Card of the Day - 2022-05-17

This card shows the power of the brain, for “only the human brain is capable of originating a line of mathematical, analytical or synthetical thought”. It goes on to add that “this astounding machine … can do in a few hours work requiring perhaps years of a man`s time”.

This machine was called the “Differential Analyser”. The picture is much more thrilling, for here is this huge machine, which, if you look above the box with the three discs you can see that it extends even above this.  I will let you read more about the process by visiting wikipedia

The most fascinating thing is the mention of making these machines by utilising the children`s metal construction toy, Meccano, and you can see one of those very machines in the MOTAT museum in New Zealand, or, for speed, don’t wait for a passport, just hop online

The first appearance of A & M Wix issues come in our original World Tobacco Issues Index. There, in the header, it is stated that they were in London [England] and Johannesburg [South Africa], that the bi-lingual text is in English and Afrikaans, and that special albums were issued in which the cards could be preserved.  This information is repeated in the updated version. And in both, this set is listed as :

THIS AGE OF POWER AND WONDER. Sm. 68 x 38 (170) and Lg 76 x 56 (80). Nd. (250). "MAX" brand issue, . 

The two different sizes was a tactic to make the albums look more like books than card albums. However some of the A. & M. Wix sets included three sizes, most notably "Cinema Cavalcade", in which the cards were 1 1/2" x 2-5/8", 2 3/16" x 3"; and 2 11/16 x 4-1/16". And in some of their sets the albums could be requested in either English or Afrikaans as well. Not sure if it applies in this set`s case because I have never seen an album for this set! But I wait to be educated by our wonderful and knowledgeable readers.

By the way, "MAX" was a brand of cigarettes, and they were made of Virginia tobacco.