Well I've never once heard them referred to as miskins Mike!! Now wondering why the caption refers to them as magic? Is this a link to Tolkein or am I over analysing?!! Viv.
-
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
Old street pics..
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
TOPSYTURVEY
brum
The photographer may have taken this photo from Wheeler St. The flats in the background were built in the old gt russell st.
S
Stitcher
Guest
My parents always reffered to the bin as the "Miskin" and the drain was the "suff". The miskin men used to have to walk to where each miskin was located and empty it into a tin baby bath type of thing. They then lifted the tin bath up onto there own shoulder and walked back to the miskin lorry and emptied the tin bath into the lorry. Then they went onto the next miskin, they never left any mess and were always on time.
If our ball went into the drain and was resting on the grill (lid) of the drain, as we retrieved it our mom or dad used to shout "come out of that suff, youll catch the fever".
If our ball went into the drain and was resting on the grill (lid) of the drain, as we retrieved it our mom or dad used to shout "come out of that suff, youll catch the fever".
TOPSYTURVEY
brum
Spring Hill. Don,t know the year.
Yeah we always called them miskins. They mostly contained ashes from the fire I think...potato peelings...Not tea leaves. My dad had a small garden patch for these..for propogating worms..for fishing. No food was wasted in those days. The previous picture has, what I thought was a urinal in the centre of the road but I think it is a cabbies shelter whilst waiting for a fare. There used to be one outside the old old library in between it and the Town Hall. There are electric tram wires in the picture so it must have been 1910 or there abouts. The lines seem to be far apart.
Come to think of it, the central library would probably have been a key terminal for cabbies...takin rich folk what could read fer books. No movies or TV or any of this stuff... ter waste yer time on.
Come to think of it, the central library would probably have been a key terminal for cabbies...takin rich folk what could read fer books. No movies or TV or any of this stuff... ter waste yer time on.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Now I think back we used to call them 'Dustmen' and if the bin was not too full they emptied it into a tin bath and round our way they carried them balanced on their heads. If the bin was full, they leaned it over slightly and rolled it on it's bottom edge to the dust cart. Some of them could do this with two bins at the same time.
I think Lonnie Donegan had a song 'My Old Man's a Dustman' !
I think Lonnie Donegan had a song 'My Old Man's a Dustman' !
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
OldMohawk.
Thank you so much for posting that picture of Upper Webster Street.
We lived at 'the back' somewhere in a courtyard.
When I think about how bad it was there it is hard to believe that such conditions existed and that houses like that, with a shared toilet in the courtyard, no bathroom or toilet and only a cold water tap at an old stone sink inside were deemed fit for habitation in my lifetime.:upset:
Thank you so much for posting that picture of Upper Webster Street.
We lived at 'the back' somewhere in a courtyard.
When I think about how bad it was there it is hard to believe that such conditions existed and that houses like that, with a shared toilet in the courtyard, no bathroom or toilet and only a cold water tap at an old stone sink inside were deemed fit for habitation in my lifetime.:upset:
sistersue61
master brummie
Nan used to call the bin the miskin and the drain the suff Stitcher,used to confuse my girls!!
Sue
Sue
hi folks...such a nasty day so time for a few more piccies me thinks...
wheeler st/gerrard st..dated 1969
taunton road/stoney lane balsall heath..dated 1966
soho road handsworth dated..1968
hawthorn road..kingstanding dated...1969
wheeler st/gerrard st..dated 1969
taunton road/stoney lane balsall heath..dated 1966
soho road handsworth dated..1968
hawthorn road..kingstanding dated...1969
Last edited by a moderator:
albion st/sheep st aston..dated 1968
highgate road sparkbrook dated 1965..i was looking at the price of the cars on this one...you wouldnt get 4 wheels for that these days...
holyhead road handsworth with the albion cinema on the left..dated 1961
stratford road sparkhill...dated 1960
highgate road sparkbrook dated 1965..i was looking at the price of the cars on this one...you wouldnt get 4 wheels for that these days...
holyhead road handsworth with the albion cinema on the left..dated 1961
stratford road sparkhill...dated 1960
Last edited by a moderator:
Pete Ex Pat
master brummie
No probs this end ether all the way down in cornwall all A OK
B
BernardR
Guest
No problems this end.
Re: Old Street Pics
They all look fine to me too and thanks for posting them a nice thought to brighten up such a horrible day, know we need the rain, but it's a bit depressing ain't it! By the way Hawthorn Road doesn't change a bit and nice to see all those people in Bull Street, imagine that is where Lewis' across to Rackhams was on the other side of the road, it was always busy on that corner where the traffic lights were.
Katie
They all look fine to me too and thanks for posting them a nice thought to brighten up such a horrible day, know we need the rain, but it's a bit depressing ain't it! By the way Hawthorn Road doesn't change a bit and nice to see all those people in Bull Street, imagine that is where Lewis' across to Rackhams was on the other side of the road, it was always busy on that corner where the traffic lights were.
Katie
