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birmingham corporation bus clock in for drivers

A

Astonian

gone but not forgotten
hi guys ;
i just had to tell you today that i went to comberton hill kidderminster today buy a stars and stripes flag [ american ]
when i got near to the old army and navvy stores in comberton hill which was virtualy facing the kidderminster rail way statation
i went to park my car in there but i could not be allowed ;
but when i was turning around to come out and repark ;right out side on there grounds painted in a darl green was a bus drivers clock in
the ones we had in brum years ago ;and if i am not mistaken it was working ; i am sure ;
i was totally surprized i thought all these was scrapped it was definately a corporation one slap bang in the middle of its post ;
just below its clock face its stamped BCT ; I said to the misses cor blimmey i aint seen them in years and i must tell the guys ;
i wonder if there is any more knocking about lads ;
best wishes astonian ;
 
I wonder why it's in Kidderminster too Astonian, and which buses might still use it? Would be good if someone knows the answer!
Sue
 
Theres 2 bungy clocks i know of (excluding musuems ) the one Astonian saw outside Kidderminster railway station
( Severn valley railway ) and the other one at Lea hall station in the booking area . there must be more dotted
around Birmingham .
ragga :fat:
 
HI good morning jenny
many thanks for putting up the picture of the bundy clock of kiddie;its looks good doesnt it ;
yes i would like to find outjust how many more there are out there ; if any
it would be great if any of our members keep there eyes open and do a bit of an account i think ;
i was totally excited when i turned around and spotted it ; my misses wondered what on earth am i getting excited about ;
jenny ; thanks again for the picture and now one or two members are saying that could be more still standing i will keep them peeled as shaw taylor s
catch phrase was on police five years ago ;
i am off to hamms hall lane car booty tomorrow so as i travel i will look out for more ;
have your self a nice week end ; alan ;; astonian;;;
 
I wished they was still being used,they would stop the buses bunching up as they do these days.
great photos.
 
Here's a photo taken of Michael with a bundy clock at Wythall Bus Museum....well worth a visit.

Michael__and_a_bundy_clock_.JPG
 
As kids we used to hang around the Maypole terminus a lot.

We used to be fascinated, watching the crews putting the big brass key into the clock and over the moon when the more indulgent ones would stamp the back of our hand with it.
 
maypolebaz said:
As kids we used to hang around the Maypole terminus a lot.

We used to be fascinated, watching the crews putting the big brass key into the clock and over the moon when the more indulgent ones would stamp the back of our hand with it.
Click to expand...
Was it like this ?
maypole.jpg
 
Mike Fisher said:
Was it like this ?
View attachment 75332
Click to expand...

Although the bus has long gone and the roadway drastically altered, that house survives (as offices now) and of course the island is much bigger. Compare to a recent view.

"Pegging the clock" has been replaced by software built into the ticket machines, and on-bus GPS systems that show exactly where the bus is at any given time. "Big Brother" is no longer clockwork!
 
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I think I put the origins of Bundy clocks elsewhere on the forum, but for completeness on this board - The story of the Bundy brothers' company and its rise to become IBM is here, along with a photo of the one preserved at Walsall in WMPTE blue colour - in BCT days they were green, as were main road lampposts.
 
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Hi

I remember the Bundy Clock on the outer circle route on
the River Cole bridge near Sarehole Mill. That was in the
1950's, and Sarehole Mill was derelict and overgrown then.

Kind regards

Dave
 
JennyAnn's painting could the position of the number 8 be at the top of rocky lane just before aston cross going on to park lane. the railway bridge is not there any more, but i can just remember it back in 1968/69 by tubes ltd. kind regards sidwho
 
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My Ma was a 'clippy', and I often used to take her a bite to eat on the way to the terminus in the 60's!! The old buses were so much easier to recognise anyone - as they could wave off the back platform as arriving!!
 
The remaining BCT bundy clocks were removed by CENTRO around 1997 and were mostly scrapped, but a few were auctioned off. About the same time my friend uncovered a number of previously removed ones in a store room in the former Miller Street tram/bus garage along with a pile of round BCT bus stop plates. He put in a bid to buy them which was accepted. He passed a couple to museums and friends and has an imaculate restored one on his garden in Halesowen (He was a Quinton born lad).

I have an unrestored base in my garage, but never got around to getting a top Most of the bus stop tops are in my fathers garage.

Matthew
 
That's very interesting information Matthew, it's amazing how recently the last clocks were still about! I am familiar with the nice West Bromwich one in the bus station there.

Nice to see you on the forum, your username caught my attention straight away. I am trying to restore former Quinton Garage Daimler Fleetline 4130 in ireland along with ex Sandy Lane, Coventry 6918.

Simon
 
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Hi Simon

Good to here that 4130 and 6918 still exist and good luck with the restoration. I had many rides to and from school on 4130.

My username reflects my current restoration project, an ex Washwood Heath/Perry Barr Leyland Titan. I am also a co-owner and of the newly completed Quinton Guy Arab 2548 and also Fleetline 3436 and National 7052.

Matthew
 
Of the subject but have you seen this photo of your bus on the 11E route

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dofartshavelumps/8344568519/

and of this one of the bus in the snow?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dofartshavelumps/8344568883/



WDA1T said:
Hi Simon

Good to here that 4130 and 6918 still exist and good luck with the restoration. I had many rides to and from school on 4130.

My username reflects my current restoration project, an ex Washwood Heath/Perry Barr Leyland Titan. I am also a co-owner and of the newly completed Quinton Guy Arab 2548 and also Fleetline 3436 and National 7052.

Matthew
Click to expand...
 
At the Crich Tram Museum they don't have any Birmingham trams but they do have Birmingham street furniture and I am sure that the Bundy clock is BCT
 
DavidGrain said:
At the Crich Tram Museum they don't have any Birmingham trams but they do have Birmingham street furniture and I am sure that the Bundy clock is BCT
Click to expand...

I remember my late father using the bundy clock at Court Lane, Erdington in the late 40's and early 50's. He was a conductor working out of Wellhead Lane depot. If the bus was due out at 08.04, the key punch a card in the bundy clock to confirm that the bus was leaving the terminus on time.

Very often the conductor punch the clock to save the driver getting out of the cab. As a youngster, I spent many hours travelling on dad's bus on the 5A, 7 and 33.
 
This Is a photos of the Bundy Clock at Court Lane next to a Fleetline https://www.flickr.com/photos/79249...DgL-f4mvG6-f4mzpr-f4AQ3s-dHttKy-dHtsrq-cTRLUf

This is a better shot https://www.flickr.com/photos/79249...DgL-f4mvG6-f4mzpr-f4AQ3s-dHttKy-dHtsrq-cTRLUf


perry commoner said:
I remember my late father using the bundy clock at Court Lane, Erdington in the late 40's and early 50's. He was a conductor working out of Wellhead Lane depot. If the bus was due out at 08.04, the key punch a card in the bundy clock to confirm that the bus was leaving the terminus on time.

Very often the conductor punch the clock to save the driver getting out of the cab. As a youngster, I spent many hours travelling on dad's bus on the 5A, 7 and 33.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Horsencart, the photos are brilliant and invite comparisons of the terminus in years gone by. The bus looks positively futuristic, as does the bus shelter, when I recall my time with Dad there, sharing a drop of tea from the lid of his tin billycan, I see a c1930s Daimler waiting to take me down Perry Common Road and drop me off on the corner of Capillano Road so that I could run home, I'd be about 9 at the time.
 
Dave89 said:
Hi

I remember the Bundy Clock on the outer circle route on
the River Cole bridge near Sarehole Mill. That was in the
1950's, and Sarehole Mill was derelict and overgrown then.

Kind regards

Dave
Click to expand...

I realize this is a 2012 post by Dave 89 but I must have overlooked it before. I remember that clock as it was along the 29A route to Baldwins Lane. City boundary. I don't believe the 29A drivers used the clock only those on the 11 route. But I may be wrong.
 
Hi not sure how old this thread is but had to chip in here. My Dad was an Inspector at Lea Hall for many years and as a kid I used to stand at our local stop in Garrett's Green Lane and get him to stamp my hand with the clock stamp. I thought it was really cool
 
Hello Nora10, The Corporation bus thread is pretty ancient but we are always welcome to see additional info on pet subjects. Lea Hall depot was way out of my experience as my father worked from Wellhead Lane, Perry Barr. I assume that you are a good dealer younger than me but did you attend the Summer Outing to Billesley Park for the children of BCT Staff circa 1950?
 
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