I used to have a white Lambretta in the early 60s. Great scooter, 65mph with no crash helmet used to wake me up. One morning when I was driving to work the traffic lights changed just as I arrived at them so I wound the throttle to make sure I got across. Unfortunately someone coming the other way anticipated the change and I had to swerve violently to my right to avoid the car. I found myself heading straight for a shop window so pulled the bike back round to head up the road I had intended to be on, initially on the wrong side of the road. The wheels of the scooter were small and the violent swerve caused the bike to bounce up the road until I fell off into the curb right in front of the bus stop where there was a large queue of people, most of whom were (needless to say) from the very same place of work as I. Embarrassed to hell, I quickly got up, jumped on my scooter and zoomed off. I very quickly realised that, now, one handlebar was much lower than the other but I continued up the hill to my place of work. I parked my scooter and was about to coolly walk into the office when I noticed my trousers were very badly ripped. It was not feasible to go into the office so I had to drive back home to get changed and try again. Amazing how one could get used to riding a scooter with one handlebar lower than the other.
. in the 1960's i used to collect pre war austin sevens. one day i was climbing a hill with the clutch screaming and smoke pouring out and i was overtaken by an nsu quickly a 49cc moped. the ultimate put down being overtaken by one of those, all because of a slipping clutch. i sold my last austin sevens 1n 1980 and that helped us to move house. happy days motoring though with a wind up gramaphone and records on board and oh a pic nic basket. god that was living.
Wind up gramaphone. That brings back memories. Mine had an automatic needle dispenser (well you pressed it and a needle came out). Bloody great needles you put in the the massive pick up on the end of a long arm. Volume control depended on how many socks you shoved in the loud speaker outlet. I wish I had kept it (and all my 78s). I don't know what happened to it.
having a portable hmv made it so adaptable and with a pile of 1920,s records, such as tiger rag by the southern ragajazz band, the savoy orpheans, get out and get under etc wow what wonderful music. i reccommend a cd by the pasadena roof orchestra , it brings it all back, charleston, black bottom etc hotcha hotcha!
We could almost have a new thread about what 78s we used to play. I wonder how many of us are old enough to remember actually playing those.
one of the last 78's i played and played was the story of my life by the late great michael holliday, who sadly took his life
If you have any of the last few pressed in 1960, they are worth a small fortune eg. Elvis Presley -A Mess of Blues at £1000 plus.
