Things you don’t see outside any more

[AY1975]

Outside Earls Court Underground station last November...

No idea though whether it's bigger on the inside.

There's one outside Sheffield Town Hall too (and at the National Tramway Museum, a k.a. Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Derbyshire, though you might expect to find one in a place like that anyway).

 

[yorksrob]

Wayside garages with one pump and a small tin or wooden shed cum workshop. Operated by a man who stocked oil plus a few spares and was willing to lift the bonnet if the driver was in trouble. A classic example appeared in the film "Genevieve"

Classic film

 

[bearhugger]

A Stagecoach South West bus that turns up on time

Sorry, just had to correct that, I've wondered many times over the last couple of years whether Stagecoach on Teesside have forgotten what the definition of the word "timetable" is.

They are quite rare, but there are a couple of examples of AA boxes that still exist nearby. The closest one is to the east of Lhanbryde on the A96, while there is another a bit further away where the A939 and A940 diverge at Dava. I'm fairly sure I recall my grandfather having an AA key attached to his keyring - it was like a Yale key, but diamond-shaped.

There used to be one in the Lake District on the Keswick - Thirlmere road. Bot sure if it's still there as it has been a few years since I was in the area.

 

[150249]

Sorry, just had to correct that, I've wondered many times over the last couple of years whether Stagecoach on Teesside have forgotten what the definition of the word "timetable" is.

Checked bustimes.org the other day and all 7 buses on the E1/E2 route were over 10 minutes late

 

[Killingworth]

Wasn't it the case that if the AA patrol man didn't salute a member, it meant there was a police speed trap ahead and they should slow down?

Correct, although it started before not saluting. That came later when it was deemed an offence to warn motorists of a speed trap ahead, but not saluting a member, how could that be a crime? Saluted, all's well, carry on, no crime detected. Not saluted, how bad mannered, slow down, no crime.

The Motor Car Act of 1903 had set a national speed limit of 20 ph everywhere. The well to do motorists were up in arms and a campaign of civil disobedience began with policemen lurking in bushes with stop watches to time cars over a measured distance. A great game of cat and mouse ensued between Mr Plod and these posh motorists.

My wife wants me to get rid of all my old books, but every now and then they come in useful. My father seems to have been at the 1932 Motor Show at Olympia when he acquired a copy of newly published "This Motoring - Being the Romantic Story of the Automobile Association" by Ernest Stenson-Cooke, the first secretary of the AA when it was founded in 1905. When appointed he'd only ever been in a car twice. If you get the chance it's an entertaining read.

I'm now diverted all afternoon to reread this fascinating old volume Here's Patrol man No 8 from 1905.

 

[Trackman]

In a similar vein, AA and RAC roadside telephone "sentry" boxes, essentially painted wooden shelters alongside the roadway on main roads, in predominantly rural but strategic locations, from where you could call for help if your vehicle broke down. Believe you needed an AA (or RAC) members key to access same. Used to be a few thousand of the things. Not many left these days.

I remember them from the 1970's, usually on A roads in a lay-by.
Motorway phones would patch you through to RAC/AA anyway.

 

[madannie77]

There used to be one in the Lake District on the Keswick - Thirlmere road. Bot sure if it's still there as it has been a few years since I was in the area.

Still there in July 2022 last time I went past on the bus, not too far from the top of Dunmail Raise.

The AA website has a history of the call boxes, including a list of all known extant ones:

AA Call Boxes - History Of The Roadside AA Phone Boxes

These characteristic black and yellow buildings were once “the lighthouses of the road.” (1) In times past, motoring enthusiasts relied upon them for directions, breakdown help, and support throughout their travels. Individually numbered, each AA call box had its own sentry and well-documented...

www.breakdowncover.org.uk

 

[AY1975]

Yes, I'd agree with that aspect.

Apart from kites, another low-tech toy that you used to see a lot of kids (mainly girls) playing with, that I saw a girl using the other day for the first time in ages, is the skipping rope.

I'm sure there are lots of other once popular low-tech toys that you often used to see kids playing with outside but that are pretty rare these days.

And kids playing out on the street: once a common sight but now very rare as I mentioned in the thread on things the younger generations wouldn't believe from when you were a kid: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-wouldn’t-believe-when-you-were-a-kid.238898/

 

[Pinza-C55]

Apart from kites, another low-tech toy that you used to see a lot of kids (mainly girls) playing with, that I saw a girl using the other day for the first time in ages, is the skipping rope.

I'm sure there are lots of other once popular low-tech toys that you often used to see kids playing with outside but that are pretty rare these days.

And kids playing out on the street: once a common sight but now very rare as I mentioned in the thread on things the younger generations wouldn't believe from when you were a kid: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/things-the-younger-generation-wouldn’t-believe-when-you-were-a-kid.238898/

I would imagine most kids use a kite or skipping App now.

 

[PeterY]

Apart from kites, another low-tech toy that you used to see a lot of kids (mainly girls) playing with, that I saw a girl using the other day for the first time in ages, is the skipping rope.

We had a skipping rope come into the charity shop I volunteer for. We have to test things out and at 65 I was surprised I hadn't lost the knack of skipping but it was tiring.

 

[najaB]

I'm sure there are lots of other once popular low-tech toys that you often used to see kids playing with outside but that are pretty rare these days.

Anybody remember playing with jacks? Can't remember the last time I saw a marbles match in full swing either. (Can't remember if either was mentioned up thread).

 

[AM9]

Anybody remember playing with jacks? Can't remember the last time I saw a marbles match in full swing either. (Can't remember if either was mentioned up thread).

Or five stones?

 

[PG]

Anybody remember playing with jacks? Can't remember the last time I saw a marbles match in full swing either. (Can't remember if either was mentioned up thread)

As a kid I remember being entertained for hours with Clackers

 

[Mcr Warrior]

As a kid I remember being entertained for hours with Clackers

Not too dissimilar them to martial arts flail weapons!

 

[PeterY]

I remember those. They hurt if they caught your wrists.

As a kid I remember being entertained for hours with Clackers

 

[MP33]

In the City of London, the Police telephones were a post with the telephone in a cupboard at the top. As they were small, a number have been left in place without the telephone. I once saw one in action, near The Old Bailey. When it was called a revolving orange light would light up at the top. The nearest City of London police officer would answer the telephone.

 

[Ediswan]

I remember those. They hurt if they caught your wrists.

The 1970s version of clackers hurt even more if they shattered and caused an eye injury.

 

[najaB]

Not too dissimilar them to martial arts flail weapons!

The 1970s version of clackers hurt even more if they shattered and caused an eye injury.

Indeed. I believe this is largely why they were withdrawn from sale.

 

[AY1975]

See less and less orange sodium streetlighting. Still quite a bit in Glasgow but they are replacing them slowly but surely.

I saw some in Derbyshire yesterday, in Baslow and Bakewell. Only a few left there, though. I think Derbyshire had a lot of them until about 10-15 years ago.

 

[geoffk]

The clocks you used to get at some bus stops which were used by drivers for time keeping.

They were called Bundy clocks, after the Australian Bundy brothers who invented them. I think it was only municipal operators who used them - Birmingham and Sheffield certainly. The conductor inserted a key and the time was recorded on a paper roll. The growth of one-man (sic) operation led to their demise as drivers couldn't leave their bus unattended at intermediate stops, where many of the clocks were located.

 

[AY1975]

They were called Bundy clocks, after the Australian Bundy brothers who invented them. I think it was only municipal operators who used them - Birmingham and Sheffield certainly. The conductor inserted a key and the time was recorded on a paper roll. The growth of one-man (sic) operation led to their demise as drivers couldn't leave their bus unattended at intermediate stops, where many of the clocks were located.

There's one of those at the Town End Terminus at Crich Tramway Village.

 

[nw1]

I saw some in Derbyshire yesterday, in Baslow and Bakewell. Only a few left there, though. I think Derbyshire had a lot of them until about 10-15 years ago.

Interesting to see orange lighting still present in some areas. Putting my irrational hat on, it's a sad loss as orange lighting was very much the backdrop to my childhood, teenage years and early adulthood well into my 30s. It used to be very atmospheric seeing it come on at dusk, initially bright red before turning orange later.

The big loss of orange sodium lights seemed to be the years immediately following 2010 - even in the 00s it was still commonplace.

Wiltshire still seemed to have lots right up to around 2016 - no idea since as I don't so often go that way nowadays.

Liverpool still had a lot in 2018, again not so sure about now.

And Northern Ireland still had a lot in autumn 2018, the date of my one and only visit there to date. Not sure about now.

As an aside, orange sodium lighting seemed to be almost a uniquely British and Irish thing. I've seen only very isolated patches of it overseas - a little in Belgium, a little round San Jose in California. Did any other countries besides the UK and RoI adopt it extensively?

(A related point is the practice of publicly displaying numbers of street lights on the lamp stand also seems to be a predominantly British and Irish thing. I've seen isolated pockets in Germany and the USA but again would be interesting to see if other countries adopt the practice).

 

[D6130]

As an aside, orange sodium lighting seemed to be almost a uniquely British and Irish thing. I've seen only very isolated patches of it overseas - a little in Belgium, a little round San Jose in California. Did any other countries besides the UK and RoI adopt it extensively?

Orange sodium lighting was used extensively in Italy, but with a slightly paler-coloured light. Now mainly replaced by white LEDs, as in the UK.

(A related point is the practice of publicly displaying numbers of street lights on the lamp stand also seems to be a predominantly British and Irish thing. I've seen isolated pockets in Germany and the USA but again would be interesting to see if other countries adopt the practice).

The lamp posts in our village in Italy - which are only on one side of the street - have small number plates attached....but that practice may vary between different communi (town councils).

 

[nw1]

Orange sodium lighting was used extensively in Italy, but with a slightly paler-coloured light. Now mainly replaced by white LEDs, as in the UK.

Ah ok thanks. Do you mean the "pink" colour sodium lights (which became increasingly prominent in the UK in the late 80s, was formerly used by the UK railways extensively in the same period, and has always been prominent on the continent)? I'm specifically focusing on the bright yellow-orange colour emanating from long, thin lights of the kind commonplace in the UK in the 70s, 80s, 90s and even 00s.

I've been to Italy twice (1985, 1992) and don't remember seeing the "UK-style" lighting though the "pink" variants were likely present.

The lamp posts in our village in Italy - which are only on one side of the street - have small number plates attached....but that practice may vary between different communi (town councils).

Ah ok, interesting. This accords with what I've seen elsewhere but have yet to come across a country where it's pretty much universal, other than the UK and Ireland.

 

[D6130]

Do you mean the "pink" colour sodium ights

Possibly....although the wall-mounted antique-style lamps in tapering square glass cases in the historic centre - where we live - were always the deeper orange colour, prior to being replaced by white LEDs five or six years ago.

 

[Trainbike46]

And Northern Ireland still had a lot in autumn 2018, the date of my one and only visit there to date. Not sure about now.

A whole lot of orange streelights near where I live where replaced with new, better LEDs this year

There's still some orange lighting around, but it is getting replaced

 

[Busaholic]

They were called Bundy clocks, after the Australian Bundy brothers who invented them. I think it was only municipal operators who used them - Birmingham and Sheffield certainly. The conductor inserted a key and the time was recorded on a paper roll. The growth of one-man (sic) operation led to their demise as drivers couldn't leave their bus unattended at intermediate stops, where many of the clocks were located.

London Transport had a few too in their Central Area, though I don't recall them being called Bundy clocks in the Smoke.

 

[Trainguy34]

a little round San Jose in California.

Thats why I remember seeing them before but it not looking like the UK! Looks like I remembered it from last summer then...

 

[Matey]

People knocking on your door asking to use your 'phone as their car had broken down.

 

[Killingworth]

People knocking on your door asking to use your 'phone as their car had broken down.

Which reminds me of twice I ran out of petrol . The second time was in the dark at about 9pm in February on the A road from Blyth into Newcastle - with 2 office colleagues after a boozy party. Miles from anywhere I waved a torch and amazingly the first car stopped. They wwre happy to give me a lift towards Newcastle until we found an open filling station and took me back. I was very lucky and can't imagine it being as easy today.

I'll save the previous occasion for another day After the 3rd time outside my own front door I learned to keep the tank topped up.