Things you don’t see outside any more

[najaB]

A bit like google maps with location based advertising pop-ups in the pre-internet age.

There's your answer right there as to why they disappeared.

 

[GusB]

What about those push-button illuminated town centre maps? A big glass fronted case with a local map inside, usually with small advert cards for local businesses around the edge. You’d push a button for a point of interest (e.g. library, town hall, bus station) and a small torch bulb sticking out of the map at the location you wanted would light up to show you where it was. A bit like google maps with location based advertising pop-ups in the pre-internet age. There used to be ones in Rotherham and Doncaster, and the last one I saw working was at a seaside town in North Wales, possibly Colwyn Bay, around 20 years ago.

I'd forgotten about those! There used to be one at the exit of the bus station in Elgin. I hadn't even noticed that it had disappeared, to be honest.

 

[birchesgreen]

I'm sure i've seen one within the last year or so, though can't remember where...

 

[Gareth]

Those gumball "chewy" machines where you put 20p and twisted the knob and the gumball came out through a little shoot

Additionally, those little fairground rides, similar to the postman pat one seen in Mr Bean, that you often got in supermarkets or immediately outside of them.

Also, must've been for charity, those things where you put the coin in a slot at the stop and the coin spiralled until it fell through a hole in the middle.

 

[Jimini]

Those gumball "chewy" machines where you put 20p and twisted the knob and the gumball came out through a little shoot

Additionally, those little fairground rides, similar to the postman pat one seen in Mr Bean, that you often got in supermarkets or immediately outside of them.

Also, must've been for charity, those things where you put the coin in a slot at the stop and the coin spiralled until it fell through a hole in the middle.

I still see the occasional one of those 'fairground rides' when up north, but they are a bit of a throwback aye (spotted one the other day at the Central Six shopping mall in Coventry).

The less said about some of the charity coin donation points from days gone by the better, from what I've seen / been reminded of!

 

[Gareth]

That reminds me, you don't tend to see those Sooty charity tins as often these days either.

 

[Stan63]

What about those push-button illuminated town centre maps? A big glass fronted case with a local map inside, usually with small advert cards for local businesses around the edge. You’d push a button for a point of interest (e.g. library, town hall, bus station) and a small torch bulb sticking out of the map at the location you wanted would light up to show you where it was. A bit like google maps with location based advertising pop-ups in the pre-internet age. There used to be ones in Rotherham and Doncaster, and the last one I saw working was at a seaside town in North Wales, possibly Colwyn Bay, around 20 years ago.

The last one of those I remember seeing many yeas ago was on Argyle Street, Glasgow near where Piccolo Mondo restaurant is. Other restaurants are available.

Stan

 

[PG]

I still see the occasional one of those 'fairground rides' when up north, but they are a bit of a throwback aye (spotted one the other day at the Central Six shopping mall in Coventry).

Since when was Coventry up north...?

Those gumball "chewy" machines where you put 20p and twisted the knob and the gumball came out through a little shoot

I'm sure you can still find them in Motorway services, though I doubt 20p would get you one now!

 

[Jimini]

Since when was Coventry up north...?

To a Londoner it very much is

 

[daveo]

t

My stepdaughter passed her test 8 months ago, bought a car within days of passing and has driven regularly ever since, she has yet to go into her 5th gear, she's frightened of the additional speed and responsibility IMO

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==

Book her a couple of lessons with a good Approved Driving Instructor who would help her to develop some confidence.

I have Yale lock keys for their house, my flat and my office, I have to wake up my phone or put its torch on to see as I just can't discern which is which in the gloom.

Any good locksmith will sell cheap coloured plastic tabs to fit the head of a Yale key. Putting one on two of your keys (a light one and a dark one) would make life a lot easier for you!

 

[Romsey]

Has anyone mentioned wheeltappers at major stations? When did they go?

There were wheel tappers at Salisbury until the late 1980's. Latterly they were paid by Network South East so didn't "tap" the Provincial (Portsmouth - Cardiff) services.
By then there was no real need and the new DMU stock was proposed which wouldn't need mid journey checks, so I guess the posts were removed at the next reorganisation/staff cut.

 

[Ediswan]

Any good locksmith will sell cheap coloured plastic tabs to fit the head of a Yale key. Putting one on two of your keys (a light one and a dark one) would make life a lot easier for you!

Sometimes those have different textures so you can tell one key from another by feel (weather permitting etc. etc.).

 

[D6130]

Since when was Coventry up north...?


I'm sure you can still find them in Motorway services, though I doubt 20p would get you one now!

When I was a wee lad they cost 1d and the machines were usually to be found outside newsagents or tobacconists. They still have them here in Italy, but nowadays they usually dispense small toys inside a plastic ball.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2022 ==

There were wheel tappers at Salisbury until the late 1980's. Latterly they were paid by Network South East so didn't "tap" the Provincial (Portsmouth - Cardiff) services.

There were still wheel tappers - or carriage and wagon examiners to give them their correct title - at Brighton and Carlisle, amongst other places, well into the 1980s. IIRC, they mainly checked loco-hauled stock and parcels vans.

 

[Mag_seven]

There were still wheel tappers - or carriage and wagon examiners to give them their correct title - at Brighton and Carlisle, amongst other places, well into the 1980s. IIRC, they mainly checked loco-hauled stock and parcels vans.

I had my carriage "wheel tapped" just the other day as it happens - in Bulgaria!

 

[MattA7]

Not sure if it’s already been mentioned but motorcycles with sidecars are pretty much obsolete nowadays. Presumably for safety reasons.

 

[philthetube]

Those gumball "chewy" machines where you put 20p and twisted the knob and the gumball came out through a little shoot

Additionally, those little fairground rides, similar to the postman pat one seen in Mr Bean, that you often got in supermarkets or immediately outside of them.

Also, must've been for charity, those things where you put the coin in a slot at the stop and the coin spiralled until it fell through a hole in the middle.

20p, more like 1d

 

[GusB]

Not sure if it’s already been mentioned but motorcycles with sidecars are pretty much obsolete nowadays. Presumably for safety reasons.

I'm not sure if they are obsolete - perhaps just uncommon. Presumably with more people getting cars there was less use for them.

I did recently see an advert for Co-operative Funeralcare that featured a sidecar hearse, though. I don't think the occupant would be very concerned about safety, though!

 

[PeterY]

I'm not sure if they are obsolete - perhaps just uncommon. Presumably with more people getting cars there was less use for them.

I did recently see an advert for Co-operative Funeralcare that featured a sidecar hearse, though. I don't think the occupant would be very concerned about safety, though!

Funniest thing I've read today .

I haven't seen a sidecar for years

 

[Welly]

I have seen a motorbike and sidecar in Lincoln sometime in tha last month - it reminded me of Wallace and Gromit!

 

[Gloster]

I saw one in Ryde today, although it may well have been an enthusiast/classic example. Done up in blue with RAF roundels and an aircraft serial number (not the same as the registration).

 

[gg1]

Junctions on otherwise unlit roads illuminated by a single solitary streetlamp.

 

[LowLevel]

Junctions on otherwise unlit roads illuminated by a single solitary streetlamp.

No shortage of those on my rural drive to work!

 

[gg1]

No shortage of those on my rural drive to work!

Really, whereabouts in the country is that?

Don't think I've seen any for a good 15 to 20 years.

 

[LowLevel]

Really, whereabouts in the country is that?

Don't think I've seen any for a good 15 to 20 years.

Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire border. There's quite a few on the A60. Mostly little lanes.

 

[ABB125]

Junctions on otherwise unlit roads illuminated by a single solitary streetlamp.

Or even just a completely random street light in the middle of nowhere on a rural road. Not even near a junction! I've only ever come across one of these...

 

[Steddenm]

Machines at railway stations, shopping centres and motorway service stations that let you print your own business cards using the little keyboard, inbuilt CRT monitor and printer. I think it was about £2 for 20 cards over 20 years ago. Last one I remember seeing was at Salisbury railway station and I'm sure they were massive and blue?

 

[Jimini]

Machines at railway stations, shopping centres and motorway service stations that let you print your own business cards using the little keyboard, inbuilt CRT monitor and printer. I think it was about £2 for 20 cards over 20 years ago. Last one I remember seeing was at Salisbury railway station and I'm sure they were massive and blue?

Blimey, I'd forgotten about them! There used to be one at Clapham Junction in the late '90s, on the St. John's Hill exit if memory serves.

 

[32475]

The sound of someone shouting ‘GANGWAY’ when needing to get through a crowd of people rather urgently.

 

[SargeNpton]

I'm not sure if they are obsolete - perhaps just uncommon. Presumably with more people getting cars there was less use for them.

I did recently see an advert for Co-operative Funeralcare that featured a sidecar hearse, though. I don't think the occupant would be very concerned about safety, though!

Motorcyle & sidecar funerals have been a thing for 20 years or more, This is probably the best known company that offers them...

Motorcycle Funerals – UK Wide Motorcycle Hearse Service

motorcyclefunerals.com

Quite popular amongst the motorcycle fraternity.

 

[adrock1976]

Young guys breakdancing to whatever is playing on a ghetto blaster, with a small crowd watching.