Picture(s) of the day....

[NewcastleFalcon]

Robert Sinclair's nice fleet of vans in the 1930's......Bedfords I think...

http://www.monkchester.co.uk/ja2/Robert ... des/m9.jpg

[NewcastleFalcon]

..and before it gets lost and I can't find it again here is a bit of information about Robert Sinclair's innovation and pioneering in 1913.

Extract from:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/ ... 00574.html
"First Aerial Parcels Post
AN interesting discovery in connection with the history of the air post in Great Britain is a vignette issued as far back as 1913 by the firm of Robt. Sinclair, Ltd., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, for a series of parcel flights from Gosforth Park to Seaham Harbour and Blyth. These flights were operated by Mr. B.C. Hucks between February 11 and 18, 1913, by means of a 80 h.p. Bleriot monoplane, which is depicted on the stamp in flight over the city.

The "vignette"
http://www.philately.cyng.org.uk/GBAVIALaRoSA1.jpg
The Cargo
http://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/image ... 591222.jpg
The plane
http://www.monkchester.co.uk/ja2/Robert ... es/m10.jpg
and B.C.Hucks
..not a "local" with an Aeroplane, but a pioneer himself as this article testifies, and the first to fly over the Bristol Channel, and to "loop the loop".

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Utterly fascinating Neil, really enjoyed despite reading all about Sinclair and ghost adverts on my phone.

Please keep these things coming. I look forward to this thread every day

[Gibbo2286]

Your TV today post about ghost signs made me think of the One Show, there was a guy on there, Harry Hill, who makes a photo collection of dumped mattresses

[NewcastleFalcon]

Utterly fascinating Neil, really enjoyed despite reading all about Sinclair and ghost adverts on my phone.

Please keep these things coming. I look forward to this thread every day

Thanks for that Jim, can't guarantee quality every time, but I do like a bit of a delve to explore stories and random links behind the pictures. Like I mentioned before I have been past that "Robert Sinclair Tobacco Coy Ltd" sign loads of times without being bothered to look up the story, but a chance listen to the radio wakened my curiosity up.

There's plenty of interest in the subsequent link to Bentfield Charles Hucks, and his aviation exploits. In the early days of WW1 in 1914 there were persistent rumours of a Zeppelin operating from a clandestine base near Grasmere, only dispelled after Lieut. B. C. Hucks -- a highly experienced prewar civil pilot -- had searched the Lake District from a Blériot monoplane.

Lots of links and info on a google search on BC Hucks even a connection with the "Gordon Bennett Aviation Trophy", with good old Gordon of New York Herald fame making another appearance on the FCF

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Spotted a ghost advert on the wall of an old factory in Devizes yesterday but could not stop to take a photo of it - it was in a bad spot and I was going through at rush-hour - such as it is in Devizes!!!

I look out for them now

[NewcastleFalcon]

Devizes!!!

There's usually something to interest and surprise on a random search, and today's mystery object, in true "20 Questions" style is animal and mineral.....(more mineral than animal, but i bet it has a leather seat).

https://youtu.be/7aDFNydbgQ0?t=371

from a chap called John Girvan, who knows a great deal about the hidden history of Devizes

http://ngirvan.photobiz.com/videos

Regards Neil

and continuing "Devizes Day" , and linking seamlessly with the Robert Sinclair discussion previously, this tobacco tin from E & W Anstie Ltd Devizes (established 190 years!) looks like another story waiting to be discovered They did some very nice cigarette cards of horses and jockeys for one.

[CitroJim]

I really like Devizes - somewhere I could live very happily...

One thing worth visiting is the Caen Hill Lock Flight

And for the beer lovers amongst us, it's the home of Wadworth's Brewery. They still use horse-drawn drays around the town and have a training pub!!!

Their brewery buildings are absolutely gorgeous... Their visitor centre looks worth a visit.

Even the Wiltshire Police HQ buildings in the town are attractive...

In fact the whole town is most attractive - even down to the duck pond...

[Hell Razor5543]

Well, that flight would keep Mum, Alex or Jay busy for a while ! The last two are brothers of mine, and they also have a narrow boat each.

[CitroJim]

The last two are brothers of mine

Thought at first you were related to two of the locks James

[NewcastleFalcon]

Definitely plenty of interest in Devizes.....even the 1960's Library has a Nuclear bunker in its basement all revealed towards the end of the Devizes in wartime walk video linked too. Devizes POW camp, subject itself of a "great escape" plot in 1944, also featured with the last few remaining Romney corrugated iron huts. (Bit bigger than a Nissen)

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Neil, see what you can find out about where Gabriel is seen parked in Somerset...



It's a truly gorgeous little town and the location does not do the place justice...

The town has a name that sounds very much like the county it's in...

Dad is resident there in a nursing home ...

[NewcastleFalcon]

Neil, see what you can find out about where Gabriel is seen parked in Somerset...

Stage 1...mission accomplished......that's Market Place Somerton.

Stage 2....find something obscure about it

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Neil, see what you can find out about where Gabriel is seen parked in Somerset...

Well in some sort of unlikely link to my recent posts on pictures of the day, Somerton is home to "The London Cigarette Card Company" est 1927. Sutton Road, Somerton.

I will do a delve and see if they have any E & W Anstie examples seeing as it's Devizes Day today

Or indeed any Robert Sinclairs from yesterday!

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Of course they do, including cigarette silks originals from the First World War period which were included with your packet of tabs like the more familiar cards. Here's Kitchener from Anstie

http://www.londoncigcard.co.uk/product.php?id=3265

They also have sets of sectional issues.....where a larger picture would be revealed when the full set of sections was collected....like this of Wells Cathedral.

http://www.get-collectables.co.uk/ekmps ... ekm%5D.jpg

Regards Neil