Vin's Screen Grabs (Update 30/12/16) - Akenfield (Suffolk, 1974)

[michiel]

This magnificent Leyland Atlantean is called a Gay Hostess. Stop sniggering at the back.

 

I'm sorry, I just can't... guess I should leave the room.

[eddyramrod]

 

Just looked for these two on DVLA, both came back "not found." The Vauxhall is exactly the same colours as the one I had at 18, that I keep showing you in b&w.

[andrew e]

 

Thats me in the background at work. Almost. A hi-tec NX (entry - exit, yeah I know!) panel, our is 50 years old in a couple of years time (the same time we close and move to a super box alas). They would have been creme-del-a- creme of signallers back then, on a fortune! Cheers Vin

[Tayne]

 

The Forth Bridges

 

 

That marina is still there.

Bridging the Gap by Tayne, on Flickr

 

They've finished the bridge now though.

 

Building a tunnel somewhere under the Thames.

 

 

Wow, check out the roll bar on that!

That'd save your life if it all went pear shaped.

[Shep Shepherd]

Quite amazing how much Farthing Corner/Medway Services has changed over the years, yet the stretch of the M2 on which it's located has stayed more or less the same

[Vin]

Another update, although a shorter one this time.

 

The reason it's short is because 'Where no tide flows', dated August 1963, is all about canals.

 

So as you would expect, with the emphasis being on barges, leisure cruisers and industry that was still then making use of them, there isn't much in the way of old shite to do screengrabs of.

 

 

This little thing is quite smart. Wouldn't want to go the length of the Grand Union on it though...

 

 

A few stills of a canal and rail bridge

 

 

A one eyed Thames Trader and 'Metal Box Company' wagon

 

 

An Austin FFK with looks like some kind of HIAB on the back

 

 

Now this next series of screengrabs are BRILL

 

This is how you combine caravan holidays and canal holidays into one hassle free experience. FUN for all the family. And the dog.

 

 

And they sail off into the sunset.

[DSdriver]

Is that a Hillman Minx convertible between the Veedub and the Mini in the last pic?

 

On an elf-an-safetee note, the wearing of buoyancy aids or life-jackets is recommended nowadays

[RoadworkUK]

It'd be even more fun to just push somebody elses caravan into the canal...

[Felly Magic]

That 'boat' looks like it was made from an old caravan by 'George' himself.

[chaseracer]

Two questions:

 

1) how the hell do you get the boat back on the trailer, and 2) surely there is a law against shorts like that...?

[Vin]

A BTF film for this update (my mate has borrowed my 'Look at life' DVD)

 

This is a nice 15 minute BTF film called 'The Seaspeed Express' - Made in 1980, it shows two journies by Hovercraft, both from Dover but to Boulogne and Calais.

 

One journey is a trip into Belgium made by a businessman in his Granada to deliver some engineering samples. He also takes his golf clubs. The other journey is a family of four from London to Paris - Train, Bus, Hovercraft and then Train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[morris_ital_lover]

 

Audi 80?

 

Lovely photos, I'm disappointed my 'rents didn't take me across the channel on one of these, they loooked awesome... instead we just had to take the bleedin ferry.

[fiatdaft]

Audi 50,and 2 beta berlina's spotted aswell,cheers for doing this vin!

[eddyramrod]

Audi 80? Not in this pic, sorry. In front is a Mk4 Cortina; up on the ramp is either a first-gen VW Polo, or the equivalent Audi 50. I can't make out the badging, sorry. Was the Granada one of Ford's press/publicity cars? There seem to be a few in the same registration batch knocking around on old TV shows like Minder, The Sweeney, The Professionals.... just a thought.

[RoadworkUK]

HJ is an Essex plate, also seen on my old 820e.

 

Most likely a Brentwood or Dunton Press / Demonstration car. And looking terrific in pre-facelift spec.

[morris_ital_lover]

Audi 80? Not in this pic, sorry. In front is a Mk4 Cortina; up on the ramp is either a first-gen VW Polo, or the equivalent Audi 50.

 

That would make sense.... I've got all my Audi number muddled up.

[Vin]

It is definitely an Audi 50, as the badge is a bit clearer when it's on the TV.

 

The last of the BTF films that were made are of a lesser picture quality than those made in the fifties and sixties. Just compare 'Seaspeed express' with 'Give your car a holiday' or 'Motorsport tries motorail' to see the difference.

 

It would appear that in the sixties the Hovercraft was seen to be the future of travel. There are a few 'Look at life' films about them too. I'm no expert, but I think these cross-channel Hovercraft were as big as they got.

 

Whatever happened to Hovercrafts from then on

[morris_ital_lover]

It is definitely an Audi 50, as the badge is a bit clearer when it's on the TV.

 

The last of the BTF films that were made are of a lesser picture quality than those made in the fifties and sixties. Just compare 'Seaspeed express' with 'Give your car a holiday' or 'Motorsport tries motorail' to see the difference.

 

It would appear that in the sixties the Hovercraft was seen to be the future of travel. There are a few 'Look at life' films about them too. I'm no expert, but I think these cross-channel Hovercraft were as big as they got.

 

Whatever happened to Hovercrafts from then on

 

 

I think the Chunnel killed the Hovercraft as it offered quick and smooth journeys across to France that are never affected by weather. As for the crafts themselves, they are currently all at the Hovercraft museum on the Isle of Wight... there was talk of them going to Canada but that seems to have disappeared.

[gricer]

I think the Chunnel killed the Hovercraft as it offered quick and smooth journeys across to France that are never affected by weather. As for the crafts themselves, they are currently all at the Hovercraft museum on the Isle of Wight... there was talk of them going to Canada but that seems to have disappeared.

 

 

The chunnel was the final nail in the coffin - really the SeaCat high-speed ferries which offered greater capacity, similar speeds and a lot less cost killed the hovercraft, whose only real advantage was not needing a deep water port to load and unload. Of course these were available on all the main cross-channel routes.

 

The two remaining SRN4s (the big channel hovercraft) are indeed at the hovercraft museum - which is at Lee-on-Solent, not the IoW. They were powered by Bristol Proteus engines - as in the '50s Bristol Britannia airliner - so parts were getting scarce and running costs were escalating. Unless you re-engined them (which would be difficult) they won't be used again. Last service was over a decade ago.

 

However if you want a ride on a commercial hovercraft you can catch a smaller one from Southsea pier to Ryde. Just the sort of high-frequency work the hovercraft is ideally suited for.

 

Hovercraft are still produced for military use, where they mmake ideal landing craft.

[andrew e]

HJ is an Essex plate, also seen on my old 820e.

 

Most likely a Brentwood or Dunton Press / Demonstration car. And looking terrific in pre-facelift spec.

 

May well be, I had M919XHJ & M299UHJ. FoMoCo did like a pressed steel plate sometimes - if you spy one of these, your talking 100% ex-blue oval.

[Lord Sterling]

Thanks for putting these up Vin, I missed them for some reason. The Sealink really does take me back to when my parents and I used to go abroad to Belguim. I sometimes still do this journey (By coach, then Ferry/Hovercraft) and hopefully will take my car with me one time.

[Vin]

Bit of a festive update this time..

 

I watched 'Singleton's Pluck' yesterday afternoon. It's probably my favourite christmassy/Wintery film and I always make sure I watch it every year in the run up to Christmas. It came out on DVD during the summer, so I no longer have to rely on my VHS copy recorded off Channel 4 in the early nineties.

 

While I was watching it I realised it is a prime contender for screen grabbing.

 

It was made in 1984 and is about a farmer, played by Ian Holm, who walks his geese from Norfolk to London. The main support vehicles are a Mk 1 Transit and a VW camper. The film is very atmospheric - frosty mornings, the low winter sun, colourful sunsets - very cold.

 

The film starts with the VW

 

Tractor shite when getting the geese ready for the road.

 

Setting off

 

Volvo F86 action

 

 

TAXI shite

 

 

The old bill

 

 

Thermostats knackered...

 

 

Mk2 Grandad

 

Peugeot is used by the Nationwide type news film crew who are following the geese.

 

Audi

 

As it went past I reckon it said Datsun on the front. It's an estate with a roof rack.

 

Dodge BT van - The bit with the Dodge is actually in this 3 minute clip on youtube

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEkoJaxJQD0

 

 

It's fuggin freezin man

 

CARNAGE

 

That there London

 

Calm down shiters, calm down.

 

News crew peugeot

 

I like the 'National' petrol sign next to the Fiat sign

 

Seddon Atkinson meat wagon

 

 

The end.

[RoadworkUK]

Top stuff.

 

The image of the Granada Ghia parked outside that half-timbered house is pretty much my ideal life set-up.

[John F]

Suzuki SP370 in there?

[pompei]

I feel sorry for the geese

[Tayne]

Once again, thanks for these Vin.

 

However, what's the point of the geese drive?

Are they going for christmas shopping, or do they end up on a plate?

 

 

Also, is this Alf Thomson from Postman pat?

 

 

]

 

[Vin]

Haha Tayne, it does look like Alf Thompson doesn't it...Although you've posted a picture of Ted Glen

 

Singleton loses his transport due to a Union dispute...so instead walks them to London as that was how they used to do it...when they get to Smithfield they then go for slaughter and thus christmas dinner. yum yum.

[Tayne]

Haha Tayne, it does look like Alf Thompson doesn't it...Although you've posted a picture of Ted Glen

 

Fucking Google Images!

[Father Ted]

Haha Tayne, it does look like Alf Thompson doesn't it...Although you've posted a picture of Ted Glen

 

Fucking Google Images!

[Autoplas]

What a horrible story

 

So the geese who didnt get runover by the moron in the Escort were subjected to genocide after being forced marched 100 miles to London ?

 

Farmers eh ?