100 years ago

An interesting photograph of some of the city’s veteran lamplighters had been published in the Yorkshire Herald.

The group represented five of the gas company’s employees whose united ages amounted to 375 years, or an average per man of 75 years. Their total years of service were more than 250 years, or an average of 50 years per man, which proved what had often been said before – that “gas men live long”.

Mr W Garlick, aged 80, had 64 years service. Mr J Mountain, aged 80, with 50 years service, had entered the company’s service on January 6, 1864, the number of men employed as lamplighters at that time being about ten.

The method of lighting had been by ladder and hand lantern – which had a hole in the bottom, so that when the lamplighter mounted his ladder and turned on the tap he placed the lamp directly over the burner, the gas thus being lit; then by means of leather pads, which fastened to his legs above the knee, he slid down the ladder. After a time the ladder was superseded by the lighting torch, but since then great improvements had been made even in those instruments.

 

50 years ago

Lord Sainsbury, a leading opponent of trading stamps, condemned in a speech in London, “such gimmicks” as coupons, deceptive packages designed to look as large as others that contained more; free gifts, competitions and personality promotions.

Soft music, interspersed with injunctions to buy this or that was “an undignified device, if not pure gimmickry”. As for trade stamps, they were “one of the greatest gimmicks of all”. Lord Sainsbury, who was speaking after a lunch for retail distributive trade executives, said that good will and customer loyalty were the most valuable of business assets, although they might not be shown in the balance sheet.

“In the field of advertising, I have always thought that honest information about the product is preferable to exaggerated praise,” he said.

 

25 years ago

Women rail passengers in North Yorkshire had told British Rail they were frightened to travel at night from unstaffed rural stations.

British Rail said it was trying to improve lighting at the stations but the staff cuts had been forced on the railways by Government pressure to show a profit.

“We do accept there is concern expressed by ladies, although it is nothing like the problem it is on the London Underground and south east networks,” said Mr Brian Ward, the York-based press officer for British Rail’s eastern region.