Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[Brent Goose]

Today’s post brought some junk mail for car and home insurance which is probably rather anachronistic in its own right but it then reminded me of when renewal time meant making a series of phone calls to obtain comparative quotes

 

[Bald Rick]

Today’s post brought some junk mail for car and home insurance which is probably rather anachronistic in its own right but it then reminded me of when renewal time meant making a series of phone calls to obtain comparative quotes

Or going to a shop!

 

[Killingworth]

Thinking of insurance I joined the AA (the Automobile Association) in the 1960s when the annual club subscription was 2 Guineas, £2.2s.0d. The RAC cost the same. Both had gone up to at least 3 Guineas before decimalisation in 1971. At the rate inflation was galloping both may have reached 5 Guineas by then.

Modern readers will know both as commercial entities offering insurance products. Back then they were still members clubs with a badge to proudly display on the radiator grille or front bumper. Until the 1950s both had motorcycle and sidecar patrols on the roads. When a patrol spotted their badge on an oncoming vehicle they'd salute.

Possible subject for a new thread?

 

[Trackman]

When a nurse would bring you an ashtray and ask if you'd like a glass for your lager (Orthopedic Ward,Lewisham Hospital 1979 )

Dont remember beer, but definitely smoking.

 

[dangie]

Reminded me this morning when I saw a young schoolboy passing my house wearing short trousers.

When I was but a lad, all boys wore short trousers to school all year around, summer, winter, autumn, spring. Hot weather, cold weather. No long trousers. Also girls wore skirts or dresses with bare legs. Not sure how much ‘tougher’ it made us, but I can’t actually remember having cold legs.

 

[najaB]

Possible subject for a new thread?

Or not..

Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

The "SOS Messages" which used to be transmitted on the radio. I can't remember the format completely verbatim but it was along the lines of: "Here is an SOS message. Would Mr Anthony Ponsonby believed to be touring in the Basingstoke area please contact his brother Mr Ernest Ponsonby regarding...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Acey]

Dont remember beer, but definitely smoking.

I was in for knee surgery and the girlfriend of the chap next bed to me brought in a couple of 4 packs of lager and the nurse asked if we would like a couple of glasses,happy days !

 

[swt_passenger]

Reminded me this morning when I saw a young schoolboy passing my house wearing short trousers.

When I was but a lad, all boys wore short trousers to school all year around, summer, winter, autumn, spring. Hot weather, cold weather. No long trousers. Also girls wore skirts or dresses with bare legs. Not sure how much ‘tougher’ it made us, but I can’t actually remember having cold legs.

Short trousers were normal in my area until the end of primary (juniors), but as an 11 year old at grammar school it had all but changed by end of ‘66. So although there were a small number in short trousers started in the September, I think by Christmas the very few remaining had persuaded their parents to go with the crowd.

 

[dangie]

Short trousers were normal in my area until the end of primary (juniors), but as an 11 year old at grammar school it had all but changed by end of ‘66. So although there were a small number in short trousers started in the September, I think by Christmas the very few remaining had persuaded their parents to go with the crowd.

I was born in 1951. I was one of the last boys in my year to graduate to long trousers, much to the fun and derision from other classmates. I was probably 13-14 years old.

 

[MP33]

On the Armed Forces Network, there used to be urgent messages for a member of the American Military to contact their unit immediately. It was suggested that these messages were a way of passing information to Spies.

 

[PeterC]

I was born in 1951. I was one of the last boys in my year to graduate to long trousers, much to the fun and derision from other classmates. I was probably 13-14 years old.

I was born in the same year. Our school photo for my first year at grammar school shows about half the first years in shorts in the first term. Just one boy started the second year in shorts.

 

[GordonT]

When it would have been considered a social faux-pas of the highest order for a male to appear in most formal settings without a tie or with his shirt deliberately not tucked into his trousers.

 

[trainmania100]

I can't believe I'm still keeping a drawer full of Chinese and Indian takeaway menus. You'd think in 2025 everywhere would be on just eat etc, with no need for all the flyers. But when I'm ordering i still end up using the menu in the drawer. What's worse is I'm having to pick up the phone, order, and run to the cash point. No cards accepted.

I know some Chinese and Indian takeaways do accept card in store, and some do use just eat, but the majority near me don't.

Heck, I used to message a local Chinese on WhatsApp my order and send the money by bank transfer !

 

[PeterC]

I can't believe I'm still keeping a drawer full of Chinese and Indian takeaway menus. You'd think in 2025 everywhere would be on just eat etc, with no need for all the flyers. But when I'm ordering i still end up using the menu in the drawer. What's worse is I'm having to pick up the phone, order, and run to the cash point. No cards accepted.

I know some Chinese and Indian takeaways do accept card in store, and some do use just eat, but the majority near me don't.

Heck, I used to message a local Chinese on WhatsApp my order and send the money by bank transfer !

The Indian restaurant that I used to order from has switched from doing deliveries in house to using one of the delivery companies. After two cold meals I stopped ordering

 

[trainmania100]

The Indian restaurant that I used to order from has switched from doing deliveries in house to using one of the delivery companies. After two cold meals I stopped ordering

I try to collect where possible, even in house the delivery times are ridiculous sometimes over an hour. Obviously in house the driver takes multiple deliveries at once and it depends on their route.

My Indian takeaway prices have remained relatively consistent over the years but Chinese have gone up by 2 pounds per dish since COVID. And still they're not on online platforms. I've chosen an alternative that does have their own online ordering, you'd think these places would get with the times. But it's not like it's affecting their income

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Gangs of youths, particularly skinheads, hanging about street corners trying to look hard (and usually succeeding). As a student in leafy Didsbury, I used to worry about the walk to the chippy at night.

The kids of today spend their free time glued to their electronic devices.

 

[GordonT]

Gangs of youths, particularly skinheads, hanging about street corners trying to look hard (and usually succeeding). As a student in leafy Didsbury, I used to worry about the walk to the chippy at night.

The kids of today spend their free time glued to their electronic devices.

In a similar vein, packs of inebriated football fans from the UK bent on destroying parts of the municipal infrastructure of mainland European cities appears to be less prevalent than it once was.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A bit different to recent topics:
Wife and I are on the M4 west; we have just passed an algae-covered Speedlink VAA van on a low loader, going eastwards.
The sight of it has reminded me how dated BR's "Wagonload traffic" freight service now seems.
I recall when it was very much still common on the rails and the sight of Speedlink wagons - including VEAs on the MoD traffic to CoD Bicester - was a regular occurrence for me.

 

[Killingworth]

The pips to warn that your trunk telephone call was going over 3 minutes and extra charges were about to apply.

Back then operators were often necessary so the costs were high except for the bargain evening period - when all lines from xxxx were often engaged as those of us who were away on business were trying to phone home!

 

[AY1975]

When it would have been considered a social faux-pas of the highest order for a male to appear in most formal settings without a tie or with his shirt deliberately not tucked into his trousers.

Probably until about the 1990s or early 2000s would be my guess.

Also, I would say at least until about the 1970s or 80s it would have been considered a social faux-pas for a female to appear in most formal settings wearing trousers instead of a skirt or dress.

 

[dangie]

When it would have been considered a social faux-pas of the highest order for a male to appear in most formal settings without a tie or with his shirt deliberately not tucked into his trousers.

I have pictures taken when I was young back in the 1950's on Blackpool Beach. I was making sandcastles and mum & dad were on deckchairs. Mum was wearing a dress with hat, and dad was in shirt, tie & jacket. However he does have his shoes off with trousers rolled up so he'd obviously been for a paddle

 

[AM9]

I have pictures taken when I was young back in the 1950's on Blackpool Beach. I was making sandcastles and mum & dad were on deckchairs. Mum was wearing a dress with hat, and dad was in shirt, tie & jacket. However he does have his shoes off with trousers rolled up so he'd obviously been for a paddle

... and a knotted hankie on his head?

 

[Hadlow Road]

... and a knotted hankie on his head?

With a hat? Surely de trop, even for Blackpool.

 

[Brent Goose]

Visitors passports which, as I recall, they were made of cardboard and could be bought from a post office.

Valid for a year I think.

Last bought one for a trip to Paris is the mid-1990s. Crossed the channel by Hovercraft!

 

[Yew]

Last bought one for a trip to Paris is the mid-1990s. Crossed the channel by Hovercraft!

Very unfortunately, that.

 

[GordonT]

The prevalence of "Ring doorbells" with camera is gradually ousting traditional door bells. Particularly anachronistic these days are bell pull fixtures.

 

[najaB]

Visitors passports which, as I recall, they were made of cardboard and could be bought from a post office.

Valid for a year I think.

Last bought one for a trip to Paris is the mid-1990s. Crossed the channel by Hovercraft!

Most recently mentioned in this thread back in September.

 

[Welly]

The prevalence of "Ring doorbells" with camera is gradually ousting traditional door bells. Particularly anachronistic these days are bell pull fixtures.

During the 1980s, the Beano kept featuring bell pulls against doors even though I literally never seen one of those in person!

 

[Indigo Soup]

The prevalence of "Ring doorbells" with camera is gradually ousting traditional door bells. Particularly anachronistic these days are bell pull fixtures.

Possibly associated, or possibly not, is the decline of people actually ringing the doorbell when delivering a parcel. My experience is that most choose to knock on the door or rattle the letterbox (ignoring both the traditional doorbell and the video one), and a few just abandon parcels on the doormat without announcing their presence at all.

Supposedly this is because a lot of householders don't actually get notified when their 'smart' doorbell is rung, which seems like a pretty fundamental error on their part.

 

[pitdiver]

Pickfords Heavy Haulage particularly Scammell Contractors hauling very large loads. Now it's the like of Allelys or ALS