Telegraph Poles

Did these poles carry electricity or are they telephone wires in the 1900s
I take it that the top is for decoration but does any one know if different districts had different tops.
This one would have been in Moseley. Unfortunately picture is only from a clip that I have so very poor quality.
Can anyone help. Lynn.

A closer up picture. Lynn.

I'm practising and not getting it altogether right !!
Anyhow hope this is O.K. now. Lynn.

Lynn

I would have thought that there was more chance of them being early electricity supply cables as I have never seen fancy telegraph poles. The only ones I have even seen were of the plain wooden pole type. Though we are talking about Moseley which in the 1900's was a very posh area.

Phil

I would agree that I think they are electric poles. As to the ornamentation, it couldn't be the point of a lightning conductor could it ?. I assume that if lightning struck the wirres, then there would be damage to the system and a power cut (?). Maybe the ornamentation was connected to earth to stop this ?

After searching through my photos of Moseley, I think I can confirm the poles were used for stringing electricity cables because they were definitely used for stringing the power supply cables for the tram system. Which leads me to believe they were probably also used to supply electricity to remote locations to negate the need for digging miles of trenches. The same poles can be seen quite plainly in this photo.

Phil

Phil,
Phil, Do you know were this picture is. If in Moseley ? where.
I wonder did they use different tops in different districts.
My picture is just going across the field towards Moor Green Lane, Moseley when they were building the miniature railway at Pitmaston house in approx 1896.
Lynn.

Lynn

If you run your mouse indicator across the thumbnail photo if it has a tag it will show you it. In this case it says Moseley Rd - Park Rd, which is not quite right its actually Alcester Rd - Park Rd. which would probably be a 20 minute walk away from Pitmaston House.

Phil

Thanks Phil,
Lynn.

Lyn

A couple more Birmingham local Miniature Steam Engines for you. Just as a matter of interest I don't suppose you could find out from any of your contacts in this field what happened to the engine that used to run in Calthorpe Park, Edgbaston up to about the mid 50's?

Two were in Sutton Park, which is on the outskirts of Birmingham and the other was in Bournville which was a park in the village built by the Cadbury's for their workers.

Phil

Phil, Would it be possible to have a clearer picture of the middle picture as I have been following this particular history for quite a while but don't have this photograph.
This engine called 'Nipper' - owner was George E. Flooks and it is now privately owned near Manchester. Lynn.

Lynn

I'm afraid that is as good as it gets, it was never a very good photo it was very blurred and grainy. I suppose that it is down to the age of it, there was a second photo with it but that is even worse. The trouble is I cannot remember where I sourced them from. I could have picked them up off the net or it could have been a book that I no longer have. The trouble being I have lent so many books out over the years only to never get them back.

Phil

Lynn,
This is "NIPPER" in about 1905.

Thanks Phil, These are all great to have and thanks so much for taking the trouble of letting me see them. Lynn.

Very many thanks John for your Picture. It's great being able to add all these to my collection. Lynn.