-Merrell Inc. The product was manufactured by Vick Products (Pty.) Ltd., Sydney [NSW, Australia].

Curator's estimate, based on family information and the style of the object.

This object was amongst the household effects of Mrs Muriel Gladys Keena, Epping. Mrs Keena was born in England in 1914 and migrated with her family to Australia as a child. She married in 1939 and moved to the house in Epping in 1954. Her only daughter was born in 1957. The daughter, Ms Judith Helen Keena, donated items from her mother's effects to the Powerhouse Museum after her mother died in 2003.

Medication, in jar, 'Vicks VapoRub', medicated ointment / glass / paper / metal, Vick Products (Pty.) Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, [1950-1970]

A blue glass jar containing remnants of the original contents, 'Vicks VapoRub' medication. The jar has a paper label with the familiar Vicks livery in blue, red, green and white, and a green and white metal screw-on lid. Text on lid and label includes: 'Vicks VapoRub, Rub it on, Use in steam, Vaporizing Ointment, Relieves distress of colds, Vicks and Vaporub are reg. trade marks of Richardson-Merrell Inc., Vick Products (Pty.) Ltd. Sydney'. Instructions on the label indicate that the ointment can be used for colds of children and adults and should be rubbed on the throat and chest, or inhaled in steam. It can also be used as a liniment for dressing insect bites, bruises, headaches, etc.

Maker: Vicks Products; Sydney; 1950 - 1970

Inscription on lid, printed in white and green "RUB IT ON / VICKS / VapoRub / USE IN STEAM".
Text inscribed on paper label adhered to body of jar "1 1/4 OUNCES NETT / VICKS / VapoRub / Vaporizing Ointment / RELIEVES DISTRESS OF COLDS", "USE FOR COLDS OF / CHILDREN AND ADULTS / CHEST COLDS, BRONCHITIS: At / bedtime, rub VapoRub on throat, / chest and back for three to five / minutes. Then spread it thick on / chest and cover with a warmed / cloth. (For more severe colds, re- / peat this treatment every three / hours). Leave bedclothes loose / around the neck so the vapours re- / leased by body warmth may be in- / haled freely. If there is severe con- / gestion, redden skin with hot, moist / towels before applying VapoRub.", "HEAD COLDS, COUGHS: Melt a / heaping spoonful of VapoRub in a / bowl of boiling water and inhale the / steaming vapours. At bedtime rub / VapoRub on throat and chest so the / vapours will be inhaled during sleep.", "SORE THROAT, HOARSENESS: / Massage Vicks VapoRub on the / throat and cover with a warmed cloth.", "AS A LINAMENT OR DRESSING: / The medications of Vicks VapoRub / bring relief from insect bites, bruises, / headaches, muscular soreness, / minor burns, cuts, scratches, etc.", "(In case of fever, consult your doctor) / SEE DIRECTIONS FOLDER FOR / MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.", "VICKS and VAPORUB are reg. trade-marks / of Richardson-Merrell Inc. / VICK PRODUCTS (PTY.) LTD. / Sydney".
Inscription embossed on underside of jar " VICKS / IS479 / 4 / VAPORUB".

2003/133/23

1950 - 1970

58 mm

40 mm