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Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now
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Local newspapers, (of any subtance) in many areas.
Weekly changes of film with a film shown in all South London cinemas of that chain in the same week then moving to North London, or was it the other way around. I don't know how that worked elsewhere.
Going to the cinema at a random time and leaving when the films cycled round to the point where you came in.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Whale meat ... a dispensation allowed this as food during WWII
There was a parody of the Vera Lynn song which stated "Whale meat again...."
There was a parody of the Vera Lynn song which stated "Whale meat again...."
Western Lord
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Until 1962 it was North West London the first week, North East London the second week and South London the third week. Every now and then a film tanked so badly in North London that it never reached South London. Somewhat strangely both major circuits, Rank (Odeon) and ABC included some out of area cinemas in the groupings (usually the same areas for both circuits), so a cinema in North East London could be on the South London leg, while another cinema a couple of miles away was showing the North East London release.
Freightmaster
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I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at this:
Out of curiosity, rather than expecting it to be a particularly pleasant eating experience; I have a bit of a wish to try whale meat (having been born in 1948: to best of my knowledge, it never came my way in my extreme youth -- probably infants not subjected, anyway, to the more gruesome foods which had to be resorted to in the various tough times of the 1940s). However, would suffer severe conscience pangs concerning more than one aspect of this whole business; so, don't think I'll be exploring this thing first-hand. I'd reckon it would in any case be very difficult to get the stuff in this country -- maybe it couldn't even be done legally.
Having your car filled for you by a pump attendant at a filling station.
My older brother who recently passed away had a student summer job as an attendant at one of the last remaining non self-service filling stations in Glasgow. He recalled an occasion when a swanky Jaguar swept into the filling station to be refuelled and he looked in vain for its petrol cap as did his colleague. The driver's door opened and the not too happy portly form of the late football manager, Jock Stein, extricated himself, stomped round to the rear of his vehicle and with a flourish lifted up the hinged number plate to reveal the petrol cap beneath. "Some attendants youze!" was his verbal feedback on the customer service.
My older brother who recently passed away had a student summer job as an attendant at one of the last remaining non self-service filling stations in Glasgow. He recalled an occasion when a swanky Jaguar swept into the filling station to be refuelled and he looked in vain for its petrol cap as did his colleague. The driver's door opened and the not too happy portly form of the late football manager, Jock Stein, extricated himself, stomped round to the rear of his vehicle and with a flourish lifted up the hinged number plate to reveal the petrol cap beneath. "Some attendants youze!" was his verbal feedback on the customer service.
Surely that would depend on the species of whale though? Not all are on the endangered list.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Brick-sized blocks of carbolic soap.
swt_passenger
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That was my Saturday job around 1970/71. As well as putting in the petrol, we had to try and upsell ‘shots’ of Redex, also check the oil and hope to top it up, and offer to clean the windscreen - and hope for a decent tip. Even at that time few cars had windscreen washers. The garage must have made a mint on oil top ups, because there was a huge markup on the small quantities involved. I remember putting a large amount of petrol into a big Jag, and had to do it again when the owner showed me there were two tanks, and a filler cap on both sides…
Do older members recall you could buy generic windscreen washer systems in accessory shops, and also buy those self adhesive rear screen heaters? Been there done those two…
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Winning a prize at the fair and getting a goldfish in a plastic bag of water.
Yes, haven't seen that here for many years.
There are still a few states in the U.S.A. where self service is not permitted by law - only attendant service.
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Still common in some countries.
Had to fill up in Lanzarote at Easter and attendants were waiting at the pumps with card readers
Also (and possibly more commonly) known as mutton chops.
GusB
Established Member
I certainly recall there being cinema adverts for local businesses. One that springs to mind was a car body repair shop named C.A.R.S. (I've no idea what the initials stood for).
While we have no longer have a filling station in my village, and haven't had for many years, it was attendant service back then - that was probably about 30 years ago, though. I only used it for a fiver's worth so that I could get into town and fuel up properly without worrying about running out (I had a dodgy Mk1 Fiesta with a fuel gauge that wasn't 100% accurate).
Attendant service still existed in the town along the road as recently as 10 to 15 years ago, though. It was always just enough to get me to and from work without having to go to the "big town". I'd be interested to see if this is still the case.
Lloyds siding
Member
I saw two in Oxford today. One did have a matronly lady on it.
I wonder -- Britain is (commendably) very animal-welfare / protection-conscious... this matter could be looked up, if one were interested enough.
Edited to add: in thread on "General Discussion" in June / July this year, "What strange or old-fashioned things have you eaten?": a number of posts about whale; those who had tried it, seemed generally to have liked it -- described as resembling "fishy beef". A mention thereon, that whale meat is "illegal in most countries".
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Statto
Established Member
On fine hot days in spring, & summer, when some drivers had buses operating in service with the doors open throughout the journey.
I can remember travelling on a Calais-Amiens-Paris Nord turbotrain on the approach to Paris on a hot evening rush hour and watching "stainless steel" units laden with commuters with their sliding doors fully open between stations. I'm sure I'm not imagining this but I would welcome corroboration that this was regular practice at one time.
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Killingworth
Established Member
Petrol delivered from a hand operated pump at my local garage into my 1952 Morris Minor. Cleveland petrol. Probably pumped up half a gallon at a time by young Mr Jones, his father being the proprietor. They each had aged pre war Austin 7s.
Or having a panel on their front windscreens open (RTs and Routemasters)
GatwickDepress
Established Member
Across the pond, New Jersey is infamous for being the last state where you cannot pump your own gas by law. Oregon only reversed their ban last year!
BanburyBlue
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UK one year visitor's passports. Folding cardboard thing.
The BVP (British Visitors Passport). Easy to get from the post office, about £1 ISTR in the '70s, whilst a full passport was £5 or £10.
UK passport valid for 10 full years.
That's the current validity of a full passport, yes, so I'm not sure the relevance to a thread about things that used to be. (Not stirring up the debate over the thread title!
)It was previously the case that you got the unused old validity added to your new passport. That ceased. It’s also recommended that you have at least 6 months validity when you travel. Net result is a 9.5 year passport.That's the current validity of a full passport, yes, so I'm not sure the relevance to a thread about things that used to be. (Not stirring up the debate over the thread title!