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Street furniture

oldMohawk said:
The tram shelter at the Rubery teminus in June 1952. I suppose it was a rather extravagant design and the new bus shelter (top right) shows the trend for future shelters. The Rubery tram service was replaced by buses later in 1952
View attachment 127646
from the DJ Norton collection.
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Was this the tram shelter that is now at Crich? It is summertime, because the conductor has the light jacket on, so is the notice in the windows announcing the demise of the tram and that is the reason that the advert on the side appears to have been peeled off? The bus shelter looks pretty new as well.
Bob
 
This is the one at Crich which is said to have come from Birmingham. Not quite as 'pretty' as the one which was at Rubery.
Crich ShelterBham.jpg
 
Me too Lyn. Made many visits to one before we got a home phone. I remember my mum showing me how to use one of these, so must have been quite young. It would have been a box on the Kingstanding Road, near Tresham Road junction, but can’t remember exactly where. Maybe it was at the old post office or near the garage next to the Settlement. Viv.
 
We didn’t go past one without going in and pressing button B on the ofchance, thanks for the memory
 
During my time with PO Telephones (before it was privatised and became BT) I spent 6 months on Call Box maintenance, most faults were vandalism, stolen handsets, coin slots wedged etc but they were always given priority because of the 999 facility. Now everybody has a mobile 'phone they get little use, become unprofitable so they are gradually being removed, some boxes are given other uses, such as housing defibrillators, usually in rural areas with instructions on how to use them. Eric
 
Not sure of the complete accuracy of this story. I was an apprentice and spent three weeks in Northern Exchange. At the time there was a call trace being monitored for a lady who was getting malicious calls. An alarm sounded and the Post Office Telephones dashed into action but were unable to move quick enough. I was later told that the calls had been coming from the telephone box right outside the exchange.

It seems to be still there!

https://goo.gl/maps/H1ZKJhRvzqo
 
oldMohawk said:
The lady in this old forum pic makes me remember the days when you sometimes had to wait to make a phone call, or you were the one in the phone box making a call with someone outside giving you the 'hurry up' look.
DSCF1152old.jpg
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pretty sure i know who that lady is phil and i have used that phone box many times which was almost opposite the sally army in nursery road...the houses you see in the terrace were on dads window cleaning round..phone box now removed

lyn
 
in 86 there was a chap in solihull who had loads in his field. and said bt had to buy one back now and again.
there was one in the pub on aston cross. and there is one in the tat yard by be
 
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Astoness said:
thanks bill i remember seeing that clip its amazing what such a small space can be used for and a noval way to ensure the great british phone box does not disappear forever:)

alan i think i best start saving for one now then:D

lyn
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were was that place
 
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paul stacey said:
Everything worked and worked well Phil , the streets were really clean too, bus's ran regularly and were in the main on time, and inexpensive.Paul
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oldMohawk said:
The Bridge Inn in Monument Road in 1959 with some unusually placed street furniture. Instead of being against the wall that bench looks rather close to the road, and a Bundy Clock usually near kerbs is against the wall. The cast iron urinal has it's own gas lamp which was useful. I suppose it all made sense.

index.php
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yes very handy. i notice the wall back of the clock is railway brickwork,is there a line there. that bloke was saying to him sitting "were did you get that hat"
 
Astonian said:
HI LLoyd
do you remember the old type gas light where a chap on a bike would come around the streets lighting up the lights at a certain time also do you ever recall him coming around with his big stick to snubb them out even up terraces and back yards where ever there was one
best wishes astonian
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yes alan mate i di ta
 
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Viv, I was confused by the end of the last sentence 'traffic virtually has the right of way'. No wonder the public didn't know - either it did or it didn't, if you see what I mean.
 
Amongst the street furniture would be the sign posts.

This one at the New Inns Handsworth pointed the way to Smethwick and Birmingham2401845.jpg
 
Edit. Unfortunately the image in the link below is no longer available.

They are installing a new Information Totem in Centenary Square today and because I am a nosy bleeder I had to have a look, the first thing to note is that the information is about three years of date, small things like telling me how to get The House of Sport (demolished a couple of years ago)
Where I an go see the Golden Boys (moved a couple of years ago)
How to get to the Paradise Forum (Demolished some time back)
it is full of stuff like that,

Now I have to assume that this is a old Totem that has been taken out of stock and that new information glass be soon be added unless of Course a mistake has been made this is the at present out of date Information Totem
https://flic.kr/p/2dLTs6A
 
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How strange. I’m all for keeping history alive but this is odd. Visitors are already confused about finding their way around Brum. Maybe it’s part of a mystery trail ie the featured points of interest no longer exist or are in the wrong place !!! Ha ha. Viv.
 
Or. a municipal faux pas. :laughing: Oh! well, the citizens are paying for it!!

I did chose my words. Forum rules bar under thirteens from joining, but that does not mean they cannot view BHF.
 
Vivienne14 said:
How strange. I’m all for keeping history alive but this is odd. Visitors are already confused about findin their way around Brum. Maybe it’s part of a mystery trail ie the featured points of interest no longer exist or are in the wrong place !!! Ha ha. Viv.
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actually viv i think we should follow the new totem directions...we may be able to find our way then lol...seriously though if the council dont know where they are what chance have we got:worried:

lyn
 
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