We began by asking what technological devices played an important role in Mrs Woodhouse's career as a typist.

She used an old typewriter, and an old manual calculator to add up. She sent out invoices by post, which took about 2-3 days to reach their destination. She found it difficult to move from imperial to metric measurements.

We asked about life at home: first, washing

In the 1940's she used gas heated boiler to put clothes.The actual washing was done in big galvanised tanks. It used to take all day: wash; then rinse twice, the second time with a little blue 'dolly bag' to make things bright white. The clothes were then sqeezed dry with a wringer. Her Grandmother used a ringer with wooden cylinders.

In the 1950's her mother bought a washing machine for the first time. She still insisted on a wringer. The machine made washing quicker; at most, it only took half the time. They then only washed about once or twice a week. But many things were still handwashed. She said it was much easier today with quick machines and different soap powders. "You don't have to think about the washing as much anymore."

Then we asked about ironing

She had her first electric iron in the 1940's, when she was married. Her mother used the flat iron, as she herself did when she was at school; she'd take all day to wash and hand iron a serviette! It had to be starched and ironed. Flat irons were quite heavy, and she used to spit on them to see if they were hot enough. When they were ready, they would sizzle.

Clothes

Mrs Woodhouse told us that she used to make all her own clothes, first on a manual sewing machine, later on an electric one which was much quicker and more effective. Today, she said, it is cheaper to buy clothes than to amke them because the materials are so expensive.

Cooking and keepnig food

Her Gran had cattle, and used to dig for peat to put on the fire to keep it warm. She used to cook on a bar across the fire, which also supported a kettle . Her Mother cooked with gas, as she did until she went on to electric. It used to take a long time to cook. She thinks microwaves are a good idea, very practical.

They had to shop for perishable food evry day. There was a cold slab on which food could be kept, but not for long as long as it can be kept in today's fridges.

Heating

Her heating was by -coal fire, for which hey also chopped wood; they had no central heating. It was very cold in the house in those days. The coal fire wasn't very efficient, so it was complemented by an oil heater and they wore extra clothes to keep warm.

Lighting

When she was a child they had oil lamps upstairs and gas lamps downstairs. She hated oil lamps as they didn't produce much light. They got electricity at about the beginning of the Second World War. Outside, a man on a bicycle used to go around lighting the street lamps. They would be turned off at about 11pm, and then it would be pitch black.

Leisure

She talked about radio being an important source of entertainment at home, and remembered the long wire aerial connected to the radio sets of the 1920's. An early receiver consisted of a coil of wire with a moving contact, which was connected to a crystal on which you moved a wire called a "cat's whisker" to get sound through head phones. Later she recalled a radio with valve which powered by a large dry battery and gave better reception. Many people made their own radios, and they took the place that television now plays in the home.

Going to the cinema was another important source of entertainment. They used to go about three times a week. It was expensive but within the means of the average person.

Transport

Trams(?) were the main form of public transport in Bournemouth. They ran on overhead lines [and rails], so they couldn't go everywhere. People preferred (trolley?) buses, as they were much quieter and they didn't have to run on rails like the trams. They were run by electricity, and were a very popular mode of transport.

Public transport finished early, so you had to walk everywhere in the evenings. Hardly anyone could afford a car, so many used bicycles.

When she was young, it used to take a long time to travel a short distance; travel is much quicker today. She once saw a Zeppelin, which held 70 passengers and was kept in the air by being filled with hydrogen. But it wasn't very safe. She said planes "like the Spitfire" were safer. She had her first flight in an aeroplane in 1956.

Finally Mrs Woodhouse told us what lshe iked about recent technology

She said she was impressed with microwave ovens and computers, and that she was eager to learn how to use a computer and to get on to the Internet. Computers were fascinating as things like invoices, which she mentioed at the begining, could be sent and paid so quickly. And she loves the hoover, because it saves you from having to get down on hands and knees and clean the floor.

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