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Ghost signs of Birmingham

Spargone said:
Greengrocers get accused of putting in apostrophes where they aren't needed, grocers just leave them out? [Barbers Tea]
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Barbers Tea was a trade name and in such cases often the possessive apostrophe is omitted. Lyons Tea, Ringtons Tea (sold in Newcastle) but Cadbury Cocoa. It is just a convention and company policy may change. Harrod's became Harrods.

Anyone ever drink Barbers tea? I never have.
 
As it's Barbers Teas, in theory (I think) the apostrophe should be after the s in Barbers The teas are plural so there must have been several types produced by Barbers - hence in theory it should have been Barbers’ Teas. But as the advertisers weren’t bothered, neither am I !! Viv.
 
Stokkie said:
Barbers Tea was a trade name and in such cases often the possessive apostrophe is omitted. Lyons Tea, Ringtons Tea (sold in Newcastle) but Cadbury Cocoa. It is just a convention and company policy may change. Harrod's became Harrods.

Anyone ever drink Barbers tea? I never have.
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F.W. Woolworth is another company that fought a losing battle with its customers! Better to have a mangled version of ones name on the public's lips than none at all.
 
Vivienne14 said:
As it's Barbers Teas, in theory (I think) the apostrophe should be after the s in Barbers The teas are plural so there must have been several types produced by Barbers - hence in theory it should have been Barbers’ Teas. But as the advertisers weren’t bothered, neither am I !! Viv.
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Spargone said:
F.W. Woolworth is another company that fought a losing battle with its customers! Better to have a mangled version of ones name on the public's lips than none at all.
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I think that however you punctuate it Woolworth no longer trades in the UK. There might be some ghost signs?
 
Vivienne14 said:
As it's Barbers Teas, in theory (I think) the apostrophe should be after the s in Barbers The teas are plural so there must have been several types produced by Barbers - hence in theory it should have been Barbers’ Teas. But as the advertisers weren’t bothered, neither am I !! Viv.
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English is curious. Suppliers of tea, meat, cloth, paper etc. refer to their products in the singular even though they actually supply more than one variety. Suppliers of biscuits, cars or vegetables use the plural form though, so we have Tetley Tea but Carr's Biscuits. Insert the word 'company' and the plurals become singular, e.g. Ford Cars but Ford Car Company.

Returning to Barbers Tea, makes me think of Maypole, a long-gone chain of grocers, unless I am completely mistaken.
 
mikejee said:
But, towards the end of life of the factory in Birmingham, the red neon sign on the factory lost the t and read just yphoo , so could be said that, w.hen they decided to move from brum, Brum took the t from typhoo
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Where exactly on Pershore St was Teaplant House I wonder and guess it's long gone.
 
This one is on Princip Street. It looks like the building has been refurbed, but the sign remains. I can see “Stationers ..... Presswork”. Would it have previously been a printers ? Viv.0A827CFF-715C-408C-ADBE-FF6F9CD84C2D.jpeg
 
Phil said:
Heres a photo of the waiting room in its prime, I still cant read the lettering but I don't think it says Erdington Tramways.
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Not sure if you solved the mystery of that building but to me it looks like the building that supplied electricity for the overhead wires
 
That’s an impressive refurb. Removing the cladding and repointing has lifted the whole building. Wonder what the ‘sundries’ would be? Would this be why there was ‘presswork’ going on there ? Viv.
 
Nothing listed in 1940 Kelly's - last one on Ancestry.
Parkes listed in 1950 phone book. In 1949 they were in River Street.
1663937791922.png
By 1960 Parkes were at Witton Road and Plume Street.
BY 1968 they are only listed at Plume Street.
 
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Thanks Stokkie. Presumably the steps to the left are original from its cinema days, and originally formed part of a sweeping semi circle of steps into a foyer/box office. Dread to think what it’s like inside now. Viv.
 
pjmburns said:
More info here

Empress Cinema in Birmingham, GB - Cinema Treasures

Located in the Witton district to the north of Birmingham city centre. The Picture House was opened on 13th September 1913. It was built and oper...
cinematreasures.org

If correct there have been changes to the top of the frontage.
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Yes, Janice, the FB picture was posted 2014, it looks as if the curved steps have subsequently been removed? (But the picture is earlier than that) Derek
 
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