Radio Malt

Radio Malt was an early to mid-20th century brand of malt extract preparation that followed the Minadex trend.[1] Produced by British Drug Houses, it contained vitamin A, aneurine hydrochloride, riboflavin, and calciferol.[2] The contents were sickly sweet, with a consistency between molasses and treacle. It is much loved by George Molesworth ("Molesworth 2"), brother of the classic schoolboy character Nigel Molesworth.[3]

Radio Malt was being sold in the UK by the mid-1920s[4] and was studied at this time as a treatment for rickets.[5] In India it was trademarked in 1942.[6]

A favourite of film producer and politician David Puttnam,[7] Radio Malt was often used in English boarding schools in an attempt to change skinny young girls into prettier roundness[8] and given to post-World War II children to give them more bulk.[9]

At King's School, Peterborough in the 1960s, the School House boarders' sick-bay would dispense Scott's Emulsion,[10] a cod-liver-oil preparation, to those who could not stomach Radio Malt. Otherwise, the only alternative elixir was "two aspirins".

See also

References

  1. Newnham, David. (October 23, 2002) Nursing Standard Outside in Volume 17; Issue 6; Page 31.
  2. "Malt Extract (Barley)". Herbdata New Zealand. 2002. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  3. Molesworth - Page 94,96,241 and 391
  4. "Monthly Memoranda (points for propaganda)". 1926–1927. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  5. Redman, Thirza (1929). "The hydrogen ion concentration and the calcium and phosphorus content of the faeces of rachitic children". Biochemical Journal 23 (2): 256–260. PMC 1254019. PMID 16744211.
  6. "Register of Trademarks Indexed on Class & TM No. (p.176)" (pdf).
  7. Freud, Clement. (February 6, 1993) The Times Local hero with a finger in every pie; David Puttnam; Gut Feelings. Section: Features; Page SR.
  8. Davenport, Philippa. (February 10, 1996) Financial Times Food and Drink: Puds to make a Briton proud - Cookery. Page IV
  9. Bovey, Shelley. (January 15, 2000) The Scotsman AB Flab.
  10. http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2009/10/cod-liver-oil-and-pink-peignoirs.html


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