Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[najaB]

Yes, they are used to detecting Pirate radio and to trace sources of interference.

I know that when I worked there, BT often used to ask for such surveys to be performed when they couldn't track down the source of interference to ADSL broadband connections. In one particularly egregious example there was a source that knocked out the broadband connection for much of a village every evening at 6pm. It took quite some time to track it down because the interference source was short-lived. Turned out to be an burglar alarm arming.

I guess this is less common now that fibre connections are becoming widespread.

I can't confirm if they were also used to detect televisions.

 

[styles]

I know that when I worked there, BT often used to ask for such surveys to be performed when they couldn't track down the source of interference to ADSL broadband connections. In one particularly egregious example there was a source that knocked out the broadband connection for much of a village every evening at 6pm. It took quite some time to track it down because the interference source was short-lived. Turned out to be an burglar alarm arming.

I guess this is less common now that fibre connections are becoming widespread.

I can't confirm if they were also used to detect televisions.

This sort of work definitely exists, and still does to this day.

A generic TEMPEST style setup in a TV detector van is a whole other kettle of fish though, for which there is no evidence as far as I can see.

 

[Buzby]

I’d be more interested in who’s operating it. BT stopped providing these services (along with many others). As a regulator based in London, Ofcom/Oftel would be hard pressed not to franchise this out to a third party.

 

[MP33]

Ofcom were not responsible for TV licensing enforcement, or the vans. They did, however, respond to TV reception problems. Although there were conditions. This has now passed to the BBC. Before then, a few pence of each TV licence fee was passed to Ofcom, for this work.

 

[Buzby]

Clearly the BBC may ultimately be responsible for progressing enforcement (currently via their external agency, Crapita). However, there appears to be nobody assisting them on the tech side of tracking down evaders apart from the aforementioned PAF, and Royal Mail automatically telling TVL when you pay for a mail redirection.

No firm has boasted of assisting TVLs search for unlicensed viewers in the last 20 years, it may be safe to assume the only technology is smart TV’s using the iPlayer and a licence database look-up for a slam-dunk postal prosecution. No home visit required!

 

[najaB]

No firm has boasted of assisting TVLs search for unlicensed viewers in the last 20 years, it may be safe to assume the only technology is smart TV’s using the iPlayer and a licence database look-up for a slam-dunk postal prosecution.

In large part driven by the switch from CRT displays to LCD and similar. The techniques that (might have been used to) detect a CRT wouldn't work with a LCD, and even if you could detect an LCD display in operation, it's equally likely to be a computer display, tablet, etc.

 

[Richardr]

The OFCOM vans were designed to receive radio signals in order to find out where the transmitters of pirate radio stations and other non licensed transmissions were.

That is a completely different exercise than that of finding out who was receiving TV signals without a licence [which wasn't OFCOM's job anyway].

 

[SargeNpton]

Thinking back to may brief stint as a barman in 1976...

"Ladies Drinks", sold in small bottles known as Nips, such as Barley Wine, Cherry B, Snowball and Babycham (the latter having been mentioned previously). Also port and sherry served in glasses called Schooners.

 

[cb a1]

Thinking back to may brief stint as a barman in 1976...

"Ladies Drinks", sold in small bottles known as Nips, such as Barley Wine, Cherry B, Snowball and Babycham (the latter having been mentioned previously). Also port and sherry served in glasses called Schooners.

To add to the confusion, a glass holding 2/3 pint of beer or cider is generally now called a Schooner in the trade.

 

[GordonT]

Descant Recorders. Once regarded by schools as the "go to" musical instrument with which even relatively unmusical pupils could learn to play simple tunes without too much trauma.

 

[Egg Centric]

Descant Recorders. Once regarded by schools as the "go to" musical instrument with which even relatively unmusical pupils could learn to play simple tunes without too much trauma.

Is that really anachronistic? I'm 38 (albeit for less than a week) and learned to play a recorder. I reckon I could still play hot cross buns now and I'm about as unmusical as you can get (in fact at senior school there was a choir where you got privileges for joining; I joined it; they said I could keep the privileges so long as I left it )

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I was one of the select few at my primary school to progress to the treble recorder.

 

[Steddenm]

I was one of the select few at my primary school to progress to the treble recorder.

And I was one that went to the bass and the fife before going on to the oboe.

 

[GordonT]

Is that really anachronistic? I'm 38 (albeit for less than a week) and learned to play a recorder.

I think a lot of local education authorities have regarded musical tuition and instrument provision as being an ideal soft target for cutbacks.
Perhaps it still happens in some parts of the country?

 

[DelW]

Is that really anachronistic? I'm 38 (albeit for less than a week) and learned to play a recorder. I reckon I could still play hot cross buns now and I'm about as unmusical as you can get (in fact at senior school there was a choir where you got privileges for joining; I joined it; they said I could keep the privileges so long as I left it )

That last sentence brightened my morning!

My singing ability is (was) at a similar level. I like listening to music but have never had any talent for producing it; I still have a primary school era recorder, which has not produced any sound remotely musical in the six decades I've owned it

 

[317 forever]

We may have mentioned this before but .... paper train tickets.

Twice this week I deliberately booked them on my smartphone at the station rather than buying them, even though this took a bit longer.

E-tickets can be better for Delay Repay claims (even though no such delays occurred this week) plus they are neither gobbled up at ticket gates nor in bog roll format.

 

[Egg Centric]

We may have mentioned this before but .... paper train tickets.

Twice this week I deliberately booked them on my smartphone at the station rather than buying them, even though this took a bit longer.

E-tickets can be better for Delay Repay claims (even though no such delays occurred this week) plus they are neither gobbled up at ticket gates nor in bog roll format.

Not going away any time soon unless TfL get with the program

 

[SargeNpton]

If not already mentioned before...

Waving cigarette lighters at rock concerts.

 

[dgl]

If not already mentioned before...

Waving cigarette lighters at rock concerts.

It's thw phone torch/flash now. Naturally using your phone is a lot safer!

 

[35B]

Descant Recorders. Once regarded by schools as the "go to" musical instrument with which even relatively unmusical pupils could learn to play simple tunes without too much trauma.

Still in use I was very relieved to have kids who learned trumpet and piano - much less painful on the ears

 

[martin butler]

Still in use I was very relieved to have kids who learned trumpet and piano - much less painful on the ears

The dreaded Recorder, I remember it well, I asked if i could learn another instrument, but was told its that, or nothing, My recorder playing was that off, it could have summoned the hounds of hell,

 

[ic31420]

Lighting a pilot light (and relighting it when its windy) on the boiler.

School dinner tokens

Manual choke / glow plugs

gas fires, but more so having a gas fire or wall heater in multiple room (bedroom etc)

Using a Guzunder (goes under)

 

[JKF]

We still get milk delivered in bottles at work. A colleague in the staff room a few weeks ago observed that none of the younger staff members knew how to open them, picking at the foil lids around the edges rather than pushing the centre with your thumb. It’s something instinctive to my generation.

 

[pitdiver]

The Recorder has been mentioned up thread. My wife played one when at at school and after leaving as well. She went on to play the Trombone. I pity her poor parents fortunately for me she plays neither now.

 

[McRhu]

The recorder! How can it be that the instrument that introduced the world to Frere Jacques was also responsible for the mass-murder of so many eardrums. RIP my screechy friend.

 

[eoff]

The recorder! How can it be that the instrument that introduced the world to Frere Jacques was also responsible for the mass-murder of so many eardrums. RIP my screechy friend.

Funnily enough I was showing one of my young relatives my recorder collection yesterday.
I guess the problem is that the price point of the plastic ones means schools buy one of the worst sounding choices (both pitch and material).

 

[ic31420]

We still get milk delivered in bottles at work. A colleague in the staff room a few weeks ago observed that none of the younger staff members knew how to open them, picking at the foil lids around the edges rather than pushing the centre with your thumb. It’s something instinctive to my generation.

Another thing I noticed is that the youngsters drink a cup of tea all up and don't leave half an inch in the bottom.

I learned at an early age in the 80s to leave the dregs as that's where the tea dust not caught in the tea sieve from loose tea remains.


There is a nother thing you don't see now... small cup top tea sieves.

 

[D6130]

There is a nother thing you don't see now... small cup top tea sieves.

You still see them in certain high-end tea rooms...such as the Betty's chain in North and West Yorkshire.

 

[3141]

We still get milk delivered in bottles at work. A colleague in the staff room a few weeks ago observed that none of the younger staff members knew how to open them, picking at the foil lids around the edges rather than pushing the centre with your thumb. It’s something instinctive to my generation.

Interesting. My recollection is that when milk normally came in bottles delivered to your home, some people opened them by picking at the edge of the foil lids while others jabbed through the foil. Both methods were widespread. Removing the foil in one piece leaves you with a lid you can put back on top. The jabbing method leaves you with traces in the milk of whatever might have been on the finger they used, and a bottle which isn't completely covered.

I don't think the jabbing method is "instinctive" to anyone. (Sounds like the way IT persons misuse "intuitive".) It may be habitual for some people, while for me the habit is to remove the foil in one piece.

 

[Harpo]

My recollection is that when milk normally came in bottles delivered to your home, some people opened them by picking at the edge of the foil lids while others jabbed through the foil.

Jabbing-through was the method of choice for birds helping themselves to the cream layer on top of the milk. Not a problem with sterilised milk though.