THE FLATLEY DRYER

[Stanley]

When I was at school we started with dip in pens and powder ink, by the time I left I was on a Swan fountain pen. If I remember right the first Biros were very messy and kept leaving blobs of ink that never dried, it was like paste....
Anyone remember being ink monitor?

[Tizer]

I was never ink monitor, I'd more likely need to be blotting paper monitor!

I wonder if furniture re-upholstery is reaching Flatley Dryer territory? Many people now change their furniture frequently rather than re-upholstering. Our sofa and armchairs are now 25 years old and Mrs Tiz has been keeping an eye open for a good local upholsterer here in Taunton. In her search she came across on who has an interesting story on its web page. On opening up a set of dining chairs for re-upholstering they found notes from the previous re-upholsterer. Each note said that the chair had once belonged to Lord De Mauley and that hair from his horse `Fifth Amendment' had been used during the re-upholstering!
[Having made a quick web search for Lord De Mauley I can confirm he is definitely a `horse man' LINK ...and I've learnt what `fly-grazing' means ]

[PanBiker]

Anyone remember being ink monitor?

My CV includes ink monitor which as you say included the mixing from powder in a white enamel jug as well as the vending. Blotting paper monitor which came in big quarto sheets, white, pink, blue and green, we rotated the colours weekly. Milk monitor, fetching in from outside and putting the crates outside the classrooms ready for break. I held down more than one of these at a time as well, who said blokes can't multi task.

[MickBrett]

I too used to ferry the crates of milk (and occasional orange juice) around to each classroom when I lived in Bradford.
I was also in charge of the weather station, keeping a log on cloud type, rain level, wind speed and direction etc etc.

[Big Kev]

Talking of orange juice, anyone remember these?

FB_IMG_1644856429569.jpg

[MickBrett]

Yup. Great frozen !

[Stanley]

THat went down well. There was another class of monitor at Sunday School. The Star Card Marker who stuck stars in your attendance caRD. There was a belief that those who got this job were future captains of industry. That's probably why I never got the job.
I suspect that's Flatley Dryer country as well.

[Stanley]

I know I have covered this before but my recent dealings with British Gas reminded me of the days when you got a bill walked down into Church Street and paid it at either the Gas or Electricity showrooms. Rates were paid over the counter at the town hall on Jepp Hill. I know I'm an old fart but I wish we could go back to those simple days, no fancy offers just a straight forward sales transaction.

[Stanley]

There was a time, before the birth of online advertising when the weekly Exchange and Mart was almost like a religion to some of us. They still exist as an internet trader but the days of the printed page are gone.

[Tizer]

That reminded me of buying stuff from the Army & Navy stores when I was in Liverpool. I did a search and chanced on this Liverpool Echo web page with lots of old photos of Liverpool shops. The The store must be in there somewhere. But the photos full of Flatley Dryer stuff! Echo

[Stanley]

Indeed! Ratner's 'Jewellers of Repute' and Xmas turkeys for less than a Pound. Flatley Dryer country....

[plaques]

Not a dryer but a washer.

.

burco dean C.jpg

[Stanley]

See THIS history of the company that became Burco Dean appliances. Their success was that as gas became available they were the modern replacement for the coal fired copper in the corner of the washhouse.



No need to get up early to light the fire under the copper. just pop in and light the gas and go back in the house for a cup of tea. A very powerful sales aid!

[Stanley]

Looking at that copper reminds me of my surprise when I first discovered that in the US, washing machines are gas heated. The reason is the same as why they don't have electric kettles like we do. The domestic mains electricity is only 110V and this means that a water heater like a kettle or washing machine needs a less robust element running at twice the amperage which in turn means very short life. So in a funny way, the US has never advanced beyond our Flatley Dryer.

[MickBrett]

I have an electric kettle and my washer and drier sure aint gas.

[Stanley]

I was going on my experience in Northfield MN Mick. Different regulations perhaps?

[Stanley]

I only have to go back to one of these advertisement pages to be instantly transported back to the 1950s. That advertisement for the 'cut your own hair' razor blade holder seemed to go on for ever. I wonder if it was any good?

[MickBrett]

[Stanley]

Wonderful Mick.

[Tripps]

I saw a Jowett van when I went to the opening of Morrison's supermarket in Cambourne. Sir Ken attended, and I had a chat with the driver of the van who told me he goes to every new opening. I don't remember the bright yellow colour though. I believe it was very fashionable among van owners a while ago. . .

Jowett.jpg

[MickBrett]

[Stanley]

Nice one Mick.
You're right David!



A very honest little vehicle, never let me down.

[Tizer]

Like Mma Ramotswe's `little white van'!

[Stanley]

It served me well.....

I can't illustrate my corner of Flatley Dryer country this morning because it is a concept, an attitude, a way of surviving something. Sorry to be so vague but I am referring to how we react to a shooting war in Europe. 80 years ago we knew how to do it but I fear that now that is a forgotten skill, if indeed it was a skill. Personally I suspect it was the only rational response. I mean how we react to the consequences that will follow for us, and believe me, there will be consequences. Start by considering one thing, we are directly opposed to and attacking economically a vital source of energy without which we will be crippled. Our economic situation was already dodgy despite what the Tory Boosters told us about our wonderful recovery... Now there is a massive drain on resources in aid to the Ukraine. (Or at least there should be!) All this will affect us and this hasn't sunk in yet, I see Tui are still advertising flights abroad for holidays..... Activity like that could be the next candidate for Flatley Dryer Country. I think we need to get real and realise that we are in fact at war with Russia.

[Stanley]

The Flatley dryer aspect of today could be the opening of the stock exchanges worldwide after the weekend. Nobody is quite sure what is going to happen. Attacking and economy like Russia and trying to cripple it is going to have consequences. Today we might get to see what these are. Tomorrow we might be looking back at the weekend and saying it is Flatley Dryer country. As I said somewhere else, I watch and wait.