MR J W RAYNER of Market Place Thorne (latterly Hirsts hardware shop) was seemingly something of an inventor and entrepreneur at the beginning of this century. Older readers will remember the sign on the roof of the building - "Rayners Cycles' which came later. The shop also sold shotguns, which, although not manufactured on the premises, were inscribed with ' Rayner's Thorne' on the barrels.

Among Mr Rayner's inventions were a patent Cash Check Till, patent Front-hanging Saucepan, Infant's Feeding Bottle, described:

• The check till is of an entirely new design and provides separate drawers for each assistant, and at the same time has the same facilities as the single drawer tills now in the market, with the advantage of being extremely simple. It is sure to commend itself to tradesmen and others, and is bound to supersede the one drawer system. We understand the prices compare favourably with the old style.

• The front-hanging saucepan is another novelty, which is likely to become very popular in the domestic circle. The pan, which is semi-circle in shape, is suspended by means of hooks which clasp the fire bar, the flat side of the pan being next the fire a strong protecting plate is fitted on the flat side above the water line to keep the pan from burning; they are also made with steamers when required. For cooking vegetables, stewing meat, porridge making etc. they give great satisfaction. The sale of these useful articles is already reaching very large proportions.

• The infant's feeding bottle is also worthy of notice, being unique in design. The bottle itself which is about the usual shape. and size, is fitted into a double tin case which is covered with asbestos; the glass part is filled with the usual quantity of cold milk, hot water is then poured into the reservoir which warms the milk and keeps it an at even temperature for a length of time, thus obviating the necessity of its being reboiled over the fire.

The workforce at 'Rayners Cycles',
Market Place, Thorne (circa 1900)

The advertisment reproduced from the Wrigley's Thorne Almanac of 1927