...a postcard of New Street station Birmingham

This postcard, which dates from around 1900 and doubles as a birthday card, shows activity at New Street station, Birmingham. The staff appear to have paused for the photograph, whilst the passengers have not. The time was precisely...er...oh dear. Either the hands have dropped off the clock, or they have moved too swiftly to be captured on camera.

The tower, top left, is a mystery to me.

...Driving Test Failure Form

This is a driving test failure form from the mid 1960's These were normally handed to the applicant at the end of the test by the examiner with the dreaded words, "I'm sorry to tell you that on this occasion you have not reached the required standard.." Alternatively, if you had passed your test, you would be given a pink slip together with a comment such as, "I am pleased to tell you..."

I have removed the name and address of the candidate on this form for reasons of privacy. The person involved failed their driving test for improper use of mirrors, and then discarded the form, as its somewhat crumpled appearance attests.

Compulsory driving tests were introduced by the Road Traffic Act of 1934, but suspended during the Second World War. There are, therefore, still licenced drivers on the roads today who have not taken a driving test, as they learned to drive during the war, often for military purposes.

...promotional postcards early 1900's

How did you get your advertising message across a hundred years ago? By placing adverts in newspapers and periodicals. But also, as now, by direct mail, especially to the more prosperous classes.

These four cards, dating from 1904-1912 were sent to a vicar and his wife, promoting Indian tea, Madame Howe's Birmingham clothing emporium, Malvern open gardens and a chilblain remedy.

This method capitalized on the cheap and speedy postal system.