1910: Radium Flour
January 25, 2021
By AHNZ
The 18th Nelson A&P Show of 1910 had an interesting exhibit of radium flour. This was the product of one George Trapnell of Brightwater. Why radium?
Ernest Rutherford was born in Brightwater, Nelson. In the year 1904 he won the Rumford Medal…
“For his researches on radio-activity, particularly for his discovery of the existence and properties of the gaseous emanations from radio-active bodies”– Ref. Wiki
Seemingly, Rutherford’s old town knew of their high-achieving son (he was just getting started) and his work with radioactivity. Here (image left) stands George Trapnell, capitalising on the theme of radium and radioactivity with his branded ‘Radium Flour’ that was milled in Brightwater. The mill’s previous owner was John Rutherford, probably one of Ern’s cousins.
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Ref. 1914: The Light of Brightwater
http://ahnz.anarkiwi.co.nz/1914-the-light-of-brightwater/
Ref. 1937: The Crocodile Sleeps
http://ahnz.anarkiwi.co.nz/1937-the-crocodile-sleeps/
Ref. 1955: Uranium flavoured ice cream
http://ahnz.anarkiwi.co.nz/1955-uranium-flavoured-ice-cream/
Image ref. F N Jones Collection; Nelson Provincial Museum
Ref. Nelson Evening Mail (1910); Papers Past
4 thoughts on "1910: Radium Flour"
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George was my Great Uncle…would love to hear more and discover ancestors in NZ Trapnells
I’d like to learn more about his marketing. The radium brand evidently captured people’s interest. Wonder if he figured out any other clever brands.
I am afraid I know nothing about George’s marketing ploys. he had been very successful working his way up through management in the flour business in New Zealand. I dare say it was a very competitive trade and medals won in agricultural competitions must have made him fairly wealthy and well known. Brightwater and Rutherfords early interest in Radium must have all seemed like a good marketing story. Radium was just used as a name for a flour from the town where Rutherford came from and it is thought his brother may have owned the flour mill before Trapnell.
Hopefully I can find out more but was pleased to find a photograph of him in the museum archives.