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  1. Johnfromstaffs

    Scott Arms, Great Barr

    Old Mohawk’s picture #6 above contains a Morris Minor 1000 van introduced late 1956, and a Morris FF truck, introduced 1958, so the date has to move forward a bit from “early 50s”.
  2. Johnfromstaffs

    Good music to listen to on U Tube

    She certainly kept working during the bad times of the 1930s. This probably suits her style a little better, with Ambrose and his Orchestra. https://www.elsiecarlisle.com/my-kids-a-crooner-1935/
  3. Johnfromstaffs

    Good music to listen to on U Tube

    Hopefully this is not a duplicate. https://www.elsiecarlisle.com/on-a-steamer-coming-over/ There are several versions available on this link, I think that Henry Hall’s is preferable, Phyllis Robins is certainly a better vocalist than Elsie Carlisle, but that is just a personal preference.
  4. Johnfromstaffs

    sayings

    My late mother in law, Audrey, b Newcastle under Lyme in 1920, used the epithet Nanny Goon to apply to someone who was a little bit behind the times in fashion, slightly less bright and more economically challenged when compared with the normal. (As you can see, I am having a bit of a struggle...
  5. Johnfromstaffs

    What do you watch on tv nowadays ?

    I have been watching “All Creatures Great and Small” to look at the cars! My mates and I are still trying to work out exactly which model that Riley is. The only -ve point to me is that “Mrs Hall” is about 100 years too young, and far too attractive. If you know the old BBC series, it is very...
  6. Johnfromstaffs

    sayings

    Nose = dook. What did he give you? A punch on the dook. Anyone else come across this?
  7. Johnfromstaffs

    11 Plus Exams

    King Edward VI Boys Grammar School, Stafford? Now gone, however. https://www.ravenwing93.co.uk/2019/11/king-edward-vi-boys-grammar-school-stafford-october-2019
  8. Johnfromstaffs

    11 Plus Exams

    I have broken surface ice to launch my boat. All you need is a dry suit and a woolly bear! (Like a set of furry combinations.) Under the dry suit, of course.
  9. Johnfromstaffs

    11 Plus Exams

    Don’t worry about it. I haven’t been near a bike for about 50 years. It hurts if you fall off, whereas falling out of a racing dinghy is almost painless, provided that you can swim!
  10. Johnfromstaffs

    11 Plus Exams

    I have just seen Sospiri’s comment about the age rule. It’s news to me. Born in May 1948 I started at the grammar school in September 1958 and had finished my stint in July 1965. A third year in the sixth form was suggested, to better my rather spotty A-levels but I was attracted by what Alan...
  11. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    I still haven’t got anywhere with the Shakespeare special. It seemed like a good plan to look up cyclecar manufacturers in the approximate area, but there were many. Also some now defunct larger car builders, but still. One possibility might be the “New British”, a friction drive cyclecar built...
  12. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    A “brake” or “break” was a sort of horse drawn people carrier, and a “shooting brake” was to take you up to the grouse moor from t’big ‘ouse.
  13. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    “Shakespeare Mk1.” You might be right! The difficulty presented here is an almost total lack of information. We can’t see the detail of the radiator, usually the most recognisable feature of any make. It is a quite small car, built in the 1910 to 1920 period, right in the fashion for cycle...
  14. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    I’ve just spotted thread #93, Page 5, Snow Hill Passenger entrance. The car is a late forties/early fifties Lea Francis Fourteen (or slightly cheaper Twelve), quite a rarity as Lea Francis Cars struggled at that time and didn’t exactly break any sales records. Their factory was in Coventry and...
  15. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    https://www.magnoliabox.com/products/1936-ford-v8-woody-model-68-utility-car-1194079 You can see why it’s a Woody!
  16. Johnfromstaffs

    They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...

    Like a lot of our language, it seems to have been superseded by the American term, in this case “Woody”. My particular dislike is “train station”. I know “railway station” is slightly odd, but that’s what they were called in this country years ago, and that’s what they shall stay for me.
  17. Johnfromstaffs

    Clothes & shoes of yesteryear

    Quote failed to work Viv. Loakes they do last well.
  18. Johnfromstaffs

    Clothes & shoes of yesteryear

    My late Uncle, bit of a lad in his time, suits from a tailor that was new to me, Hector Powe. Anyone recall them?
  19. Johnfromstaffs

    Clothes & shoes of yesteryear

    Elastic sided boots, Farah strides, roll neck shirt at the weekends; three piece suits from Hepworth’s with crossover weskit, tab collar shirts, knitted tie in the week. Boiler suit under the car. I still wear elastic sided boots, but Loakes not Hush Puppies!
  20. Johnfromstaffs

    Clothes & shoes of yesteryear

    Rosefromstaffs and my Capri in 1971. Sorry about the colour, it’s a slide.
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