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Gone out of fashion

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farmerdave said:
I would have thought that fountain pens would now be completely out of fashion but they can still be readily bought from the likes of Parker, Cross and Lamy. Birmingham -based Yard-o-Led also supply silver fountain pens for the high-end of the market.
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Dave, it seems in the US they have become a bit of a fashion statement mostly in the big cities. Screw top and nib but the ink reservoir is a cartridge not what we used!
 
Some things I can remember wearing as a child. Fur backed gloves, white summer cotton gloves, black patent ankle strap shoes, tartan kilts, muffs, bonnets, long wool scarves crossed at the front and tied at the back.
 
I had an hospital appointment, sat with the consultant doing the pre operation form filling (for the umpteenth time), he wrote everything down long hand with a fountain pen whilst in front of him on the desk there was about five grands worth of computer kit.
I asked why he didn't use the computer, he said "We can't trust those they're not secure." then handed my notes to a staff nurse to take through the corridors to the X-ray department half a mile away.
A terrible waste of the nurse's time and how could that really be more secure than sending it in a flash by computer.
 
Eric Gibson said:
I had an hospital appointment, sat with the consultant doing the pre operation form filling (for the umpteenth time), he wrote everything down long hand with a fountain pen whilst in front of him on the desk there was about five grands worth of computer kit.
I asked why he didn't use the computer, he said "We can't trust those they're not secure." then handed my notes to a staff nurse to take through the corridors to the X-ray department half a mile away.
A terrible waste of the nurse's time and how could that really be more secure than sending it in a flash by computer.
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Chinese hackers could turn you into a zombie. It happened to a nephew and he became a Villa fan.


NoddKD,going into hiding.
 
Terence David Lines said:
Beware you think they need cleaning. The trade call that patina.
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Richard Dye said:
VERY good advice!
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So gentlemen - some advice.
This is the set which goes with the mustard spoon I posted the picture of in post #172.
I don't fancy using them in this condition so do I leave them and not use or do I clean so I can use them?
 

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pjmburns said:
Believe me - the black colour would not be called patina.
I accept the colour they are now might be.
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I can't believe that any EPNS ware increases in value by being tarnished. However the key part of EPNS is the 'P', 'plated'. It is the oxide of silver that is being cleaned off, eventually there will be no silver at all.

Whatever pleases the owner at the end of the day!
 
pjmburns said:
So gentlemen - some advice.
This is the set which goes with the mustard spoon I posted the picture of in post #172.
I don't fancy using them in this condition so do I leave them and not use or do I clean so I can use them?
Click to expand...
I would take them to a charity shop and let someone else worry about it if they are not of sentimental value Janice. Tinpot
 
pjmburns said:
So gentlemen - some advice.
This is the set which goes with the mustard spoon I posted the picture of in post #172.
I don't fancy using them in this condition so do I leave them and not use or do I clean so I can use them?
Click to expand...
We are avid Antique Roadshow watchers and have a dear friend that makes a very good living (or did) trading antiques on eBay. What we always hear, if you had not cleaned them up they would be worth SOOO much more. Its your choice.
 
Collectible toy series: As a boy there were many toys that we eagerly bought the catalogues for. Having made our selection and saved up our pennies we could head to the local newsagent or toy shop knowing that 'No. 58' would most likely be there on the shelf just waiting to be bought!

Now if one was to go to a newsagent there could be a few toys on sale, perhaps a Ferrari in various scales, even a couple of Airfix kits but not virtually the whole range as in the past.

Here are some of my old toys. I could add in Minic Ships and of course Corgi, first with windows and sprung suspensions!

oldcats.jpg
 
Street play: In the late 1950s there was little road traffic on the suburban streets and very few vehicles parked on the street overnight. Particulary in the summer months the streets became a playground in the evening.

Further down the road was a large Irish family, the Malloys I think. When they got involved it seemed like a massive street party, all the little play groups from up and down the street got involved too.

One of the nice things about large families is that they are used to being inclusive, often with teenagers and toddlers in the same family, so games were adapted to let any kid join in. Very occasionally mass groups of children from other districts would turn up. At one such event there was a large hide-and-seek game mostly using the gulley complex between Sheaf Lane and Coalway Avenue, Sheldon. It was possible then to get behind the old shopping parade on the Coventry Road.

Move forward to the early 1990s and my nephews were just about allowed to walk unescorted to the pillar box on the same side of the road!
 
Spargone said:
Collectible toy series: As a boy there were many toys that we eagerly bought the catalogues for. Having made our selection and saved up our pennies we could head to the local newsagent or toy shop knowing that 'No. 58' would most likely be there on the shelf just waiting to be bought!

Now if one was to go to a newsagent there could be a few toys on sale, perhaps a Ferrari in various scales, even a couple of Airfix kits but not virtually the whole range as in the past.

Here are some of my old toys. I could add in Minic Ships and of course Corgi, first with windows and sprung suspensions!
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they will NEVER go out of fashion in my eyes:grinning:

triang2.jpg​

 
Spargone said:
Street play: In the late 1950s there was little road traffic on the suburban streets and very few vehicles parked on the street overnight. Particulary in the summer months the streets became a playground in the evening.

Further down the road was a large Irish family, the Malloys I think. When they got involved it seemed like a massive street party, all the little play groups from up and down the street got involved too.

One of the nice things about large families is that they are used to being inclusive, often with teenagers and toddlers in the same family, so games were adapted to let any kid join in. Very occasionally mass groups of children from other districts would turn up. At one such event there was a large hide-and-seek game mostly using the gulley complex between Sheaf Lane and Coalway Avenue, Sheldon. It was possible then to get behind the old shopping parade on the Coventry Road.

Move forward to the early 1990s and my nephews were just about allowed to walk unescorted to the pillar box on the same side of the road!
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Does anyone remember playing Polly On The Mopstick.
 
I remember playing it and also 'British Bulldog' which probably wouldn't be allowed these days ... :)

polly on the mopstick

Fraid not dennis,I think Polly on the mopstick was just before my time.But I'm sure if you could explain the rules a :roll: and let me know any equipment requiementsI,ll ask the missis if she fancies a game :roll:
birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
I used play a game that was called British Bulldog at school in the late 70s, doesn't look as if it's the same game as the one in the photo.

It started with one person in the middle of the playground and everyone else on one side. Person in the middle chose someone and they had to get to the other side of the playground without the middle person grabbing them and saying British Bulldog 1 2 3.

If they made it to the other side, middle person chose someone else but if they were caught they also became a middle person. Game continued back and forth until one person was left on the side. Games could involve 30, 40 or 50 children.
 
MWS said:
I used play a game that was called British Bulldog at school in the late 70s, doesn't look as if it's the same game as the one in the photo.

It started with one person in the middle of the playground and everyone else on one side. Person in the middle chose someone and they had to get to the other side of the playground without the middle person grabbing them and saying British Bulldog 1 2 3.

If they made it to the other side, middle person chose someone else but if they were caught they also became a middle person. Game continued back and forth until one person was left on the side. Games could involve 30, 40 or 50 children.
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I've just had a session with my friend Google and you could be right, but when we played it (far back in the last century) at Aldridge Road Secondary Modern we called it British Bulldog ... and injuries were common.
I was glad when I left to go to the more refined Handsworth Techical School where we were not allowed to play such games in the playground ... :grinning:
 
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childrens games

Does anyone know the origin of the game one potato, two potato, where you make a pile with your and a partners fist/hand, pulling the bottom of the plie to thetop, until you get to 7 potato more? It is mentioned on another thread, but no reply to it. Dad was playing it with Owen today which is...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
oldMohawk said:
I've just had a session with my friend Google and you could be right, but when we played it (far back in the last century) at Aldridge Road Secondary Modern we called it British Bulldog ... and injuries were common.
I was glad when I left to go to the more refined Handsworth Techical School where we were not allowed to play such games in the playground ... :grinning:
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Yes you're right, MWS, Old Mohawk's picture is showing Polly on the Mopstick.
 
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