Old Thamesites will remember the miracle cure's that our chemists dispensed. Many knew that concoctions such as Bongard's Cough Mixture were tried and true remedies for the winter flu. Today a multitude of prepared mixtures fill the chemists shelves, whereas the old time pharmacist would mix up their special remedies.On the Trademe auction site today is a bottle from one of Thames' best known old chemist shops - Bongard's. The bottle is for the product "Boss-Tone", a tonic prepared by Bongard's Pharmacies of Thames. For four shillings and sixpence, the prospective buyer was advised they would be fit in a couple of doses. The tonic could remedy a wide range of ailments: Depression, Exhaustion, Hysteria, Loss of Appetite, Nervousness, Muscular Weakness and Sleeplessness.
Photos of 'Boss Tone' bottle on Trademe (accessed 9 Sept 2019).
The product was advertised in the Thames Star newspaper, a simple advert for a tonic claiming great remedies.
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| THAMES STAR, 6 MARCH 1933 Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 |
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| THAMES STAR, 27 JULY 1905. |
This shop was in the building north of Chas Palmers Sweet shop (the one with the green tiles still outside to this day). Later the shop was run by Chemists Bob Taylor and James Francis.
Bongard came to Thames in 1905, and soon became involved with community activities - playing sports such as representative hockey, and rowing at the local club. He found time to serve as as a councillor on the Thames Borough Council, which led to his election as Mayor 1927-31. He was President of the Thames Jockey and the Thames Bowling Club, member of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge, and a long-serving Justice of the Peace. He also enjoyed being a member of the Thames Amateur Dramatic Society. A highly respected member of the Thames community. Another community post held was that of Thames Coroner 1932 to 1948. What a list of achievements and service to the town of Thames!
A family man, William had married Aimee Whaites in 1913, they had two children. Mr William Bongard retired at Thames, and passed away 24 September 1969.
Background Reading:
Frost, Murray R. Behind the Dispensing Screen, Early New Zealand Pharmacists. Published by author.
Thames Star 5 July 1966, Retired Thames Chemist, celebrates Sixty-one years in Thames. (A Barker Collection)
At the end of 1923, Mr Bongard opened a second shop in the central shopping block, Pollen Street (north of the Sealey Street intersect).
In the 1950s, Bongard and Don Flatt went into partnership. Flatt operated the central Pollen Street shop, which was later taken over by Warren Kidd.
ABOVE: Views of Bongard's Pharmacies (left the north shop, and right the south shop).
Source: 1927 Diamond Jubilee Book
Then & Now: Bongard's building (signage top right) 1973 & 2019, Pollen St,Thames.
Mr William Bongard
William was born 31 October 1881 at Kohimarama, the son of Master Mariner James Bongard and Emily. He served his apprenticeship at Devonport with chemist Robert Jones.Bongard came to Thames in 1905, and soon became involved with community activities - playing sports such as representative hockey, and rowing at the local club. He found time to serve as as a councillor on the Thames Borough Council, which led to his election as Mayor 1927-31. He was President of the Thames Jockey and the Thames Bowling Club, member of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge, and a long-serving Justice of the Peace. He also enjoyed being a member of the Thames Amateur Dramatic Society. A highly respected member of the Thames community. Another community post held was that of Thames Coroner 1932 to 1948. What a list of achievements and service to the town of Thames!
A family man, William had married Aimee Whaites in 1913, they had two children. Mr William Bongard retired at Thames, and passed away 24 September 1969.
Left: Mr William Bongard. Right: News of Bongard's election win 1927
(THAMES STAR, 28 APRIL 1927).
Background Reading:
Frost, Murray R. Behind the Dispensing Screen, Early New Zealand Pharmacists. Published by author.
Thames Star 5 July 1966, Retired Thames Chemist, celebrates Sixty-one years in Thames. (A Barker Collection)
The story started with a bottle, The man behind the bottle was Thamesite William Bongard;
photo taken during an interview in 1966.
