Occupations That Have Faded Away

[cregoe kid]

The Driver and Conductor had four bell signals, one for stop, two for go, three for full so don't stop as no one to get off and four for emergency stop. The buses you describe we're my normal mode of transport when I started work in 1960, quite an innovation when strip lighting came in.

I drove for the Midland Red in the 60's, when the one man operation came in, I was driving form Walsall to Birmingham, a man gets on and said 'It says Walsall on the front' I said it says Jacobs Bisquits on the side but I don't sell em' I was up before the superintendent next day!!!

 

[nickcc101]

I drove for the Midland Red in the 60's, when the one man operation came in, I was driving form Walsall to Birmingham, a man gets on and said 'It says Walsall on the front' I said it says Jacobs Bisquits on the side but I don't sell em' I was up before the superintendent next day!!!

We had our share of quick witted /comic drivers when I worked for Stockland Coaches, one driver would pretend to be blind, complete with white stick, and ask the passengers to guide him to the drivers seat, in the sixties this was just good humour but doubt if it would be acceptable nowadays. Shame how everything now has to be politically correct.

 

[cregoe kid]

We had our share of quick witted /comic drivers when I worked for Stockland Coaches, one driver would pretend to be blind, complete with white stick, and ask the passengers to guide him to the drivers seat, in the sixties this was just good humour but doubt if it would be acceptable nowadays. Shame how everything now has to be politically correct.

I worked for Radley Motors and we often worked that prank when we had an OAP trip, and would you believe it worked sometimes.

 

[Jemina]

I remember the Coop Dairy on Stratford road I used to help the Milkman,and thought it was great sitting on the cart when the Horse was galloping along,after all this time I remember the Horse was called Glider. Also Scribbans Bakery Carts delivering the Bread to my Mom,my Mom used to work in a Wrensons shop at Baldwins Lane

 

[DavidGrain]

I remember going on a coach once where there was a white stick behind the driver's seat. The worrying think about it was that it had a red band around it showing that the driver was also deaf.

 

[nickcc101]

I worked for Radley Motors and we often worked that prank when we had an OAP trip, and would you believe it worked sometimes.

Seem to remember Stan Cotterill (spelling) used to work for Radleys. Our comic was an ex Flights driver nicknamed Mageeve, some of the stunts he pulled would nowadays have resulted in serious misconduct, happy days

 

[nickcc101]

I remember going on a coach once where there was a white stick behind the driver's seat. The worrying think about it was that it had a red band around it showing that the driver was also deaf.

That was just in case the passengers set upon him or didn't tip

 

[cregoe kid]

My grandad was a bus driver for the Corporation and also drove coaches for Midland Red, have his old log book, but not his badge. My aunty was a clippie until she had her children.
Sue

Still got my badge when I passed as a driver for the Midland Red in 1960. DD52139

 

[paul stacey]

Worst thing they did when doing away with traffic commissioners badging system, for PSV personnel, I think there far more accidents and near miss's with modern drivers no where near as professional.paul

 

[cregoe kid]

Worst thing they did when doing away with traffic commissioners badging system, for PSV personnel, I think there far more accidents and near miss's with modern drivers no where near as professional.paul

I think these modern vehicles lull these drivers into a false sense of security, I drove mainly AEC chassis coaches with a 'Crash Box' I travel with National Express quite a bit and the driver just seems to sit there whilst the coach does all the work, I would love to put one of them behind the wheel of a vehicle with a crash box and just see how skilful they are. Just as a final note on my Midland Red test they take you to the top of Mucklows Hill, start you off in first gear change up through the box into top then change back down the box without touching the brakes, only left the Red when they went one man operation.

 

[DavidGrain]

One night after night school (long time ago), I caught a 126 Wolverhampton bus home from Birmingham which was running late. Conductress told us that their bus had broken down in the bus station and the driver had gone down to Digbeth for a replacement. They gave him a Leyland SHA which he had never driven before. It was remarked how well he was handling it as he was obviously unused to the gearbox.

 

[nickcc101]

Took my single decker test in 1966 in the days when the vehicle examiner also carried out the test. As I always took him out on the brake tests during the annual/re certifications I only had to show him that I could reverse and answer a few questions. My badge number was DD52788 but had to return it when I moved to the North East traffic area, still have my badge which starts AA which was issued in 1975. Retook the Test in 1998, as my license had expired in 1978, drove for First bus and Truronian for 6 years on stage carriage until we moved from Cornwall to Torquay and what a dreadful job it was.

 

[ironfighter]

Blacksmiths have been mentioned, of which there are still a few, but now one less. Blacksmiths strikers are long gone now, as far as I am aware. My grandfather drove a steam tram and my birth certificate says my father was a "tramcar driver" although I only remember him driving buses. Does anyone make wireless valves any more? or even wireless "sets". I had an aunt who was a draughtswoman, would you believe, she specialised in fixings and her knowledge was encyclopaedic. judging by the state of the trains I think railway cleaners are soon to become extinct along with firemen, fogmen and guards.

 

[I Am Nico]

My Gt Gt Grandfather was a blacksmith's striker too and one was a puddler at an Ironworks. I don't know what that was though. All disappearing fast like fabric hoover bags. My farm worker uncle tells me that many farms, estates and councils now no longer employ casual workers for hedging and ditching which is one reason he says we get terrible floods. He said hedging and ditching was a skill, like dry stone walling and the old travelling Romany people were multi skilled and would turn up for it. Your aunt sounds interesting.

 

[Anne Watton]

Nico, we just had our ditches dug out because the water was backing up and flooding our field. Unfortunately, the person who has bought most of the surrounding land, in order to create a forest, does not maintain his ditches, so, unfortunately we still have floods in the lanes. To be fair to Stratford council, they did come out and jet wash the pipe to allow the water to drain away, so hopefully will be better in future. Anne

 

[I Am Nico]

Hope so Anne. Maybe they could employ the jobless to ditch and hedge and learn a trade. (Me maybe?). We noted fields of ethinic people picking crops last summer, in Worcestershire. Fruit and vegetable picking seems to be an occupation that has faded with the natives of our land. Or am I wrong folks?
I had friends in Ireland whose backs got stuck from mushroom picking in low sheds. This was in the late 70's. Nan rememered an old lady daily collecting horse manure in in newspaper in the road, from the workhorses but she didn't know if it was a job or not.

 

[Anne Watton]

When I was little a lorry used to come and pick up people to go potato picking. My Gran would often be on the back of the lorry but our Mom was embarrassed and told us not to speak to her in case the neighbours heard. Gran must have been well in to her fifties so must have been fit, don't think I could pick potatoes for a day.

 

[I Am Nico]

In my area even the Pick You Own farms seem to be disappearing though I have seen them on my travels.

 

[David Neale]

I worked as the Assistant works manager at JJ and H Hossell in Coventry Street in Digbeth,they were a firm of Fellmongers,can anyone guess what a fellmonger was?? I`ll let you all know in a few weeks!

 

[I Am Nico]

I worked as the Assistant works manager at JJ and H Hossell in Coventry Street in Digbeth,they were a firm of Fellmongers,can anyone guess what a fellmonger was?? I`ll let you all know in a few weeks!

Hello David.
Is it a tanner of hide and skins? We had one here they used to habg out under the fence and your feet stck to the floor. I went for a job next door I couldn't stand the stink. They sold leather coats and other things. Nico

 

[DavidGrain]

A fellmonger is a dealer in fells or sheepskins who separates the wool from the pelts. Now purely a charitable and social organisation there is an old trade guild in Richmond Yorkshire known as The Company of Fellmongers. Originally they were known as Skinners and Glovers.

 

[Radiorails]

Fellmongers dealt with cattle as well as sheep, but sheep seems to have been their primary interest: this may well have been dependent on the livestock in a particular area . For those who remember 'All Creatures Great And Small' (actually the programme is being repeated on Freeview presently) will recall the burly gentleman, with balaclava I believe, bringing his lorry to collect dead animals.

 

[David Neale]

Sorry Nico & Expert Brummie, nearly there but not quite correct. Your answer is one stage ahead of a fellmonger. Try again, but no searching on Google!

 

[David Neale]

Quite right Adept Brummie, but did you find the answer on Google or did you work at JJ & H Hossell?

 

[Vivienne14]

I had to look it up, otherwise would have still been meandering down the hill-walking route and completely off the scent ('scuse the puns, couldn't resist) . Couple of pics. Very, very smelly job. Viv.

 

[Astonian]

hi guys
what i have not seen in years may be we are in worcestershire but the old rag and bone man walking around the streets calling out the verse of
Any old rags or iron ; and i recall running into the house asking mom any old clothes i want to get a fish of the old rag man; mind you they never lasted thre days
and also had a kid a old penny for a bungle we only have the scrap men coming around in lorries or vans shouting out any old scrap iron from there vans
every couple of days they are coming around ; but may i add with out ant prediuce these vans and lorries are coming up from birmingham
and there is alot coming from west heath brum and tyseley areas and of course norhfield[ may i add one more point ] i was in norhfield yesterday and i was appauld
at all the empty shops in a row all empty and up for sale or let what is happening here is it crime or is it the council tax and rates if so the council want to drop the tax and rates just like dudley council; i used to work that side of the city doing house repose ; it was a nice are then and viberantstill as they say life is more a faster pace now and progreess changes things but getting back on track do you get the old rag and bone man around shouting out for your rags ?.
i can recall mr parkes from heath street with is hand cart and the mr moult from heath street yards and old george and is horse and cart in clarke street ladywood
whom kept his old horse up the bag of the terrace houses in a stable ;the old steptoe have gone now you see these signs around brum on big bill boards around the streets we buy your clothes by the bag but the other thing i could say is the parkies the moults and george never stole youritemssuch as kids bikes or even your old tin bth from the garden ; notlikethese demond of the moderen tatterin vans if you leave any think out they nick it and ofthey gothe little kids bikes as well and now its street gutters and signs
best wishes astonian;;

 

[I Am Nico]

What did it or does it entail?

 

[Vivienne14]

A tapster - do they still exist? I suppose the job still exits but not heard the title used. Viv.

 

[I Am Nico]

What's tapster Viv? I have heard of a coster and a shyster.

 

[Vivienne14]

Hi Nico. It's a person who draws and serves beer for customers. Like a barman or bartender, but I think tapsters probably did additional things like preparing the barrels too. Viv.