Talk:kit and kaboodle

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Kit and Kaboodle also refers back to the US depression era, when the homeless (at that time often called 'bums') would carry all of their possessions wrapped up in a cloth sack (the kit), that was tied to the end of a stick (the kaboodle) slung over their shoulder.

This provided not only a convenient and easy way to carry all their goods, but an innocuous way to also carry a stick that would be used as a walking stick, or weapon if needed while wandering the countryside.

This was a common site along rail lines in the U.S. at that time. References to this are included in the 1915 song "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile smile." [">], and on numerous caricatures of smiling/wandering 'bums' carrying their kit + kaboodle slung over their shoulder (often shown whistling).

The Coleman company (makers of coolers) shows this image in their "Lil' Oscar" line of coolers first made in 1978. Some image examples: [[1]] [[2]]

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