If I could borrow a time machine for a moment - I would pop in to Pride and Clarke for a Panther 600cc single.
(I know - I wrote that before ;-)
Edited by oilrag on 28/01/2010 at 08:01
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When I smell real leather in a car I always expect the door to hinge at the rear.
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Real leather smells remind me of `split glass` goggles.
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Another very vivid motoring related memory from my childhood is the vans that Sunblest used as delivery wagons.
tinyurl.com/yhlkm97
I know that this is only a model of what I'm blithering on about, but I couldn't find a photo of the real thing.
I haven't seen one of these on the roads for years now, though there is one tucked away not too far away from me, though I doubt it'll be on the road any time soon...
Edited by Badwolf {P} on 28/01/2010 at 11:06
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Vans from the past are an interesting source of memories.
We still have ice cream vans on the streets, and to a lesser extent milk vans. Go back to the late 50s/early 60s and there were several other types which were common then but have disappeared now.
I can remember "pop lorries" bringing soft drinks which don't seem to exist now (in my area it was companies like Corona and Alpine). And I also recall the "bread van" which had home deliveries of bread and cakes. You don't see them any more.
Then there was the "tea man", and guess what he brought. I always thought that one was a bit eccentric and exclusive to have a man in a van delivering tea to the door. And finally, one which still exists in some areas, man in a van selling fish
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We still get the fish man, Sid though not so much in Southport. I used to live in Chorley and he was a common sight around there.
Up to fairly recently, there was a 'pop van' that did the rounds of Southport (and Chorley too, IIRC).
And I still see a 'tea man' (though they do coffee too as well now) bimbling around Southport - black van with gold writing if memory serves. Which it rarely does...
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Rag and bone! - anyone remember the horse and cart?
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I certainly do,and I'm only 35! When I was really small, the local rag and bone man did have a horse and cart but then he must have had a good year or something as next time he came round he had a Transit flatbed that appeared to be held together with spit and string.
I grew up opposite a school and well remember the bin lorry hoisting the huge metal bins up and over so that the contents fell into the back of the lorry, as well as the 'slops' wagon coming to collect all the leftovers from the slops bins in the canteen. There was also the fruit and veg wagon (a Bedford, I think - I can recall it having silver on black number plates) from Thomas Wareing Merchants. His son is now the famous chef Marcus Wareing.
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We had a Corona man in Pattingham (Staffordshire) when I was a nipper (1970s). He had the broadest Wolverhampton accent I had ever heard, and his pop, especially the Cherryade could take off your roof lining. It was fantastic, and I am smiling just thinking about it.
On a more car-related note I remember that Number 2 (we were Number 1, Yew Tree Road) had an Alfasud, then Number 3 had a Vauxhall Victor (the one that looked like a cat at the front, strangely muted orange indicators), Number 4 had an Austin 1300 then a Lada, Number 5 (Tom the coalman) had a Rover 2000 and Number 6 had a Triumph Toledo. I don't think I was allowed any further up the road at my tender age..
Motoring memories-wise: I remember the less-than-appealing engine noise of my dad's Austin 1100 (or 1300, can't remember) particularly the gearbox noise.. although that car did actually trigger my first memory, which is my sister coming home from New Cross hospital after being born. I don't know what was more traumatic, having a sister or the gearbox noise.
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A diet of Cherryade and Chocolate kept me going through my O Levels.....no wonder I was 40 before my spots went !
Mind you reminded myself of the fact that there was a biggish Ford dealer opposite where we lived there and from my bedroom one could see new models arrive - MK2 Ford Escort and Mk2 Capri are two I remember well arriving there.
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By roof lining, by the way, I meant of one's mouth, not one's car. Although we never tried, being well-behaved children. : ) There were plenty of vinyl rooves we could have tried it on though down that street..
And PU, yes I believe Cherryade and it's ilk do cause terrible skin, as well as ADHD and all the other illnesses that back then were just labelled as your kids being a pain in the backside! Tastes brilliant though. I bought some at Morrison's last night as a result of my memories, and was worried it would spoil my reminisces. It didn't, it was very nice.
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Badwolf,
ARGHHHHHH!
I had to drive a Leyland FG in the early '80s for a TV & Video company in the North West.
Until now I had managed to suppress the memories of it. It was the single most unpleasant vehicle I have had the misfortune to drive. A 3 speed non-syncro box, no proper heater, the engine was in the cab so I suppose the designers thought you would not need one.
The maximum speed I could get out of it was about 45 to 50 which was far too fast for the handling. No power assisted steering, my shoulder and arm muscles are still enlarged like a body builder's.
I once had a blow-out (front nearside) in it on the A580 East Lancs Road which nearly broke my thumbs as the steering wheel spun uncontrollably, lurching towards the curb with me stood on the break pedal, screaming like a little girl... I still shudder just recalling it all.
The Leyland Terrier we had was not much better either.
John R
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Badwolf ARGHHHHHH!
Until now I had managed to suppress the memories of it. It was the single most unpleasant vehicle I have had the misfortune to drive.
I once had a blow-out (front nearside) in it on the A580 East Lancs Road which nearly broke my thumbs as the steering wheel spun uncontrollably lurching towards >> the curb with me stood on the break pedal screaming like a little girl... I still shudder just recalling it all.
John R
Sorry for dredging those memories up after all this time, John. I know the number of a very good therapist, should you need one now... ;-)
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it was Summer in around 1953. A horse pulling a veg cart used to turn up - containing pomegranates. It was like holding the Orient in your hand - exotic to a five year old in the days of sweet rationing.
Can still taste the juice and pip and remember levering them out with a pin.
They must have arrived from somewhere in the British Empire perhaps? where the sun never set on our oppression, liberation and religious conversion of people just hoping to go about their daily lives. ;-)
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The name 'Pride and Clarke' what an iconic memory in itself.
Pride and Clarke showrooms were a landmark that used to take up most of both sides of the Stockwell Road in Sarf London and painted bright red IIRC , they also used to have a huge showroom in Tooting as well.
I have not been up that part of the smoke for a while but I don't think Pride and Clarke are there any more.
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"I know the number of a very good therapist, should you need one now... ;-) "
Yeah.. me. Administer a good electric shock within 0.3 seconds of the thought.
;-)
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Memories from the late 1970s as a child in Birmingham:
We lived near the Rover works and used to see many Rovers and Land Rovers with number plates containing 'XC', which I think was the code for Solihull. I rather liked that combination.
Cars with black vinyl roofs - they were seen as being very posh by the kids at school (my Dad had a Beetle which was considered to be very unfashionable then).
The old blue and cream buses that used to serve the West Midlands - rear engined Leylands or Daimlers with semi automatic gearboxes I seem to remember - and the very distinctive smell of the 'smoking saloon' on their upper decks...
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Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch, Zzzzzt! ouch...
Just like Homer Simpson with the beer cans on the power line.
:¬(
John R
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Going back to favorite tools.
I have the tool set i bought some 22 years back when been 16 in that time working at some 4 companies i have been supplied with tools and was able to keep them but still go back to the original set when doing my repairs silly really when some of the other stuff is better.!
Best tool a old 17mm facom spanner fits like a glove.
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Going back to favorite tools.
Which was a major topic creep :-0
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I have a hobby knife that I bought in the early 1970's when still at school back in my home town.
It still does duty as my regular letter opener.
I have to be very careful when I use it, mind. Not because it has a blade, but because it sometimes starts me off thinking about how times have changed since I bought it. Dangerous activity, that.
Its funny how you start off on that line of thought. Sometimes a memory brings a smile, but other times .... other times.....
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