Posted by Peter Hyland on August 09, 2020 at 08:40:51 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Chocolate - 'very' Middle Class? posted by Ed Kiser on August 09, 2020 at 06:54:21:
Thanks for that information, Ed. In fact I have now looked through Swallowdale and in that book there is much more support for Magnus's theory. Chocolate seems to have been an essential item in the camp stores, and Susan dishes some out quite regularly but it is always stated that she gives out a "ration" of chocolate. There is no question of people (i.e. Roger) just taking how much they like. The 'double ration' given to Titty and Roger assumes special significance when they get lost on the moor in fog. We are not told what a 'ration' consisted of, but I reckon that it was two little squares.
So was it expensive? I have a Harrods catalogue for 1929 (near enough) and a half-pound slab or bar of milk chocolate (nut or fruit) cost 1/- (one shilling). That does not seem all that expensive and the same bar elsewhere would probably have cost less.
There is no bunloaf in the catalogue, but a 2 pound 'seed loaf cake' cost two shillings. I would have thought that a half-pound chocolate bar would have lasted the Swallows for one week.
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