I spy book: Hamster page from the 1960's

[LunaTheHamster1]

I have been meaning to share this - it's from my friends I Spy book from the early 60's. She had a hamster back then. 81353053_191791555205856_8137136500960434099_n.jpg

Someone on Instagram told me that they used to call a silver/grey a chinchilla colour. You can see why they did that.

[Pebbles82]

That's lovely! Where were they supposed to spy one?

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

That's lovely! Where were they supposed to spy one?

yes, lucky she had one to spy! You can still get something similar today, i think they are called detective books.
I didn't think having hamsters were that common until the 70's/80's but i looked into it and they were popular way before then, something to do with some scientists doing research on them and found them quite tame and took some home.

[Pebbles82]

I certainly remember some neighbours children having a hamster and a guinea pig in about 1974 (eek - I was about 13). I think they were popular pets then but not sure about in the 60s. They probably got popular after Tales of the Riverbank was on TV in the 60s with Hammy Hamster. Ha ha - I really enjoyed watching this clip! Also starring Roddy Rat and GP (Guinea Pig).

[LunaTheHamster1]

oh wow, can you imagine the uproar today if they made a hamster and a rat and a guineapig be friends! I have heard of that series before, not sure that I have seen it before though. Thanks for sharing.

[Pebbles82]

You're not old enough - lucky you I watched it as a very young child - and found it incredibly boring! Preferred animation and Doctor Who. I think the adults enjoyed it more.

[sushi_78]

Apparently after filming Tales of the Riverbank they just released the animals (rats, hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs) used into the wild. Most of them quickly died sadly, but there was a wild colony of gerbils on the Isle of Wight for a few years. Makes me shudder to think that was considered acceptable back then.

[Pebbles82]

Awful - I did wonder about the animals and hoped they were someone's pets and well cared for.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

yes, lucky she had one to spy! You can still get something similar today, i think they are called detective books.
I didn't think having hamsters were that common until the 70's/80's but i looked into it and they were popular way before then, something to do with some scientists doing research on them and found them quite tame and took some home.

I read somewhere that hamstets were first kept as pets in the 1930's.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I read somewhere that hamstets were first kept as pets in the 1930's.

I read that too