• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hi Topsy - They look mighty suspicious and up to something and they have stopped by the boarded up shop. I notice there are two more youngsters looking at the picture adverts on the front of the Hippodrome!!
That van parked by them has a very tall pole with an X shaped aerial on top and a cable going towards the Hippodrome. I can't read the words on the side of the van but I think I can see a crown...wonder what it was doing ?

This van would be an 'OUTSIDE BROADCAST UNIT' (don't recall/can't work out the first word under the crown) - most probably for radio. Those vans were based at the GPOs 'Tyburn' depot on the corner of Chester Road/Kingsbury Road, (where Halfords is now) where I was based for some of my GPO/POT apprenticeship in the late '60s.

Correction:- Nearly right!.....

from https://www.britishtelephones.com/vehicles/specialist/020.htm

a 'Karrier Bantam' Mobile Television Repeater Vehicle

used by the Post Office Television Outside Broadcast Service
 
Thanks Curly and interesting link to the detailed photos of the vans. I did wonder if it could have been an OB but I thought there would be other vans around as well.
 
Hi Curly - Thanks for that link, it answers some questions I have been pondering over. I think the photo is dated 1957 and I'm now wondering what show the Aston Hippodrome had on in those days which would be suitable for transmission !!
 
Just had a look, the escapee from the 'Monty Python' sketch in post#41 has run away, he is a time traveller, he did carry the A3 sign and was definitely there in the original 1964 pic posted in 'City Centre - Corporation Street' here
hesgone1_28Medium29.jpeg
 
Talking of leggins, I seem to remember my sisters wearing them, did they require a sort of hook to do them up with?

Nick
Nan and mum wore slacks they were a bit short worn with a car coat. Or on the beach though they had dresses and heels sometimes on the beach. But never slacks if they were out shopping. Nan wore a hat in the house it was so cold and ankle socks over her stockings.
I have a photo of me about 2 in these shapeless trousers like a sack with an elastic waist coming up under my armpits. a home knit woolie with the threads sticking out and tartan t strap pumps. Got off the subject !!!! SORRY, love the pictures. In the TV series The Village all the men pushed the prams as the women worked in the boot factory. Some men wouldn't carry flowers either or hold the wife's handbag or hold hands in the hokey cokey! Nico
 
HI NICO ;
Yes wheelys road is still there even thou the local population and the area as change dramiticaly
and thats where the womens hostel was years ago and the girl got murdered was your relie living up there in the that period when the girl got murdered her name was step baird best wishes Astonian;
 
Just had a look, the escapee from the 'Monty Python' sketch in post#41 has run away, he is a time traveller, he did carry the A3 sign and was definitely there in the original 1964 pic posted in 'City Centre - Corporation Street' here

Now we know someone is deffinitely playing around with photographs. I think it is the running man who is putting himself into old photos and then publishing them. A bit of fun maybe but it does impinge on the integrety of period photos.
 
HI NICO ;
Yes wheelys road is still there even thou the local population and the area as change dramiticaly
and thats where the womens hostel was years ago and the girl got murdered was your relie living up there in the that period when the girl got murdered her name was step baird best wishes Astonian;
I don't know Atonian, she was something of a mystery woman in many ways. The house she lived in is the first one coming from Five Ways, or it is now. She was there during the war and the 50's probably a lot longer but I don't know when she left. I need to speak to more relatives.
 
... Some men wouldn't carry flowers either or hold the wife's handbag or hold hands in the hokey cokey! Nico
I can remember going to see my wife in what is now City hospital old Dudley Road) when she'd been taken in labour with our first the previous night. Expecting it to be all over and me a father, I found her still struggling and insistent that I "bugger off". Seeking refuge in the Windmill I hid the flowers under a seat lest I be caught carrying them. :cower:
 
Nowadays you would probably have had the flowers taken off you before you got to the ward in case they irritate or poison the other patients
 
I can remember going to see my wife in what is now City hospital old Dudley Road) when she'd been taken in labour with our first the previous night. Expecting it to be all over and me a father, I found her still struggling and insistent that I "bugger off". Seeking refuge in the Windmill I hid the flowers under a seat lest I be caught carrying them. :cower:
On one of my trips to Dublin I bought some flowers as a thank you to my mate's 2 aunties for their hospitality. I was staying with one and the other uncle came to see me before I left for England. He said It's a lovely thought but I am not waking along the street with them flowers in me hand. My mates would think I was a fairy, I forget what word for fairy that he used. I phoned her and she had to come and fetch them herself! And this was in the 80's. They still had men only bars then I don't know if they still have. They also had them in Stockton on Tees and Christchurch in these times of equality.
I was walking home with a bouquet for my partner about 6 years ago from work and a youth shall we say sitting on a wall called me a name, for carrying flowers. So I pushed him over the wall.
 
Nowadays you would probably have had the flowers taken off you before you got to the ward in case they irritate or poison the other patients
Yes I had that said to me, so I said when you take the big flower out of your hair missis and look professional like a doctor should and cover up your clothes with a white coat. They loved me!
 
View attachment 86788ive always thought this one as so atmospheric for some reason....this man was caught down an entry lol..
lyn
img096_renamed_31262-1_zps252c1c7d.jpg
I've often looked at that pic and wondered about that narrow entry being the only access to a street. If that large man met someone similar coming the other way it could be at bit of a squeeze !
 
Last edited:
I've been looking at this pic from the recently mentioned Erdington Video and I'm surprised to see David Cameron apparently playing bowls in Pype Hayes Park. He is ready to bowl just behind the man bowling.
PMBowl.jpg
 
Last edited:
View attachment 86788ive always thought this one as so atmospheric for some reason....this man was caught down an entry lol..
lyn


My nan would call this a jitty. We of the longer legs used to put our backs on one wall and see how long we could stay wedged with our feet on the opposite wall, Nan said manouvering a barge in a tunnell was called legging.
 
The caption on this scanned pic from an old Evening Mail says it is busy !
I've often looked at it and can see a man sitting on what appears to be a 'motorised contraption'.
I think I can see part of a number plate but could be wrong. Any ideas about what the man is sitting on ?
Hockley_St_Smith_St_early_1950s.jpg
 
Last edited:
hi phil i remember posting this one because the pic was in two halves so i had to knit them together..i can see the join in the whole pic lol..the man is deffo sitting on something but no idea what...

lyn

hockley_st_smith_st__early_1950s.jpg
 
Last edited:
hi phil i remember posting this one because the pic was in two halves so i had to knit them together..i can see the join in the whole pic lol..the man is deffo sitting on something but no idea what...

lyn

View attachment 86807
Hi Lyn - I was looking for the join in the pic I put up and could not see it but I can now! As I look further at the pic I can imagine a figure leaning on the window ledge by the man, it almost looks like a girl....
Phil
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top