A couple months ago William Burrows commented on my Vinolia soap recreation recipe. Vinolia soap is the soap that was used in First Class on the RMS Titanic, which is something I’m pretty passionate about, so it made sense that I’d try to recreate the soap they had on board. William wrote “I was fascinated to see the interest in Vinolia Soaps. My grandfather Thomas Eggleston Burrows invented the first scented soap which he called Vinolia. He was a doctor but never practised medecine; preferring pharmacy and chemistry. He became very wealthy by the production and sale of Vinolia. I have recently been sorting my elderly Aunt’s posessions and came across the original recipe for Vinolia soap written in my grandfather’s handwriting. It is difficult to read but I will send a photocopy if you email me.” So, of course I got in touch, and with William’s permission, I’m super excited to be able to share these old and very interesting documents with you today.
These documents are just as William sent them, aside from a bit of cropping and brightening. There’s two cards of handwritten notes and a Vinolia magazine which is quite an interesting read! The hand written cards, unfortunately, and really hard to read. If you have a knack for deciphering century old handwriting I’d love to hear from you—I’m hoping through the power of the internet we can get them sorted out 🙂
Just click the following images to download PDFs of the pages.
From Mary, in the comments: “I got pretty good at reading scribbles over 50 years in pharmacy. The easiest is Vinolia Toilet Powder: 10 grains each (650mg) of Zinc Oleate, Boric Acid, and 5 grains (325mg) Benzoic Acid in one ounce of “Violet Powder.” The top of other page “dyspeptic mixture” calls for one ounce “glycerin” (oil?) of peppermint, 2 ounces brandy and enough distilled water to make 8 oz. Dose is half an ounce in a “wineglass of water as hot as possible.” The measuring system is apothecary units and uses Roman numerals.”
Thanks again, William! These pieces of soaping history are fascinating.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us Marie and William! XX, what an awesome read!!. I wonder what The Vinolia Directors would think of the amazing array of products on the market in this day and age?!! lol, much love natxxx
You’re very welcome! I’m betting they’d be rather baffled, especially with all the exotic ingredients (natural and otherwise) we use these days—not to mention our crazy packaging!
I have a empty case of Vinolia soap which dates back to more than 100 years perhaps the company would be interested to display the same in their archive.
Rgds
So cool!
Wow, sorry, all I could make out was Violet powder and boiling water. Hopefully you can find someone to figure out the rest. This would be a very interesting soap to make.
Thanks, Dee!
My great grandfather was on the Titanic sadly he was one in which didnt survive but my grandfather, both him and I are born in Northern Ireland, Belfast. This is great I could probably try get him to transcribe it better.
Some of the written language looks very much like Gregg shorthand to me. Apropos with the time period. Wonderful to have this bit of history! ^_^
Very cool, I’d never heard of Gregg shorthand before you mentioned it. Another clue!
So fascinating! It’s wonderful when modern technology is able to connect people to history. Love this post!
Thanks, Kerri! Three cheers for the internet 😀
What an awesome piece of soaping history. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Tanisha!
Wow! What a great find. I hope someone can translate these pages.
Fingers crossed!
Great post Marie!
Hey, could you whip me up a batch of Premier Vinolia Shaving Soap? I would prefer that the odour be either “Good” or “Sweet Edible” and neither “Unpleasant” nor “Objectionable.”
Thanks!
Robb
Ha! I’ll try my best, Robb 😉
I would LOVE to see the deciphered recipe. Very interesting to me to see how close (or far off) we are from this original!
Some readers have made some great headway! It looks like it’s not a soap recipe at all, but I’ve added their decipherings to the main blog 🙂
You must have been so excited to get this information from him! Very cool!
Thanks, Nancy—I was definitely stoked to get the email 🙂
I hope someone can help decipher these notes. How wonderful that William Burrows shared this information.
Thanks, Cindy 🙂
Having read doctor’s writing for years, I must say this is by far the most difficult. I must also pull out my shorthand book because some of this definitely looks like shorthand to me. But given the numerous uses of “etc, etc…” I think much of this recipe is more a reference to the writer as a reminder rather than an exact recipe. It will be very interesting to see if there is a handwriting expert out there who can decipher it. Good luck!
Thanks so much, Lisa—more clues!
This is so cool for you, Marie! As a long-time follower I can tell that this would mean a lot to you and your passion for the Titanic. I’m thrilled for you!
These artifacts are awesome. You’ve hit the big-time
Thanks, Jerica 😀
Hi, Just want to take a minute to thank you for this very generous share. I found this link, not sure how helpful it will prove to be but I thought I would pass it along. I will continue to search for more helpful links. 🙂
https://standrewsrarebooks.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/52-weeks-of-historical-how-tos-week-21-calligraphy/
One more link 🙂 … http://index.about.com/index?gclid=CNSbr9nu48sCFZY1aQodR9EHsA&qo=semQuery&am=broad&q=how+to+read+old+english&an=google_s&askid=1d000b16-6c1d-4c73-b05d-e3d51b5eefef-0-ab_gsb&dqi=&qsrc=999&ad=semD&o=35381&l=sem
OK, Just this last one. Hope it helps.
http://genealogy.about.com/od/paleography/ig/old_handwriting/Secretary-Hand.htm?utm_term=how%20to%20read%20old%20english&utm_content=p1-main-3-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=adid-1d000b16-6c1d-4c73-b05d-e3d51b5eefef-0-ab_gsb_ocode-35381&ad=semD&an=google_s&am=broad&q=how%20to%20read%20old%20english&dqi=&o=35381&l=sem&qsrc=999&askid=1d000b16-6c1d-4c73-b05d-e3d51b5eefef-0-ab_gsb
Thanks for all these, Robin!
Would love to have, I’m just starting to dabble in soap. I remember my mommas making soap outside but was too young to help n have no idea where to find her notes….
Some other readers have made good progress and it looks like it’s not a soap recipe after all; I’ve added their comments to the main blog 🙂
This is fascinating! Now I’m curious for the recipes for the shaving soap, creams and powders as well!
I know! Isn’t it neat to see all the other types of products they used back then?
How interesting! Bet you are so excited to see this. I wonder too, how far we have come from the original. Will this be able to be deciphered?
A few other readers have made some good progress—I’ve added their decipherings to the main blog! 😀
Oh WOW! Thanks for sharing this! I have my Grandmother working on reading it since she still writes similar to this. I will keep you posted! Thank again for sharing this amazing information with us! Cyndi
Thanks, Cyndi!
Wow this has opened up the very interesting topic of Paleography. Does the sender of the original recipe have any more examples of grandfather’s handwriting? It might be helpful to compare the recipe notes with other examples. The writer’s intent may become more apparent as the reader becomes more familiar with his handwriting style. There are some nice videos on Youtube on this subject. I am including a link that I found helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jxcnei2lZY
Thanks, Robin! William did reply elsewhere in the comment thread and said that he hadn’t found other samples at this time, but a few other readers did manage to figure out what the notes say, which I’ve added to the body of the blog 😀
This was so fun to read through! Thank you very much for sharing it!
Thanks, Diana!
HOW COOL! I made your recipe back when you first posted it, and it is wonderful!
Thanks, Chris!
Fantastic! Thank You and Mr Burrows for sharing this.
Thanks, Ieva 🙂
Oh my gosh, what gorgeous pieces of history….I can imagine you were super excited and how thoughtful of him 🙂
Thanks, Wendy 😀 I was definitely stoked!
Hi Marie,
It is really hard to read, isn’t it? Maybe you could check at the Glenbow to see if they know any handwriting experts who might be able to help decipher the writing.
Good luck and thanks for such an interesting post.
OOoh, good idea—I might give them a call if nothing else turns up 🙂
Very interesting. I would like to have the recipe too Marie
It’s yours if you can read it, haha—click to download and let me know if you recognize anything!
Since he was a doctor, could part of it be in Latin? That may be why it is so hard to read.
How wonderful to hold that bit of history in your hands! You must be over the moon with excitement. 🙂
I can’t wait to see the documents.
Well, hold it in my inbox 😉 William kept the originals, of course, I only have scans. They are right up there for you to download, though, just click!
An old doctor or pharmacist should be able to read these. All prescriptions used to look like this!
Hmm, perhaps I should print them out and head to my local retirement home ;P
i have to say i don’t quite trust Mr. T. Foley. No facial hair – no respect 🙂
In all seriousness, I wonder what is meant by “hard” & “soft” tallow? Does anyone know? I hope it’s not terribly obvious! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these Marie – fascinating! The first two recipes look like indigestion (“dyspepsia”) remedies – is that correct? I have an 1934 Martindale Extra Pharmacopoeia at home, and can try to cross-match the writing with things listed in that book.
I’m on hols at the moment, but will be home next week. I also know some pharmacists, who may be familiar with those Latin names of ingredients.
Cheers, Sarah
Thanks so much, Sarah! 🙂
I think the Vinolia Powder “toilet” recipe is:
Zinc Oleas 10gr (grains or grams)
Boracic Acid 10gr
Benzoic acid 5gr
Violet powder (cant read that symbol, for quantity, but have asked a pharmacist)
I have photos from my old Pharmacopoeia, but can’t attach here – if I can find an email address will email to you.
Aha – just saw Mary Macs reply wihch says the same – can still send photos of ingredients if you’d like!
Please do! My contact information is here 🙂
Thank you, this is fantastic! Now to research what all these ingredients are and why somebody might include them… hmmm….
I love this Marie! I have a small collection of old soap advertisements, but these documents give even more of an insight. I’m normally pretty good at handwriting, but the notes have me beat. Are you sure they’re for soap? I can see a powder and a tonic to drink, but struggle to see something that looks like soap!
Hey Jane! I’m not at all certain they’re for soap—neither William or I could make heads or tails of them. William thought they might be for soap.
What a treasure!!!
😀 Three cheers for the internet for making this happen!
I got pretty good at reading scribbles over 50 years in pharmacy. The easiest is Vinolia Toilet Powder: 10 grains each (650mg) of Zinc Oleate, Boric Acid, and 5 grains (325mg) Benzoic Acid in one ounce of “Violet Powder.” The top of other page “dyspeptic mixture” calls for one ounce “glycerin” (oil?) of peppermint, 2 ounces brandy and enough distilled water to make 8 oz. Dose is half an ounce in a “wineglass of water as hot as possible.” The measuring system is apothecary units and uses Roman numerals. Still working on the rest.
Wow, thanks so much Mary! I’ve added the text of your comment (credited to you, of course) to the main body of the post as yours is the best deciphering so far! 🙂
Wow what an amazing story! I hope you can find someone to decipher it, I would love to see the story unfold.
I have my great grandmother’s childhood dairy and it pains me that I can’t read it. Gosh, what has happened to our modern handwriting skills? I look at my shopping lists and cringe.
Thanks, Lucia! I’m with you on mourning the loss of beautiful handwriting; people often compliment mine and it’s really just legible haha!
These are incredible! I love old documents, letters etc and as I’ve just started to do the family’s history, I’m finding a lot of records from days gone by and having a hard time reading them as well as these. Gorgeous handwriting though
Thanks, Deb 🙂
I am in awe of the interest generated by my Grandfather’s ‘Vinolia’ preparations. To Robin, who asks if there are more examples of his handwriting; I have not come across any but am still going through the family archive. And to Deb, who is researching her family; it becomes quite addictive so beware! (try the free ancestry site placed by The Mormon Community). Dr Burrows came from a family of Episcopalian Churchmen – I am tempted to try a pun about ‘clean living’ but I’ll resist. My best wishes to all. William Burrows, Cheltenham, England.
Thank you again for sharing, William—we’re all so thrilled!
The Olde Apothecary again: There is no recipe for soap here, just two for upset stomach (“dydpepsia”) and two for Vinolia Powders. In answer to Kristen’s question about tallow, animal fats (tallow) vary by location and processing. “Leaf Lard” is the most desirable pork fat and comes from around the kidneys. I imagine some of the really icky stuff back then came from drippings as meat cooked on a spit. Kind of like the stuff cleaned out from grease traps at fast-food places. Nasty stuff, but I bet it was used.
Thanks, Mary! I think I’ll start using “dydpepsia” instead of upset stomach, it has a much nicer ring to it 😉
Pretty sure that’s “dyspepsia” – still used in medical circles.
Whoops, thanks!
Great post! I would like to contact William Burrows because I am researching Vinolia products. I’d appreciate it if you could contact him. My email address is [redacted].
Regards
Mike
Hey Mike! I’ve passed your message onto William, hopefully you’ll hear from him 🙂 I’ve also redacted your email from the comment so you don’t get an onslaught of spam.
Marie,
A few years ago I bought part of a soap mold that I wanted to research. I think it may have been part of the mold used to make this soap. It says “Boracic and cold cream soap”. It is very nicely crafted, looks like it has a high silver content. Is there a way I can send you some pics of this so you could tell me what you thought of it, and ask William if it looks like the real thing.
This would be a great help, if it is not too much of an inconvenience.
Thanks,
Leith
Hi Leith! How very cool, I’d be really interested to see some photos, and I’m sure William (and now David!) would be as well 🙂 My email is me [at] humblebeeandme.com. Thanks so much & I look forward to hearing from you 🙂
I’m very interested to come across this website because my great grandfather James Hills-Hartridge was a partner of Burrows and was co-inventor of Vinolia Soap being an industrial chemist. I have carried out much research on the subject over the years and been been to Port Sunlight and into the archives of Unilever.
My great grandfather had a friend William Lever and he bought out Blondeau et Cie, the Vinolia company, in 1906 and moved production from London to Port Sunlight. Obviously this became Lever Brothers and then Unilever. I could go on but if anyone reads this and wishes to know more contact me on davidhartridge@btinternet.com
I’ve had a few people get in touch with me about this recently and I’ve replied to them already; are you one of those people?