...a Russian tinplate toy

This wind-up Russian tinplate toy dates from around 1990, which indicates just how recently the (then) Soviet Union was producing these sharp-edged playthings. With a bit of encouragement it still hops.

The word on the little cardboard box simply says Frog.

...comic examples of corporal punishment

Is it ever acceptable to discipline children by beating them? It is apparently still just about legal in the UK. And why are comic depictions of it considered humorous?

This anthropomorphic example is from 1910.

And the following example is from a 1970's Beano comic.

...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.

..Dryden's Fables published 1734

This is a fourth edition of Dryden's Fables by the poet, playwright, and the first Poet Laureate, John Dryden (1631-1700).

It is his translation from the Latin of works of Homer, Ovid's Metamorphosis, Boccaccio, and from the Middle English, several of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

It begins with a sixteen page dedication to his patron, The Duke of Ormond, a sadly necessary piece of sycophancy for the talented but impecunious writers of that era.

I'm reminded of Samuel Johnson's definition of a patron in his famous 1755 dictionary: " One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery"

The Duke of Ormond (1610-1688) perhaps doesn't quite deserve this insult. He was a colourful character, a Royalist who served Charles I during the English Civil War, and later Charles II after the restoration of the monarchy. He is buried in Westminster Abbey, as is John Dryden, the latter in Poets' Corner.

...Bampton Station Oxfordshire circa 1910

This hopeful looking group, with their baggage, are perhaps setting out on a works outing, though seem well wrapped against the weather.

Bampton station in Oxfordshire - not to be confused with the one in Devon - was part of the East Gloucestershire Railway, which opened in 1873, and the line ran as shown on the following map.

Courtesy: Afterbrunel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37706360 


It was subsequently renamed Brize Norton and Bampton, and closed in 1962, though the line remained in part use until about 1970. Nothing now remains of the line or station, but some addtional information about its history and some interesting photographs can be found at:

http://www.fairfordbranch.co.uk/Bampton.htm