Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Girls in their early teenage years using the suffix "and a half" when ages were being discussed.

 

[Harpo]

Long lines of BRUTES clanking their way through passenger stations.

 

[D6130]

Going back even further in time....girls in their early teens wearing white ankle socks.

 

[The exile]

WhenI accompanied my mother on shopping trips as a small child the catchphrase was 'just a little over, is that all right?'. Even then, I noticed it was never 'just a little under, is that all right?'. Probably started my interest in probabilities....

The point being that you were still charged for the “little over”. I can remember “just a little under” - usually at the end of the day when there was a bit left over that was almost what you’d asked for and it saved the assistant starting to cut a new one of whatever it was you wanted.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

And Betamax tapes. Also the various incarnations of the videotape system developed by Philips and Grundig.

Not to mention the more recently-deceased floppy discs and audiocassettes, CDs going the same way.
The interludes on BBC TV, Bill and Ben, Muffin the Mule..
Twin-standard TV (VHF and UHF). Scart leads.
Reel to reel tape recorders.
Press button A/B public telephones.
Petrol at 5/3 (about 26p) a gallon (my first purchase in 1966).
Foreign currency allowance (£50 a year I think).
Charabancs (ie coaches).
3rd class.
All tickets must be shewn.
This train has been delayed on the Western Region (at Crewe) or on the London Midland Region (at Reading).
Chocolate rationing.
Sold-out Roses matches (Lancs v Yorks).

 

[DelW]

Not to mention the more recently-deceased floppy discs and audiocassettes, CDs going the same way.
The interludes on BBC TV, Bill and Ben, Muffin the Mule..
Twin-standard TV (VHF and UHF). Scart leads.
Reel to reel tape recorders.
Press button A/B public telephones.
Petrol at 5/3 (about 26p) a gallon (my first purchase in 1966).
Foreign currency allowance (£50 a year I think).
Charabancs (ie coaches).
3rd class.
All tickets must be shewn.

While I'd agree with many of those, scart leads are still much in evidence in my audio-visual setup, partly to interface with my analogue sound system and partly to connect with equipment with no (or too few) HDMI sockets.

Audio cassettes are making something of a comeback, albeit from a very low base:

Cassette tape sales hit highest level since 2003, new analysis shows

Sales of cassette tapes have jumped from 3,283 in 2012 to more than 195,000 in 2022, with the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Harry Styles all releasing their music on the medium.

news.sky.com

Cassette sales have hit their highest level since 2003, according to new research.

The British Phonographic Industry found they've increased for 10 consecutive years, although they remain much lower than vinyl.

The total number of sales have risen from 3,823 in 2012 to more than 195,000 in 2022.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Station signs stating "No idlers" (that as a very young boy I saw on one particular railway station)

 

[Howardh]

Foreign currency allowance (£50 a year I think).

Sold-out Roses matches (Lancs v Yorks).

I still have an old Caravan Club International Touring handbook from c.1974 which, other than giving a list of camp sites in every European Country - including East Germany! - it also listed what you could/couldn't take into each country; ie. One camera, one portable radio, a set amount if money in cash (any above the limit would have to be declared) and so on. Those like us that used to cover several countries in one go not only had to adhere to the rules, but also exchange currency at every border (thus losing out on exchange costs) so arrive in Belgium, cross the border into Germany (first change) then Switzerland (second) then Italy...etc etc. there are many adults today that have only ever seen Stirling and the Euro and never a Guilder, Peseta, Lire etc.

The plus side, in 6-odd years of touring as a family, I can't recall ever being stopped at custome on the continent. Indeed, at a small B/F crossing, the "guard" was fast asleep in his chair.

As for the "Roses" us Lankys and Yorkies fondly-ish remember when Granada and Yorks TV would show the games, but dip in and out (half-hour here, hour there) but we felt privileged that it was being covered at all! Wonder when the last "live" cricket was shown on ITV? may be an old Sunday League game involving Lancs.

ITV did show highlights of a World Cup some years ago, but nothing live.

 

[gg1]

When it was custom and practice for dogs to defecate with the contents of their bowels being left wherever they happened to land.

Also pet dogs which are let out to roam in the morning, returning home in the evening of their own accord in much the same way as outdoor cats. The practice had almost died out by the 80s (I knew a couple of dogs as a kid which fell into that category), but my dad told me it used to be very common.

 

[najaB]

Girls in their early teenage years using the suffix "and a half" when ages were being discussed.

That was not, and still is not, limited to girls.

 

[gg1]

Audio cassettes are making something of a comeback, albeit from a very low base:

A few years too late for me unfortunately. Around 10 years ago I decided to part with my old cassette albums which has been gathering dust unused since 2000ish, mainly late 80s/early 90s metal, I literally couldn't give them away, charity shops wouldn't take them. They ended up going to landfill but if I still had them new I could probably sell them on ebay for at least £200.

 

[EdinRH]

A few years too late for me unfortunately. Around 10 years ago I decided to part with my old cassette albums which has been gathering dust unused since 2000ish, mainly late 80s/early 90s metal, I literally couldn't give them away, charity shops wouldn't take them. They ended up going to landfill but if I still had them new I could probably sell them on ebay for at least £200.

There is a charity shop in Edinburgh that was still accepting and selling VHS tapes within the last decade, and also had cassette albums for sale in recent years (not sure if they still do). I bought a VHS tape of the original Blade Runner with Harrison Ford's voiceover narration from this shop in 2014, as I had only ever seen the later cuts that omit the voiceover. So at one point I could claim to have bought a VHS tape more recently than I had bought a Blu-Ray disc.

 

[Howardh]

There is a charity shop in Edinburgh that was still accepting and selling VHS tapes within the last decade, and also had cassette albums for sale in recent years (not sure if they still do). I bought a VHS tape of the original Blade Runner with Harrison Ford's voiceover narration from this shop in 2014, as I had only ever seen the later cuts that omit the voiceover. So at one point I could claim to have bought a VHS tape more recently than I had bought a Blu-Ray disc.

Are there any working BETAMAX machines in this country at all? I had one - it was excellent and the quality far better than VHS, but it ran it's time and there was no replacement, so I had to have it fixed and transfer my Beta tapes onto VHS so as to "save" them. Of course in the end (think mid-90's??) no new Beta's were available and also the lack of blank tapes, and the second-hand market was pretty poor as those, liek myself, wanted to hang on so our valuable tapes could be saved!

 

[gg1]

Are there any working BETAMAX machines in this country at all? I had one - it was excellent and the quality far better than VHS, but it ran it's time and there was no replacement, so I had to have it fixed and transfer my Beta tapes onto VHS so as to "save" them. Of course in the end (think mid-90's??) no new Beta's were available and also the lack of blank tapes, and the second-hand market was pretty poor as those, liek myself, wanted to hang on so our valuable tapes could be saved!

It's a very niche field but I'm sure there must be people around with the skills to overhaul and repair them. They were made in the tail end of the era when electronic goods were still designed to be repairable.

 

[Merle Haggard]

The point being that you were still charged for the “little over”. I can remember “just a little under” - usually at the end of the day when there was a bit left over that was almost what you’d asked for and it saved the assistant starting to cut a new one of whatever it was you wanted.

I remember in the TV comedy 'To the Manor Born" (or manner borne???) the lady-down-on-her-luck character was told - 'just a little over, that's £n.nn' (of course being charged for the 'little over') and her response was the payment of £n.nn minus a small amount with the comment '£n.nn - xx, just a little under!'.

 

[Howardh]

It's a very niche field but I'm sure there must be people around with the skills to overhaul and repair them. They were made in the tail end of the era when electronic goods were still designed to be repairable.

There's a youtuber called "Techmoan" who dabbles with old audio and video equipment; and wonder if he's ever come across an old betamax and played around with it? There doesn't seem to be any way to contact him to ask - but if anyone follows him properly they might be able to answer my question!

 

[Trackman]

That was not, and still is not, limited to girls.

Adrian Mole springs to mine.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The plus side, in 6-odd years of touring as a family, I can't recall ever being stopped at custome on the continent. Indeed, at a small B/F crossing, the "guard" was fast asleep in his chair.

Generally speaking, a lot of customs controls for tourists had simply been abandoned by France, West Germany and the Benelux the time the UK joined the EEC. There was little point in maintaining them for tourists, as the European Court of Justice had been progressively dismantling many of the trade barriers that existed and large price differentials no longer existed. It was the same between the UK and RoI, where the previous quite strict controls (by the RoI) quickly fell away after both of them joined the EEC.

You could see this in the 1980s where many border crossings were simply manned by police, not by customs officers. Commercial goods were still quite strictly controlled, but with EEC citizens able to travel freely on ID cards, many crossings simply stopped being subject to constant control.

Things were a bit different on the UK borders and on the France-Italy/Spain borders, but Schengen was at least partially about the fact that the borders were becoming increasingly absurd and pointless in Western Europe, especially once the EUA was introduced and exchange rates largely stabilized.

 

[GordonT]

Having to drive through multiple centres of large towns in the years leading up to the emergence of motorways and major by-passes. Quite stressful for previous generation drivers who were having to contend with unprecedented traffic congestion in historic towns with roads ill suited to heavy traffic. Sometimes there were early attempted supposed mitigations to traffic congestion such as new one-way systems or "ring roads" which increased the stress for annual holiday drivers with a nodding acquaintance of the pre-existing road layout with the earlier minimal complexities of having to be in the right lane etc.

 

[dangie]

Hitchhiking
See very few hitchhikers nowadays, if any at all. Going back to the 1960's motorway slip roads always had someone holding up a destination board.

Way back in my 'courting' days I had to hitchhike back home late at night from Stafford to Stone. Took two months before I found out they'd re timed the last bus.

 

[Bald Rick]

Way back in my 'courting' days I had to hitchhike back home late at night from Stafford to Stone. Took two months…

Surely would have been quicker to walk ….

 

[Sun Chariot]

Surely would have been quicker to walk ….

Maybe Dangie did a  lot of courting en route.

 

[najaB]

See very few hitchhikers nowadays, if any at all. Going back to the 1960's motorway slip roads always had someone holding up a destination board.

I know several people who went hitchhiking this summer. It's a good way for backpackers to get around Scotland.

 

[GordonT]

Started thinking about onetime once a year appearances at Christmas. As well as nuts and dates, there were sugared almonds. And those big plum-shaped, plum-coloured apples (from Canada I think) which looked so impressive in the bowl but tasted of yellow mush. And home-made ginger wine: sticky, sweet, with a throat catch. No wonder we were keen to move on to alcohol.

 

[bspahh]

Generally speaking, a lot of customs controls for tourists had simply been abandoned by France, West Germany and the Benelux the time the UK joined the EEC. There was little point in maintaining them for tourists, as the European Court of Justice had been progressively dismantling many of the trade barriers that existed and large price differentials no longer existed. It was the same between the UK and RoI, where the previous quite strict controls (by the RoI) quickly fell away after both of them joined the EEC.

You could see this in the 1980s where many border crossings were simply manned by police, not by customs officers. Commercial goods were still quite strictly controlled, but with EEC citizens able to travel freely on ID cards, many crossings simply stopped being subject to constant control.

Things were a bit different on the UK borders and on the France-Italy/Spain borders, but Schengen was at least partially about the fact that the borders were becoming increasingly absurd and pointless in Western Europe, especially once the EUA was introduced and exchange rates largely stabilized.

Basel is right on the border with Germany and France, and I have never been stopped, as I've come in by train or a flight. I know a German who moved from Basel to Germany, and had to pay import duty on bottles of wine that he had from his kitchen.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Net curtains.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Net curtains.

Got those throughout the house...

 

[gg1]

Way back in my 'courting' days I had to hitchhike back home late at night from Stafford to Stone. Took two months before I found out they'd re timed the last bus.

The term 'courting' fits the criteria of the thread for me.

Probably fell out of use among teens/twentysomethings sometime in the 70s.

 

[SteveP29]

Are there any working BETAMAX machines in this country at all? I had one - it was excellent and the quality far better than VHS, but it ran it's time and there was no replacement, so I had to have it fixed and transfer my Beta tapes onto VHS so as to "save" them. Of course in the end (think mid-90's??) no new Beta's were available and also the lack of blank tapes, and the second-hand market was pretty poor as those, liek myself, wanted to hang on so our valuable tapes could be saved!

Did I dream this or was there an adapter you could put your Betamax tape into that was VHS sized and would play your tape on a VHS system?

Adrian Mole springs to mine.

And are we all still profoundly in love with Pandora?

Having to drive through multiple centres of large towns in the years leading up to the emergence of motorways and major by-passes. Quite stressful for previous generation drivers who were having to contend with unprecedented traffic congestion in historic towns with roads ill suited to heavy traffic. Sometimes there were early attempted supposed mitigations to traffic congestion such as new one-way systems or "ring roads" which increased the stress for annual holiday drivers with a nodding acquaintance of the pre-existing road layout with the earlier minimal complexities of having to be in the right lane etc.

My Maternal Grandmother was born and grew up in Dorset, there was no way my Grandfather would have moved down there, he was far too molly coddled by his sisters (being the only male child, and my Great Grandmother, being a businessman's wife, abdicated responsibility for childcare) and couldn't countenance not being able to go to watch Newcastle United every other Saturday, so she moved up.
Summer holidays were spent down there, he only got 1 week off during the summer, so My Grandmother would go by train from Newcastle to Dorchester with my Mother and her brother and sister and he'd join them the second week.
This was in the late 1950s and the journey was approximately 360 miles and would take up to 12 hours.

Speaking of which, my Grandparents first home was a flat above a shop in the main street of the town he grew up in, at the time, it was the A1 and there were lorries and buses and coaches going past 24 hours a day.
That road was bypassed by a bypass and that subsequently bypassed by the A1(M), the town is like a ghost town after 4pm now

 

[pdq]

Did I dream this or was there an adapter you could put your Betamax tape into that was VHS sized and would play your tape on a VHS system?

No, the formats are totally incompatible. Maybe you're thinking of VHS-C which was used in camcorders. The cassette was smaller than standard VHS cassettes but used the same tape and recording format. There were adaptors available to play VHS-C cassettes in a full size machine.