Robertsons Jams

Food > Jams, Spreads etc

18 Comments

Robertsons Jams
Robertsons Jams
Year: 1959
Views: 51,202
Item #: 208
Golly! They're good. Robertsons Jams at all good grocers, at new reduced prices.
Source: Lancashire Life, March 1959.

Comment by: Amanda Hudson on 17th August 2023 at 08:59

I just to love collecting the stamps on the jars of jam and seeing the difference golly's .I came across a 21 of them the other day stuck on a piece of card in an envelope getting ready to send.

Comment by: Yvonne on 3rd January 2020 at 16:50

It seems very sad that people should be offended by a toy that I’m sure was never meant to be an insult to anyone. Is a teddy an insult to hairy people?
I thought they were lovely. How the world has changed since my childhood.

Comment by: Jeremy Liddiard on 28th May 2018 at 14:03

There's a small but active community of people who collect Robertson's tokens, badges and a vast range of other collectibles. Over the years, we've catalogued and researched new finds, and books and CD roms have been produced so that anyone else can learn from our research. Very recently, all of this information has been made available on the web (on a subscription basis). For more details or just to join up with fellow collectors, contact the Facebook group "The Robertson's Badge Club"

Comment by: ANTHONY on 31st October 2016 at 10:51

Hi I listed some of the golly stickers that you had in the jam jar lids but eBay ended my listing. I looked on eBay first and saw that golly items were listed so I thought this would be ok.

Comment by: Patricia on 28th March 2016 at 19:59

I just loved the Golly's. I saved the tokens for them.. I have a load of paper tokens that my Auntie had obviously been saving and never got round to sending off. What posses any one to say the Gollies were racist defeats me. We all loved our Gollies. My big sister bought me one from Hamley's toy shop that was 4' tall. Gilbert was loved and in mint condition when I let him go with one of my nieces some 20 years later.
Our gang hut was the back of a Robertson's truck resplendent with Gollys on the sides. It was a great feature in Watersheddings in Lancashire in the 1950ies.
Political correctness is barmy on occaision.

Comment by: Jeremy on 16th August 2015 at 12:46

The sale of all Golly items, including the much loved Robertson's badges has recently been banned by ebay.

Comment by: Knittube on 8th August 2013 at 15:59

Yes these lovely fellows have become very collectable, since their retirement form Robertson, the original ones are so beautifully made in enamel by a Birmingham Jeweller.
I saw since listing my old chaps on ebay that the county cricket series can reach the giddy height of several hundred pound.
If only I knew that before I listed him. I'm hoping a fellow Yorkshireman/women will find him and take care of him.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171096532162?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Comment by: Pat / Merseyside on 8th May 2013 at 08:55

I have been clearing out my Mums shed and came across an envelope addressed to Robertsons containing loads of paper gollys and the form to send off for the ornaments, she had ticked the box for 9 ornamants and each one required 10 tokens so there must be at least 90 paper gollys here, the postage requested in stamps was 1/8d Mum probably couldnt afford it and so it was never sent off such a shame , also found a robertsons stoneware jar off mincemeat

Comment by: Teddy on 13th September 2011 at 21:05

I well remember collecting the tokens from the jam jars as a boy during the 1960's and the joy of receiving the lovely metal Golly badge in the post.
Far from looking at our gollies as a figure of fun depicting black people in a derogatory way or as something to be looked down on they were a respected little emblem from our childhood. They were beautifully made with enamelled colours showing the Golly in smart clothes with a great smile on his face, something which cheered up breakfast time before going off to school.
I doubt if any white person ever thought of them as depicting actual black people until the 'racist' tag was raised. Another bit of history consigned to the dustbin by the politically correct minority who we must not offend!
They were after all based on the dolls owned by the black american children who called them 'dolly' which sounded like 'golly', white people can hardly be accused of racism over something that black poeople invented in the first place.
One question, if we cannot produce dolls, badges, etc. with black faces because it may offend black people why are we still allowed to produce them with with white faces when this may offend white people?
Long live the Golly!

Comment by: weeknightingale on 13th June 2011 at 18:45

I remember collecting the Golly sticker off the jam jars. I had a Bruno comic book that I pasted all the newspaper comics and I had a special page for the Golly jam jar stickers. How sweet. All positive childhood memories through my looking-glass~ Robertson's was the best jam!

Comment by: steve on 23rd May 2011 at 11:57

Since the pc idiots had the golly banned it has become more popular than ever. I`m glad to say.

Comment by: Maureen Grant on 5th April 2011 at 19:17

I remember saving the paper golly"s from the jam and sticking them on a card. I then sent the card to Robertsons Jams and they sent me back a metal golly badge.I think you had to collect 12 golly"s to receive a badge. I also remember that some of the golly"s played a sport.(tennis, cricket etc) I love nostalgia !!!

Comment by: anne on 26th March 2011 at 17:49

awww i think the Golly is so cute sadly when i was young he was banned and my Golly was given to me but i wasent aloud to take him out side to play incase pepole would be offended[so stupid]but i think its a really cute advert and Golly looks cute and friendly and the jams so tasty too but glad to say i seen Golly in a shop the other day 8 of them diffrent izes and i bought the biggest one who i love so welcome back Golly you stole my heart

Comment by: steve on 14th March 2011 at 21:42

I worked for Viota at the time the golly was banned by the so called PC brigade. Now see what you`ve created, crettins

Comment by: Gail on 18th March 2009 at 14:05

'Long Live The Golly!' :)

Comment by: Ron on 15th October 2007 at 21:23

Do you remember when they banned "The Jam" pop group from using the golly. Showed a total lack of humour plus the loss of some free advertising!

Comment by: Pauline on 9th June 2007 at 13:37

LOL Christi...Ssshhh don't speak too soon....Loads of Gollies being sold on Ebay. Brings back happy memories eh.

Comment by: Christi on 27th November 2006 at 12:37

Ah!! I remember it well! At last someone HASN'T removed the Golliwog! Lovely to see.