May 4, 2009, Multiply, How to lay a table in 1966

How to lay a table, 1966 style !!

Another little gem carelessly tossed aside by the H.E. department and salvaged from obscurity by me an' my trusty little scanner. This little book makes me quite sad. 

I remember these lessons from my grandmother, how many children can do this properly these days I wonder?? These days it seems to be microwave meals on a tray in front of the TV.
The pictures all enlarge if you click on them

delete reply bennett1 wrote on May 6, '09 djdx said Americans might have place mats, but larger and usually textile. In my experience. Exactly right.

delete reply djdx wrote on May 6, '09 I do hope those boys did the clearing up! :-)) I was taught the knife blade towards the plate. I never saw the dessert silverware at the top until I came to France. I think the mats at each place are a British thing. They have thick ones, often made of cork. Americans might have place mats, but larger and usually textile. In my experience.

delete reply acousticeagle wrote on May 5, '09 1966! This little girl could've been me, similar coloured hair, too. It was one of my jobs, at that age. Everyone would know when I laid the table because I would put the fork on the right side, instead of the left. This is because I've always used the fork in my right hand and knife in my left and I've never changed. I learned to place the cutlery at the family the correct way.

delete reply bennett1 wrote on May 5, '09 I was always taught the knife blade went in. Interesting differences. But the main thing was that the table, before the meal was served, was to look neat and orderly, which I like. That was the important thing.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on May 5, '09 Glad you liked the book, there is just one more small book like this that I will scan soon to share. The thing I like best about this one is the carving set, the big pronged fork and the knife. It is exactly the same as the set my father used to carve the meat with every sunday. There was also a round poker shaped tool to match that was used to sharpen the knife. The blades were stainless steel and the handles look like yellowed bone. I have that set in my kitchen draw now. Also..............I found it interesting to see that the side plate goes to the left and the glass goes to the right, exactly as I ermember.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on May 5, '09 agnes128 said lucky I realized really soon I have a beauty spot on my right hand. oh that brings back lovely memories, my daughter has a mole between the base of her ring finger and middle finger, that is how she always knew the difference.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on May 5, '09 octoberwitch said .and also I believe we put the knife blade out. That is interestinmg 'cos I'm pretty sure I was taught to put the knife blade facing in, like it is here, maybe its a regional difference.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on May 5, '09 What a nice lesson! I'd miss my conventional oven more than I would my microwave. However, I'd only lay a table like this for company.

delete reply agnes128 wrote on May 5, '09 LOL it brought back some sweet memories to me and the problems I had, as a kid, to know my right hand from my left (I'm ambidextrous). It was difficult for me to know where to put the fork ;-D lucky I realized really soon I have a beauty spot on my right hand. This book is just lovely!

delete reply starfishred wrote on May 5, '09 Nice those where good old days when we were taught all the amenities of how to do these things sort of sad so much of this isn't done anymore In learning these things it tought us about life to-

delete reply octoberwitch wrote on May 4, '09 I remember learning this too, I would have been 10 in 1966. Im trying to think how I learned....and also I believe we put the knife blade out.

delete reply lrrpslady wrote on May 4, '09 Pretty much the same here also. This is very interesting. Thank you.

delete reply bennett1 wrote on May 4, '09 What a treat!! That is very close to how I was taught to set a table, except we put the salad fork by the dinner fork. I still do it up right on holidays with my mother's silverware and Tom's mother's china. I take a picture - it is so lovely. So much fun to have a formal table.