Bye Bye Now

gobnaitolunacy

Short film on the demise of the Irish phonebox, now almost consigned to history. Thought folks might like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8bHYnH2aE

trad

Just watching it now, great piece.

Judgement Day

Nice one! I'll be adding that to my latest nonsense here:http://insatiablecollector.wordpress.com/ Sad to see their demise - not the shower cabinets - the concrete and timber ones. If ever a multipurpose unit was designed that was it. Communications/Shelter/Toilet and for some a cash cow - the old B slot stuffed with toilet paper to prevent refunds coming out except to those in the know.

pedroeibar1

Here's my one - long gone. Waiting for the call.............


Phonebox by Pedro Eibar, on Flickr

Judgement Day

That would make a great John Hinde postcard but for the fact that postcards are following phoneboxes into extinction.

Post here with reference to books available on the subject: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64986927&postcount=29 and if you want to go the full hog and buy a full size one for yourself: http://www.unicornkiosks.com/ - they even have Irish ones from time to time.

pedroeibar1

Judgement Day wrote: »

That would make a great John Hinde postcard but for the fact that postcards are following phoneboxes into extinction.

.......if you want to go the full hog and buy a full size one for yourself............- they even have Irish ones from time to time.

Postcards probably deserve a thread of their own as they are a great source for history/heritage (buildings/views/people/costumes). They killed off the holiday letter and in turn were killed by the email and finally nailed by the SMS text.

In 1902, the postcard evolved into its current format as the address and message were finally allowed by the PO to be printed on the same side of the card thus leaving the maximum area on one side for illustrations.

As for a phone or post box, I'm decluttering and if herself saw one of those arriving, I probably would have to sleep in it!

Judgement Day

Anybody remember the old AA phonebox in Shankill? It was located more or less in front of the RC church where the Loughlinstown and Killiney roads diverge. I seem to remember that it was on a tiny island of its own and I can't imagine that it would have survived modern levels of traffic. It was there in the 1960s and then it was gone. I never recall seeing a similar box in Ireland but there were hundreds of them on the UK mainland - now down to about a dozen - and the RAC had their own boxes too. AA/RAC members were issued with keys for the boxes which gave access to the telephone within, from where you called in to AA/RAC control and quoted the box number and a rescue crew were dispatched forthwith. As with everything else in the UK the AA/RAC boxes have listed building status and, in some cases, voluntary bodies set-up to preserve them.


An AA box still operational (I think) in England.

gobnaitolunacy

Judgement Day wrote: »

Anybody remember the old AA phonebox in Shankill? It was located more or less in front of the RC church where the Loughlinstown and Killiney roads diverge. I seem to remember that it was on a tiny island of its own and I can't imagine that it would have survived modern levels of traffic. It was there in the 1960s and then it was gone. I never recall seeing a similar box in Ireland but there were hundreds of them on the UK mainland - now down to about a dozen - and the RAC had their own boxes too. AA/RAC members were issued with keys for the boxes which gave access to the telephone within, from where you called in to AA/RAC control and quoted the box number and a rescue crew were dispatched forthwith. As with everything else in the UK the AA/RAC boxes have listed building status and, in some cases, voluntary bodies set-up to preserve them.


An AA box still operational (I think) in England.

What were the chances of breaking down and finding one within walking distance I wonder?

pedroeibar1

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

What were the chances of breaking down and finding one within walking distance I wonder?

Very remote. I have a vague recollection of the one in Shankhill, but I clearly remember the AA key that members got and also remember the way in which the motorbike patrolmen in their brown uniforms used to salute cars that had the AA badge on the grill.

InTheTrees

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Very remote. I have a vague recollection of the one in Shankhill, but I clearly remember the AA key that members got and also remember the way in which the motorbike patrolmen in their brown uniforms used to salute cars that had the AA badge on the grill.

Oh I remember the boxes and the keys too. I think they sent a new key every year so you'd end up with a few.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CLASSIC-AA-CAR-BADGE-FROM-THE-1960S-ALSO-INCLUDED-AN-AA-KEY-/261104452362?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item3ccb09c30a

And the waving. I think they were supposed to warn you of speed traps too werent they?