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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?
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.
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?
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?
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