RE: OPEN ALL HOURS - 226

He said it was 50p but neither of you has said what it is.
I'm guessing at some sort of plane so how about letting me in on the secret?

VM, you surprise me, it's a spirit level.

It looks vaguely similar to some I have used in the past Signman but I would have been a long time guessing at a spirit level.
Does it still work, is the vial intact or will you have to go and buy a bubble?

Only Phil and me probably remember this material,widely used from the 30's right up to the late 50's.
Used extensivly for storefronts and bathrooms, it was coloured glass in a range of mainly pastel colours plus black, in sheets stuck on with great gobs of mastic.
It really was state of the art for many shops, and was a major factor in the Art Deco period.
We stuck many a cut-out letter on fascias made from it, we used black Bostic,(remember that), most of the stores in town were faced with it, one I remember in particular was WINTERS in Corporation street,between the Crown pub and Gazette buildings, it was a nice combination of cream and pastel greem with touches of gold and black.
Invented by Pilkingtons, it was deadly once broken (very easily) and produced a sharp edge like a razor, and lots of little splinters.
Not many examples left in this country now, a few in Ireland (as these photos show) and a lot in the States where one guy has a business renovating them.

Yes VM it's perfect.

Are you kiddin John the only spirit VM knows about doesn't have bubbles in.

Naughty.

I remember that stuff, I wouldn't have given it much thought though, it was just....there. I think if I had been asked about it I would have said marble or some polished quartz material.

Tonic has bubbles in it, you work it out SB.

I'm off to put some cable tray up in a factory now, don't suppose I will see much Vitrolite there but now I know about it I will be expecting to see it all over the place. Well, perhaps on some of the old shopping streets anyway.

I'm sure Phil will have loads of photos in his collection showing shops faced with Vitrolite.

And they say crime doesn't pay.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9031554.B...d_fraud/?ref=mr

Good morning all, is this conversation on the level?

I'll have a look for some photos, but you must remember that 99.9% of my photos are b&w,

Phil

Morning Phil, you can still tell if it's vitrolite, the sheen has no equal.and could never be mistaken for paint or any other material.

Lots of info here about air raids on Brum, all districts this is nechells.

http://www.staffshomeguard.co.uk/DotherR...38Astaffshg.htm