THIS year, iPads and computer games will be the the most popular gifts for youngsters – but what about the presents under the Christmas tree 60 years ago?

Back in the mid 1950s, the favourite toys left by Santa were smaller versions of everyday appliances, especially for girls, who could then play at being mother.

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Little girls could cook on a miniature stove, be busy in the kitchen with a hard wood ‘kitchenette’, sew on a tiny sewing machine and even vacuum with a cleaner, which made a noise like mother’s as it swept.

For the children who liked to be heard there was also a wide range of musical instruments that really worked – though one Burnley toy shop suggested that a set of ringing handbells would probably be the most harmless.

For the first time Tri-ang brought radio control within reach of all ages, launching a radio-controlled ship, the MS British Adventurer, a 20-inch long precision built, all plastic, cargo ship.

The company also offered a range of cars, from a giant Mercedes Racer at 29s 6d, to the Mark VII Jaguar at 9d.

For the girls there was a new 22in walking doll that could bend her knees, cry and say mama and had hair that could be washed and brushed.

Do you remember Timothy Whites, which had a chemist store in Darwen Street, Blackburn and St James’s Street, Burnley and was also a wine merchant?

For Christmas 1956, customers could buy Gilbeys, sherry type British wines for 9/6 a quart, Stones ginger, raisin and orange wines for 7/6 a bottle and egg flip at 17/6 a bottle.

At its second Blackburn store, in the Thwaites Arcade, the company’s Christmas gift ideas that year included powder compacts from 5/11, cosmetic bags from 1/6, Evening in Paris perfume gifts sets at 6/- and shaving mirrors from 3/11.

Most gents’ outfitters agreed that ties, socks and hankies were still the most popular gifts being bought for the menfolk by their ladies and though many Blackburn fellows admitted they relied on such gifts for their year-round supply, they felt they were very uninspiring.

Indeed, the Rev Peter Royston-Bishop, minister at Blackburn Ragged School, fuelled the flames, saying: “We men spend hours finding out what our womenfolk want. We trail round the shops for it and we expect the same treatment. But what do we get? Ties, socks and handkerchiefs!”

However, church members Mrs Doris Wellington retorted: “Men spend hours going round the shops? The men in my family either hand over some money saying get what you want, dear; go into the nearest shop and throw themselves on the mercy of the assistant for ideas or take the easy way out and buy a powder compact! “ Of course, the Blackburn Emporium at the corner of Town Hall Street and Northgate was the store for 1001 gifts, which included, in those days, boxed handkerchiefs from 3/3; 15 denier Ballito nylons at 10/11 pair and plastic waist aprons from 1/11.