By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
31st May 2020, 01:35 PM
#21
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 06:55 PM
#22
Re: Pot menders
Post#1 John you still get those The Shore Bosun buys them now and then, I never had them it was porridge and an " Aberdein Rowie " John Sabourn may remember them.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 08:09 PM
#23
Re: Pot menders
Chris, you had it cushy. We used to get a ton of unwashed coal dumped in the street which had to be shovelled into the coal house thro a small hatch at head height (for me).
Used to get a b-llocking off my old man if I didnt pick out the stone, as when coal was put on the fire the stones would crack and fly out of the fire and burn holes in the proggy mat.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 08:34 PM
#24
Re: Pot menders
I do not recall having pots mended but they seemed to be magic
cauldrons in Wales, always someone borrowing one, given away
as someone needed one, mam throwing one at dad and god only
knows where it went. When times were hard even the coffee maker
was off to the pawn shop. As mentioned war time they were handed
in to make trains and boats and planes etc. Magically, there was
always another pot / pan / cauldron for the hubble, bubble, or what
many tell as scouse. LOL:
Most know of Barry and Barry Dock: at one time few seamen would not have known of or visited the Chain Locker, it held fame around the globe.
Amongst all was the Docks: Thompson Street area, little had changed from those times till my youth.
I was brung up on the Docks, amongst MN men, Those that had survived at least.
These were still the Black and White days, as mam pawned the camera again so I could go on a school trip. Daddy was away again, at sea.
Cutting a short story long that seems to become the norm now as I get older, We had no Mc. Donalds etc then, Whimpy for your burgers was more day time and on a special occasion us kids in tow, dad away again. Mum, with kids in tow would carry our saucepans up Tombo to the Blue Cafe.
A pot for Curry, another for rice. Our youngest with his sospan fach, possibly for chips, I forget all now.
But remember most the earliest takeaway in Barry, take your own saucepan and lids to the Blue Caf.
Research now tells another tale, the cafe was notorious in it's day for an illicit still and gambling in it's day.
Barry and other similar places should record: take your pans for a takeaway. THOSE WERE THE DAY'S.
For us as kids on the tail end of MN time, heard an Irish seaman's accent ever before a proper Welsh one.
BARRY then and before was truly an MN Town.
In my own time have been known to many that have crossed the bar, some good old friends. Should have spent more time listening to my mum really. I cannot recall what she said, but should have listened, had the opportunity, but was raised by in away some real old salts.
Back to the Blue Cafe an early, but original take away:
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 08:44 PM
#25
Re: Pot menders
Originally Posted by
Bill Morrison
Post#1 John you still get those The Shore Bosun buys them now and then, I never had them it was porridge and an " Aberdein Rowie " John Sabourn may remember them.
dont forget the stovies Bill.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 09:27 PM
#26
Re: Pot menders
Maybe the Pot menders were like the knife sharpeners,
went door to door and traded in streets ? Remember
the old rag and bone / any old iron:
ANY OLD IRON?
(Chas. Collins, E.A. Sheppard and Fred Terry)
Just a week or two ago my poor old Uncle Bill,
Went and kicked the bucket and he left me in his will.
The other day I popped around to see poor Auntie Jane,
She said "Your Uncle Bill has left to you a watch and chain."
I put it on right across my vest,
Thought I looked a dandy as it dangled on my chest.
Just to flash it off I started walking 'round about,
A lot of nippers followed me and all began to shout:
cho:` "Any old iron any old iron any any old, old iron?
You look neat - talk about a treat,
You look dapper from your napper to your feet.
Dressed in style, brand new tile,
And your father's old green tie on,
But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain,
Old iron, old iron?"
I went to the City once and thought I'd have a spree.
The Mayor of London, he was there, that's who I went to see.
He dashed up in a canter with a carriage and a pair,
I shouted "Holler boys" and threw my hat up in the air.
Just then the Mayor he began to smile,
Saw my face and then he shouted "Lumme what a dial!"
Started a-Lord Mayoring and I though that I should die
When pointing to my watch and chain he hollered to me "Hi!"
Just to have a little bit of fun the other day,
Made up in my watch and chain I went and drew my pay.
Then got out with a lot of other Colonels on the loose,
I got full right up to here in fourp'ny stagger juice.
One of them said "We want a pot of ale
Run him to the rag shop and bung him on the scale."
I heard the fellow say "What's in this bundle that you've got"
Then whisper to me kindly "Do you want to lose your lot?"
Shan't forget when I got married to Selina Brown.
The way the people laughed at me, it made me feel a clown.
I began to wonder, when their dials began to crack,
If by mistake I'd got my Sunday trousers front to back.
I wore my chain on my darby kell,
The sun was shining on it and it made me look a swell.
The organ started playing and the bells began to ring,
My chain began to rattle so the choir began to sing.
What about I gotta hol in my bucket ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD-ffhvefsw
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 10:40 PM
#27
Re: Pot menders
Pot Menders! We may have needed one after the Antics we used to get up to , i am referring now to the old Wardrobe Keys that were Hollow !
Do you recall, or did you like me use them to make what we then called Key Bangers! (No not eats LOL)
Used to get old Wardrobe Hollow Keys , a nice piece of Hanger Wire , a Box of Matches and a Nail that fitted snugly into the Key Hollow.
With an old Razor Blade took all the Sulphur off the Match Ends, placed enough to about a third of the Key then inserted the Nail and pushed it down hard.
The Nail and the Key were attached to the piece of Hanger Wire, so now all we had to do is Hit the Two together against a Rock ,and boy! What a Bang! It normally only was a one off Key use as the force blew the Key apart! Was a bit of a dangerous practice but as Kids we never thought of that did we!
It was great fun.
Cheers
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 10:48 PM
#28
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2020, 10:59 PM
#29
Re: Pot menders
Yes Chris
Recall those all too well, we had them all the time on the Fram and came in very handy!
Cheers
Dont forget the Crystal Set Radios that we used to build ourselves as well, such good reception too. All those little things that one does not see anymore!
Cheers
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
1st June 2020, 01:06 AM
#30
Re: Pot menders
If you could afford toilet rolls , the cardboard roller could be utilised for a self made hand grenade when packed with saltpetre , charcoal , sulphur , was gunpowder, when Ends blocked off and string fuse attached and lighted , used to run like hell. This practice was stopped after one time did not explode and went back to check, my cousin picked up and it went off , he looked like the wild man of Borneo, Black face no eyebrows or eyelashes and a lot of explaining to our grandparents. JS.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules