The glues we have now are a marvel!

Amen .... As someone who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, I remember what an ordeal it often was to glue things. It seems the choices were mainly the old Duco for model airplanes and other light gluing, and "Iron Glue", a fetid, fish-based stuff in a small bottle.

After WWII, we saw better and better adhesives available.

I would also add the same is true of lubricants. What a difference!