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The Knocker Uppers

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
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O.C.

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Great Photo of a Knocker Upper as I called them. This women is using a pea shooter and dried peas to shoot at the bedroom windows of the people who wanted knocking up early in the morning (its not what the Americans think) I remember the chap going round with a big pole banging on peoples windows to get them out of bed because if they were late they lost their job, the Knocker Uppers usually had a round of a few streets and got paid a small fee by the people who they woke up
 
When we lived in Pugh Road the knocker up was a chap name Sid and in some of the houses in the winter he used to go in and get the coal fire going as well
Great photo by the way O0
 
I lived in Copeley Street, Aston, and the Knocker Upper was Mrs.Polly Foster, she used a clothes prop - are you reading Rupert - she used to tap the front bedroom windows with it. My sister and brother in law lived next door but one to us, and he worked on the railways, so had to get up at some odd times, but old Polly never failed him, he also had two alarm clocks. This was in the late 1940s and all this for about 2/6d. a week.
 
Funny you should mention North America Cromwell. When I first came here I used to play a lot of tennis in the evenings and on weekends in a tennis club. You can get into trouble if you don't know the phraseology in different locations. Before matches I would say, (quite acceptable in English clubs) whilst walking over to a court to warm up, anyone want 'knocking up'. Meaning warming up before a game. Almost got killed a couple of times in rush of people to get on court, and some of them were women. Of course I was eventually advised of the foopah by a well meaning soul and my popularity seemed to dwindle. However one misguided individual took me at my word. So we got married and had two kids.
 
Could you imagine what would happen to the knocker upper if she tried to wake some of todays kidds before 2 pm
 
When my Dad came to Birmingham from a Welsh mining villiage, his first job was Knocker Upper.
He was given a long pole with a small metal cap on the end, to tap on the windows with.
Of course, being a big burley ex-miner, he tapped a bit too hard on most of the windows which either frightened the occupants half to death or the windows shattered. He didn't have the job for very long. ;)
 
Rupert, I was going to start this article off with something like you said but stuck to safe ground (But mentioned the States)
My Lady friend (Mates Wife) married an American in the 60's and went to live in Alabama, after a few weeks in rented accommodation she got a job and to celebrate they all went to a coffee bar and had a meal etc. just as she was leaving she shouted to her friend "don't forget to knock us up in the morning"
The whole place went quite and it was only when she got outside someone pulled her to one side and said "Do you know what that means" I will say no more but she learnt the hard way on the meanings and sayings of our different cultures.
The Chap died after a few years and she came back to England and married my mate
 
Priceless comments guys and Cromwell I was not joking. we are still together and our boys are half fledged now ( one still at home but financially independant) I guess beyond the occasional criticsism he likes us.
Regards.
 
I remember when we first emigrated to New Zealand, The company secretary (a rather dishy young lady) had trouible with her car and couldn't get to work. I, chivarlrously, offered her a lift. She offered her thanks and said that she hoped that she wouldn'yt sleep in, so, I offered to 'knock her up'. She was really offended and very upset, and I couldn't understand why until a fellow Pom that had been there longer, explained. It took ages for her to speak to me again. :-[ :-[ :-[
 
I think all English people moving to other countries must get caught with this one.

Not long after arriving in Canada I was on a Scouts Canada weekend training course. The cooks for the weekend were friends of mine so when they said they were worried about over sleeping in the morning I offered to 'knock them up'. Everyone disintegrated in laughter leaving me in the dark until they told me that it has a different meaning here. :o

That was over 26 years ago, my friends husband passed away a few years ago but she still teases me about it. :)

Helping in the kindergarten class of our eldest child made me realise how words and expressions differ from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Hard to believe we speak the same language sometimes. :2funny:
 
l had to smile reading about" knocker uppers", after coming to Texas in 1958 with a broad brummy accent l also got into trouble with telling someone to come and knock me up, at first l could'nt imagine what l could have said wrong to get such shocked looks on peoples faces, living in the "bible belt" it did'nt go over to well, but l've never been able to forget it as someone will always bring it up and its always good for a laugh, our language is the same but so different, l also embarrest myself by asking for a rubber only to be told in the US the name is eraser once again l put my foot in it, l could see the funny side of it but a few people did'nt, l could go on and on Oh one of my mothers sayings was" you won't be said will you", do n't know if that is a brummy saying or not.
 
I had a long conversation with a chap from Texas about how the sayings and meanings differ and he told me it was when they got their Independence, and as we were eating a meal he pointed out to me,see we don't use a knife and fork like you do,you keep them in both hands when eating, the Americans don't they use the knife to cut the meat etc then they lay it down and just use a fork. It was done to stamp our way of life on things not the British way of life and then he went on to tell me a load of other stuff but that would change the thread
With the Knocker Uppers it set me thinking, our Ma always called us in when the old lamplighter came round with his long pole turning all the gaslamps on. and in the morning turning them off again I bet he did a few foreigners (thats another old saying meaning he did a bit of work on the side for a bit of extra cash) I can just imagine him turning the lamps off and going over to a window with his big pole and giving the window a rat a tat tat
 
Now here is the Old Lamplighter and I should imagine he knocked a few people up as well in the morning when he went on his rounds turning all the gas lights off
 
Knocker upper

I have got a knocker upper in my umbrella stand. honest, it's genuine......Cat:)
 
Thanks for the laugh

That made me laugh Robert,:D:D:DBut this knocker upper is made of wood....Cat:)
 
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