The Writer’s Almanac last year on May 2nd said: “Good Housekeeping magazine went on sale for the first time on this day in
1885, offering housekeeping tips, parenting advice, product reviews, and
fiction. In 1900, the magazine developed the Good Housekeeping Experiment
Station to test and evaluate consumer goods and foods for the benefit of the
magazine's readers. Products that passed the magazine's standards were given
the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," and anyone who wasn't
satisfied by one of the approved and advertised products could obtain a full
refund. In a time before any regulatory or consumer protection agencies, the
Experiment Station performed an important public service, and its tests raised
concerns about smoking, overeating, and preservatives before anyone else.”
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| Fiction in such magazines is a thing of the past |
My mother subscribed to Good Housekeeping for
years. Today, it’s not a magazine that has much appeal for me, but from when I
was a young teen I usually read each issue that came into the house. Along with
what my mother taught me, it was my source, and probably the reason for a lot
of what I do today. I especially remember the Taylors. Emily Taylor talked
about things around the house, like new products, appliances, and furnishings.
As I recall, her husband wrote about how to fix things. There were good
stories, recipes, decorating ideas.
Today I look to the many other printed and
on-line testing reports to make and needed decisions about what products to
buy, but I smile when I see a product has the Good Housekeeping seal of
approval.
