Knocking up duty

[Phil Carter]

I've just been looking at that excellent volume, Lost London, which is discussed on the Books--Non-fiction thread.

One of the photos shows a woman knocking people up by blowing dried peas through a hollow tube at their windows. (This device, in my youth, was called a pea-shooter.)

That raises an interesting point. I can see a policeman knocking on a door to rouse the occupant. But what if, as seems likely, multiple families lived in the home? Would the copper awaken the whole house, throw pebbles at the relevant window, or use something like a pea-shooter?

Hello gm,

Nah, he'd use a spud gun...lol...remember them my friend?
Oh the days of innocent youth eh?

best wqishes

Phil

[Monty]

The knocker up had a long pole with leather upon it and tapped on the relevant window.

Monty

[sleekviper]

Was anyone getting knocked up around the time of Chapman that could have delayed a route?

[YankeeSergeant]

Spud gun

I made a spud gun as a child. That would be one hell of a wake up call! Just the sort of thing for the constable to use when he was really in a bad mood "Get up W$*&)@s!" AS I remember, I got in a spot of trouble firing the thing across the road. Neighbor didn't see the humor inthe impromtu barrage.

[The Grave Maurice]

The knocker up had a long pole with leather upon it and tapped on the relevant window.

Since you say it, Monty, I believe it. I'm just trying to visualize it. Suppose the client lived on the second, third, or fourth floor? (You Brits, subtract one floor.)
Was the pole collapsible or just very long?

[Monty]

Bit of both.

Some just plain long, some like Chimney sweep brushes and screwed into pieces.

Monty

[The Grave Maurice]

So a wake-up copper just walked about with this stuff under his arm? Fascinating.

[Lechmere]

So Mizen was walking around on his beat with a telescopic pole stuffed up his jacksie?
Where did he keep the pole for lighting the gas lamps?

[Monty]

Yes, that was exactly what he was doing, stuffed up his arse, just as you say.

Monty...who will think twice next time, before answering queries.

[Lechmere]

You don’t have to be precious, I was being light hearted

[Monty]

And I wasn't?

Monty

[Lechmere]

My joke was more obvious than your joke.

And much better

[Monty]

Obviously, the plaudits just rained down didn't they?

Well done you.

Monty