..a Petrol Ration Book from 1973

The oil crisis of 1973, which resulted in the quadrupling of the oil price, was a consequence of the Yom Kippur War between Israel and various Arab states, which caused the Arab OPEC nations to impose embargoes on the export of oil to Western economies as punishment for their support of Israel.

This ration book for an 1000cc vehicle, was issued by the UK Government, and contains petrol vouchers for six months.

 

In the UK the oil crisis was coincidentally combined with an overtime strike by coal miners, which led to the introduction of the three day working week, in conjunction with planned electricity cuts nationwide.The ration books were ultimately never needed, as the crisis passed.

This extract from the website www.racfoundation.org gives further details of the effect of the oil crisis on the motorist.

"From the very beginning of the crisis, motorists were asked to economize in the use of fuel. Peter Walker, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and cabinet minister responsible for the energy sector, asked on 24 October 1973 that “motorists should endeavour to cut down on petrol consumption and to use public transport to a greater extent where that is available.” By 19 November, the government introduced a 10% reduction in all oil supplies and appealed for voluntary avoidance of driving at weekends and a voluntary reduction in maximum speeds to 50 miles per hour (mph).

Significant shortages at the pumps and long queues were the immediate face of the oil crisis and there was soon a clamour for petrol rationing. Ration books were distributed to all motorists with effect from 29 November 1973.

Petrol rationing had been imposed during the Suez crisis of 1956 and, as shortages persisted, there was considerable pressure for rationing to be introduced on this occasion. However, this was resisted as an immediate measure by both Conservative and Labour ministers and by the end of March 1974 the short term threat of rationing had been effectively lifted as the supply situation eased. But government then considered a further rationing proposal called two tier petrol pricing.

It was planned that motorists would receive a small basic allowance of petrol at one price with further purchases being at a significantly higher price. This proposal was the subject of intense speculation at the beginning of 1975 but was eventually rejected on grounds of administrative complexity and the cost impact on motorists.

Motorists were however encouraged to retain their ration books in case of deterioration in the supply situation and a change of heart by government. The threat of rationing finally disappeared in July 1975 when motorists were told they could destroy the ration books. Speed limits were also a continuing focus of attention. The voluntary limit of 50 mph was made statutory in December and stayed in place until the end of March 1974, when it was lifted to 70 mph for motorways. The limit was subsequently increased for other roads in May but this proved only temporary as limits were reduced again in December as part of a package of energy saving measures. The new limits were 70 mph on motorways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 50 mph on single carriageway roads. The limits were revised again in 1977 to the present structure. The government also decided in December 1974 to undertake a thorough review of all the medical and economic implications of any further reductions in the lead content of petrol.

There were measures to reduce energy use in other areas. At the most extreme, for a brief period British industry was working a three day week. The energy conservation package introduced in December also included restrictions on the use of electricity for advertising and on the heating of public buildings. But even so it is clear that the motorist was a particular target for reductions in energy use."

...a failed photograph sent 107 years ago today

It was not uncommon in the Edwardian period to have your portrait taken. Hand held Kodak box cameras were available by this time, but collodion or gelatin glass plates would have been used by professional photographers to produce a polished result.

In this instance, however, the photographer apologies for an accident in the processing:

And my attempt to improve the image has not proved successful.

...Group 4 In-house magazines early 1970's

Group 4 Total Security was the private company which, long after these magazines were published, became part of the public company G4S. The number 4 came from the four aspects of the business: Security Officers, who were either beat or static, in other words based at a premises, or patrolling several properties during a working shift; alarm systems, which the company both manufactured and fitted; Cash-in-Transit, which involved moving cash from one place to another; and Store Detectives, who were exclusively female.

The security industry was a very male dominated one, and the magazines reflect that, and the unreconstructed attitudes towards women in the early 1970's. The extracts below provide some examples.

A sales conference: Find the lady...

There isn't one !

The advertising was quite inventive, and I believe it won awards.

...Hop Pickers 1913

Worcestershire hop pickers pause for refreshments and a group photograph in 1913.

..Golly Badges 1960's

Golly Badges issued by Robertson's Jam have a somewhat mixed reputation these days. They were issued from the 1920's until around the year 2000, and these are the paper labels which you needed to collect before sending off for your badge.

They were either pictured as musicians or sportsmen. And if I recall correctly you needed to collect about ten labels in order to apply for that particular badge, and pay a small amount towards postage. I stand to be corrected on that. Either way, it required the consumption of a lot of jam to get the full set.

Here are some of the badges from the 1960's which I obtained.

...a postcard recording a record run

This postcard records the record run in a motor vehicle in 1913 by Ivan Beaucleck Hart-Davies from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall. This he achieved with his co-driver, and the assistance en-route of guides, in a record time of 34 hours 39 minutes to cover the 886 miles. He had achieved the same record two years earlier on a Triumph Motorcyle in 29 hours 12 minutes.

His average speed was twenty-five and a half miles per hour, and therefore in breach of the Motor Car Act of 1903 which set the maximum speed for motorised vehicles on the road at twenty miles per hour.

Hart-Davies joined the Royal Flying Corp in 1916, the precursor of the RAF, and was killed in a flying accident in England aged thirty nine, shortly before his intended transfer to the battlefront in France.

More information about Hart-Davies can be discovered online.

...a pencil sharpener fashioned as a medieval catapult

This little pencil sharpener is in the form of a medieval catapult. The topic of medieval siege engines is a fascinating one. There were various types. A Trebuchet used a large counter-balance to launch missiles - either solid stones or later cannonballs filled with gunpowder - over the battlements of castles or walled towns. Fireballs and dead bodies, especially diseased ones, were also sometimes launched into besieged places. A working reproduction of a Trebuchet can be seen at Warwick Castle, and proves it was a fearsome weapon. The Mangonel worked on a similar principle but was designed to strike and destroy walls, and thus had a lower and faster angle of fire. The Onager was probably nearest in type to the above, as it was a small engine that used twisted rope and springs, more like a catapult.

This pencil sharpener is capable of firing small balls of paper and plasticine.