This booklet lacks a copyright date. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Assuming its the same Hiram Walker (and how many Hiram’s can there be), he helped found Windsor, Canada as a company town in the 19th century. Maybe call the Windsor historical society, they might have some reference for things published by his company.
I expect that it’s full of recipes using whiskey, to encourage you to purchase more of the products of the Hiram Walker Company. The artwork, font, and colors look very '70s to me.
I don’t know how long they’ve been doing it for, but they also make a lot of flavored liqueurs as well.
The word “presents” implies to me that it was published by the Hiram Walker company, rather than having been written by old Hiram himself. Judging by the colors and type style it looks to me to be c. 1980 but that is far from being an expert opinion. It looks just like something you would find in the box with a food processor or something. My guess is that it was included as a promotion with one of their specialty products. The shape of the booklet looks perfect for insertion into a boxed fifth.
Perhaps the Hiram Walker company might be able to date it, if they have a really good archivist.
Checking library catalogues, Texas Women’s University dates it to “198-?”, and it’s bound together with “Entertaining with Hiram Walker Cordials” and “The Best of Kahlua,” both of which seem to be 1970s.
Is Peoria still listed among their distilleries? The Peoria distillery closed in the mid -to-late 70s. Colors and font look early '80s to me.
The graphic design tells me 1973–77. However, most of the results I find on Google Books for ads promoting a recipe booklet are 1983-84. What is the address given for the company?
On the back of the booklet it says “Hiram Walker and Sons, Inc., Peoria, Ill.”
I am impressed you came up with this. And also surprised that it would be in a university’s collection.
Is any of the language inside suggestive of an era? Does the word “microwave” appear? How about, “Set your oven to XXX degrees”, or “You’ll need at least two cords of wood for your stove”? Are there unusual ingredients, or amounts, like “eye of newt” or “hogsheads”? Do they mention refrigeration?
The secret is worldcat.org, the most awesome thing ever: it searches a few thousand library catalogues at once, public and university. Only one library had it.