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Nothing on The Grand Hotel, Colmore Row, for over a year. I thought it was due to have been reopened by now.

I'm sure I was given a Lotts Chemistry Set, perhaps even more than one over the years. Phenolphthalein was another indicator used in chemistry laboratories. It was colourless in acidic solutions but turned red in alkali solutions...

Probably calcium carbide. It releases acetylene in contact with water. I would have thought that you would only get an explosion is there was also a heat source. Dave.

Best I can suggest is "The Cruel Sea". According to Wikipedia this was released in the UK on 24th March 1953. I also know that I saw it at the Rialto Cinema, about half a mile from where I lived. Dave.

The Prudential Ride London Surrey 100 cycle event was on this morning. Literally thousands of cyclists riding a hundred miles for charity. Three photos taken at West Horsley, Surrey are shown. Saw a few tandems and Bromptons (folding bikes). The professional race is on this afternoon and will be...

Two photos taken recently on the North Norfolk Railway. This is a private line that runs from Holt to Sheringham. 76084 at Holt and LNER 8572 near Weybourne Station. Diesel 12131 is also in this picture. Dave.

Surrey hosts again the arrival of hundreds of cyclists on Sunday 4th August for both amateur, charity-raising, cyclists and (separately) professionals. The latter is usually shown on television and known as the Prudential Ride London/Surrey Classic Race. Highlights are ascents up Leith Hill and...

Quite a distance from Surrey too but it would be interesting to look round the school again. However, have other things on this weekend.

This advert/cartoon from Turner Brothers depicts the strong effect the company is having on war-time machinery output in WW2. It shows Hitler, Goebbels and Goering singing from the Hymn of Hate with the words "Gott Strafe Turner Bros Press Tools". I assume this means "May God punish Turner Bros...

There was a feature on BBC Breakfast this morning called "Crossing Divides" in which people on public transport are encouraged to chat to each other as a possible means of combating loneliness. There were interviews on a number 11 Birmingham bus. Chatting about the weather, the traffic or even...

I like watching old films on Talking Pictures. Watched "Operation Amsterdam", starring Tony Britton, a few weeks ago. He is Birmingham-born and today is his 95th birthday. Thought we had a separate thread for him but couldn't find it.

There is a fairly new outside urinal at Vauxhall Bus station in London. I have never used it. Dave.

This is a one-chance only photograph. It was taken at the Queen Mother's funeral on 9th April 2002 using a Canon AE1 SLR, a 800 ISO colour film and a zoom lens. It shows left-to-right Prince Andrew, Charles, Philip, Anne and Edward. It was taken in the Mall. Dave.

I bought this Minox 35 MB film camera in 1988. It is very small, measuring 4 inches x 2.5 inches x 1 inch. The film ISO can be set from 25 to 1600 but usually I would use either 100 or 400 ISO films. Aperture could be set from f 2.8 to f 16 and distance could also be set from 0.9 metres to...

Seem to remember that Press photographers in the 1950s nearly always used Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex cameras. I think that the camera used 120 roll film which gave two and a quarter inch square negatives. These negatives could give enlarged prints of extremely high resolution. Dave.

First time that I knew we had a membership number. Perhaps there should be some sort of celebration when we get to the 5000th and 10,000th member, assuming we haven't got there already. Dave.

Re #277. The 31A and 32 bus routes did not leave the Stratford Road, south-bound, at the Mermaid. The 31A turned off at the College Arms into Shaftmoor Lane and headed for Acocks Green. The 32 certainly continued as far as Hall Green Parade and then went on to Gospel Lane. Dave.

Ready for a full cooked ENGLISH brecky? Hi John (OldBrit). Re post 102. Please tell me this is for at least two people! I recognise all the components of the breakfast except for the stuff in the middle. Are they hash-browns or a pancake? Perhaps you need to be fully fuelled with all the...

There was a Payne's shoe repair shop on the Stratford Road near the Mermaid. This photograph is shown in Malcolm Keeley's superb book on "Birmingham Buses: Route by Route 1925-1975". Payne's is pictured far left and was taken in July 1963. The buses are travelling away from town. Dave.