Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[GordonT]

I was surprised to see some still going strong in Greenwich, in August 2021.
View attachment 169395

Interim technology. Something for the Traffic Warden to lean on while they were waiting to nab the overstayer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2024 ==

The contrast between the typical ambience and decor of a 1960s primary school compared to the 2020s.
1960s version - most things dull as ditchwater, uniformly drab paintwork, limited concessions to additional accoutrements. Possibly a globe depicting the countries of the world with many British colonies still coloured red and that was about it.
2020s - vibrant colours, "achievement charts", "activity corners", large colourful posters with topic headings undreamt of in the 1960s establishments such as "Your Emotions".

 

[AM9]

I was listening to the muzak in the changing area after my swim this morning. It was of course a special Christmas loop playing. After that Whamageddon track (just to wind up thoswe who play that game) it was 'When A Child Is Born', somebody called out "who's singing this" to which there was a "don't know" so I called out "Johnny Mathis", (more by rote than actually thinking it through) - which was correct. I then thought some of the opther tunes seemed to be sung by voices that I didn't recognise which them led on to Embassy Records. Cover versions of everything from Elvis to Peter Paul and Mary, in other words, pretty random.
Do any of the oldies here remember them with their red labels and ... a hit on both sides?

 

[gg1]

The contrast between the typical ambience and decor of a 1960s primary school compared to the 2020s.
1960s version - most things dull as dishwater, uniformly drab paintwork, limited concessions to additional accoutrements. Possibly a globe depicting the countries of the world with many British colonies still coloured red and that was about it.
2020s - vibrant colours, "achievement charts", "activity corners", large colourful posters with topic headings undreamt of in the 1960s establishments such as "Your Emotions".

I wonder when that started to change? My memories of primary school in the 80s (I moved to senior school in 1986) are much the same as your 1960s version, possibly with a more up to date globe.

 

[Westinghouse]

I was listening to the muzak in the changing area after my swim this morning. It was of course a special Christmas loop playing. After that Whamageddon track (just to wind up thoswe who play that game) it was 'When A Child Is Born', somebody called out "who's singing this" to which there was a "don't know" so I called out "Johnny Mathis", (more by rote than actually thinking it through) - which was correct. I then thought some of the opther tunes seemed to be sung by voices that I didn't recognise which them led on to Embassy Records. Cover versions of everything from Elvis to Peter Paul and Mary, in other words, pretty random.
Do any of the oldies here remember them with their red labels and ... a hit on both sides?

Embassy Records..... Sold in Woolworths. Maybe in other shops too ? Although I just associate them with Woolies.

 

[AM9]

Embassy Records..... Sold in Woolworths. Maybe in other shops too ? Although I just associate them with Woolies.

Yup they were the best that Woolies could sell in terms of records.They did however prompt the big three record companies (EMI, Decca and PYE) to start pushing out compilation LPs of the original hits. I can rememver PYE 'Golden Guinea' LPs, selling for a guinea (£1.05) when full price LPs were £1 12s 6d £1.62 (approx).

 

[dangie]

Embassy Records..... Sold in Woolworths. Maybe in other shops too ? Although I just associate them with Woolies.

Talking of Woolworths, the brand name Winfield.
This I believe was named after Frank Winfield Woolworth, the founder of Woolworths.

 

[Trackman]

Talking of Woolworths, the brand name Winfield.
This I believe was named after Frank Winfield Woolworth, the founder of Woolworths.

Think it had the Woolworths logo too.

 

[GordonT]

I wonder when that started to change? My memories of primary school in the 80s (I moved to senior school in 1986) are much the same as your 1960s version, possibly with a more up to date globe.

Probably varied from area to area. I get the impression that by the turn of the century newly qualified primary school teachers in my part of the world tended to be more focussed on nurturing and softer skills rather than command and control and as "old brigade" teachers retired the more visible changes have become the norm. Both regimes and cultures had/have their good and bad points I suspect.

 

[bspahh]

My local is a Sam Smith's pub. It's been closed for several years after legendary Humphrey S. made an incognito visit and heard the f word. He told the induvidual he was barred and it all hacked off from there ending with the managers effectively being barred. No more f words. No open pub! But Sam Smith's could justify its own thread - and risk legal action.

David Allen Green wrote on Bluesky:

A well-deserved happy Christmas to whoever did the lawyering on this piece.

Awesome work.

Humphrey’s world: how the Samuel Smith beer baron built Britain’s strangest pub chain

Since the 1970s, Humphrey Smith has acquired scores of pubs and historic properties around the UK. But time after time, he has left the buildings empty. Why has he allowed his empire to moulder?

www.theguardian.com

Lesser lawyers would not have worked out how to have a good deal of that stuff into the finished piece. *Alan Hansen nod at some fine defending*

 

[GordonT]

The lack of any concept of "pampering for men" spa days and the like would possibly seem anachronistic for those who indulge now.

 

[Purple Train]

David Allen Green wrote on Bluesky:

An exceptionally interesting (and sad on so many levels) read - thank you for sharing that

 

[Bald Rick]

David Allen Green wrote on Bluesky:

Brilliant article.

 

[contrex]

Talking of Woolworths, the brand name Winfield.

"See the name? It's the mark of value", with large black dots for each letter 'i' of the word 'Winfield'.

 

[McRhu]

Woolworth's used to sell a rather splendid break-action cork-on-a-string pop gun which could be used to fire all kinds on non-cork projectiles too. Like some air rifles it had the unfortunate habit of springing violently shut, taking chunks out of unwary thumbs, but we were 'appy.

 

[LYradial]

Has anyone mentioned the old mechanical fruit machines, all sorts of theories about how to hit the jackpot.
i did win once, what do you with a huge amount of old sixpenny bits, i had to buy a big round with mine, it went very fast

 

[GordonT]

Somewhat "twee" family games such as Charades, Happy Families and Consequences.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Families all dressed in matching tartan pyjamas.
These days it seems limited to twee families in Hallmark (US low-rate acting) Christmas films.
...and my sister in law's ritual, every Christmas morning. Her poor family.

 

[MotCO]

Just been watching a Hubnut YouTube video about a Hustler wooden kit car from the 80s.

The idea of building your own car with a donated chassis is definitely a thing of the past.

I remember that car. It had a wooden chassis, wooden body, wooden engine and wooden go

(I'll get my wooden coat!)

 

[GordonT]

Not having a struggle to find "proper" Coke, Sprite, whatever amongst mountains of Diet, Low Sugar, Caffeine Free and all the other ghastly tasting versions some of which I believe can actually be more harmful to some folk than the "normal" type.

 

[jfollows]

Not having a struggle to find "proper" Coke, Sprite, whatever amongst mountains of Diet, Low Sugar, Caffeine Free and all the other ghastly tasting versions some of which I believe can actually be more harmful to some folk than the "normal" type.

Not only that, but the stupid names they give them which are confusing.

A few years ago, after (unusually, but not unacceptably) working all night I went in search of sugar. It’s telling that the vending machines I came across didn’t have any, but were full of things with silly names which didn’t contain sugar. “Phew” I thought when I saw “Pepsi MAX” I think it was, but - no - this was sugar-free as well. Pretty unpleasant I thought.

 

[MotCO]

Something I have not heard mentioned these days is 'Balance of Payments'. At one stage, this was the most eagerly awaited financial / economic news each month, but now no-one seems to care.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Not only that, but the stupid names they give them which are confusing.

A few years ago, after (unusually, but not unacceptably) working all night I went in search of sugar. It’s telling that the vending machines I came across didn’t have any, but were full of things with silly names which didn’t contain sugar. “Phew” I thought when I saw “Pepsi MAX” I think it was, but - no - this was sugar-free as well. Pretty unpleasant I thought.

Pepsi Max has been around for over 30 years and it's common knowledge that it is a sugar free offering (the MAX part referring to "Maximum taste, no sugar"). Until pretty recently, Pepsi/Coca Cola were just about the only brands which offered a sugar free version widely available in vending machines et al. You are aware that consuming Mr Muscle would be extremely dangerous to your health and definitely wouldn't help you to gain muscle mass?

 

[jfollows]

Pepsi Max has been around for over 30 years and it's common knowledge that it is a sugar free offering (the MAX part referring to "Maximum taste, no sugar"). Until pretty recently, Pepsi/Coca Cola were just about the only brands which offered a sugar free version widely available in vending machines et al. You are aware that consuming Mr Muscle would be extremely dangerous to your health and definitely wouldn't help you to gain muscle mass?

Common knowledge, debateable, but the point is that I didn’t know. I simply don’t drink this sort of stuff normally. I wrongly thought “MAX” meant lots of sugar, caffeine and the like, all of which I wanted at the time.

 

[najaB]

I wrongly thought “MAX” meant lots of sugar, caffeine and the like, all of which I wanted at the time.

As long as you aren't trying to blame PepsiCo for your rather strange assumption.

 

[Yew]

As long as you aren't trying to blame PepsiCo for your rather strange assumption.

It does seem rather odd that we have a system where both 'Zero' and 'MAX' mean sugarfree. Whilst I think Pepsi MAX predates most 'Zero' branded drinks, the assumption that it would be a Pepsi flavoured energy drink doesn't seem unreasonable.

 

[gg1]

Something I have not heard mentioned these days is 'Balance of Payments'. At one stage, this was the most eagerly awaited financial / economic news each month, but now no-one seems to care.

I suspect it's because it's almost always in deficit nowadays so it's not a statistic any UK governments is keen to discuss.

 

[GordonT]

Has anyone mentioned the old mechanical fruit machines, all sorts of theories about how to hit the jackpot.
i did win once, what do you with a huge amount of old sixpenny bits, i had to buy a big round with mine, it went very fast

I seem to remember that solitary players would attract an over-the-shoulder adviser who would offer unwanted advice on when to "nudge" etc. It was also inadvisable for a "visiting" player to win a jackpot in front of "regulars."

 

[LowLevel]

I seem to remember that solitary players would attract an over-the-shoulder adviser who would offer unwanted advice on when to "nudge" etc. It was also inadvisable for a "visiting" player to win a jackpot in front of "regulars."

Happy days. I was once drinking in a local's pub when the barman, who had been feeding the bandit next to the bar for some time, had to go and serve someone.

In that short period someone else managed to win the jackpot, the resulting kerfuffle saw the barman leap clear over the bar top in order to make their feelings on the matter known. I'm not sure what the result was but the barman was well known for being fairly handy.

 

[GordonT]

Household barometers as a means of weather forecasting. I expect a few of you will inform me that you still have one in the house which you occasionally tap in order to coax the pointer towards a more favourable weather outcome.

 

[Jimini]

Household barometers as a means of weather forecasting. I expect a few of you will inform me that you still have one in the house which you occasionally tap in order to coax the pointer towards a more favourable weather outcome.

I have one in my hallway that I inherited from my grandparents, back in the day