The Twopenny hangover "sleeping over a rope"

[Ally]

Funny you should mention that. I found this discussion on it, which also mentions the german picture. I have contacted the teacher who claims to have a copy of the books, but if anyone else has the book, we now exactly where a photo can be found. It's now just a matter of locating the book and then we'll have a confirmed picture.

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=611

[KatBradshaw]

Oh no. Horrible news. Hope she is home with you soon.

On the topic of the thread I have seen a picture somewhere from 1920s Germany, probably 1923ish showing people sleeping 'on the line'. I think it was in my GCSE textbook from when I was taking mine. (as opposed to teaching them)

[John Bennett]

Sorry to hear about that smezenen. Hope it all turns out fine and all are well.

JB

[halomanuk]

Sorry to hear that,my wife had an accident last month and our car was written off so i know how you feel.
All the best to you both..

[Robert]

Hi Smezenen

Best wishes to your wife. You now have better things to do than the experiment.

PS I hope the car wasn't towed away with a rope.

[Mr.Hyde]

Hi smezenen,
Sorry to hear that.
Hope your wife makes a speedy recovery.
All the Best,
Dave.

[Jane Coram]

Hi smezenen,

I'm so sorry to hear about the accident, it must have been a terrible shock to you all, but I'm glad to hear it sounds as if your wife is on the mend now. She's lucky she's got you to take care of and pamper her until she is back on her feet again.

Much love and a big hug

Jane

xxxx

[smezenen]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Im sorry I havent posted to this thread this week but my little experiment is on hold for the time being. My wife and two of my children where in an auto accident on April 1st. The kids are fine but my wife has been in hospital so I have been there at her side. She is doing ok and should be coming home later today or tomarrow but unfortunatly it has taken a toll on my emotions and my heart is just not into this experiment at the moment. I may pick it back up in a few weeks, who knows. Thank you for your interest and if anyone wants to pick this up and run with it you are welcome too.

[Brenda]

I just found this thread! I love that smezenen is attempting to do this. Someone should get Ripperologist magazine to interview him - it's interesting news!

[DVV]

Hi Stephen,
there is. Mary and her friends. But they were sitting to sleep. Comfort is something important.

Amitiés, hope you're fine,
David

[Stephen Thomas]

Wasn't there a similar scene in 'From Hell'?

[Rob Clack]

i just saw a depiction of this, however inaccurate, in a Sean Connery/Donald Sutherland movie called "The Great Train Robbery". It flashed for about 3 seconds on the screen as a man was running through the room, and showed a bunch of disheveled persons who seemed to be in a standing position, leaning frontwise over the ropes with their arms hanging down on the other side. most still seemed to have their hats on.

there were multiple ropes strung across the room, and it seemed to be pretty packed. hope that helps, but probably not. movies have no obligation towards determining historical fact.

One of my favourite films:



Rob

[Jane Coram]

Hi,

For what it's worth an old friend of the family who was a great adventurer in his younger days bummed around the world in the 1920' and 30's and he told us that he slept over the rope in the Salvation Army hostels in Australia on many occasions, because he couldn't afford a bed for the night.

He described it in exactly the way that it is described in the accounts posted on the thread, and said that he slept quite well considering. And no, the didn't cut the ropes to wake them up, they just shook them violently.

I am pretty certain that there were an assortment of age groups, and health conditions dangling there at the time, just as there has always been in any Salvation Army hostel for the homeless. Reg was a tough little sod himself, which goes to show that roughing it doesn't always lead to ill health and an early mortality. He's well in his 80's when he died.

Good luck with your experiment smezenen!

Hugs

Jane

xxxx

[smezenen]

Thanks for that lead suspiria_2 I'll have to check into that tis afternoon.

Ok after my first night on the ropes i can say.....man that was uncomfortable. sorry no pistures yet becosue I was the only one home last night.

I first tried to sleep standing up facing the rope with my arms hanging over it. that only lasted about 3 minutes. I find this method most improbable becouse without anything other than the rope suporting the body you can not stay on the rope. if you where ever able to get to sleep you'r legs would go limp and you fall off.

Next ZI tried sitting facing the rope arms hanging over. This method will be possible but only after I am very tired. The first thing you find out with this method is unless you have a large roled up piece of material between your arms and the rope your arms will fall asleep before you do.

Next i tried leaning forward with my forhead on the rope. This is much more comfortable that the other two tries and I could sleep this way. same as resting your head on the desk in front of you or the seatback on the schoolbus as i heard one person put it. the drawback is if there are more people on the rope and someone moves it you will fall off.

last I tried leaning back against the rope with my arms hanging over it. this position actually supported my body very well but not my head it was by far still the best position and I actualy slept for about an hour.

More to follow. and hopefully pictures tonight.

[suspiria_2]

i just saw a depiction of this, however inaccurate, in a Sean Connery/Donald Sutherland movie called "The Great Train Robbery". It flashed for about 3 seconds on the screen as a man was running through the room, and showed a bunch of disheveled persons who seemed to be in a standing position, leaning frontwise over the ropes with their arms hanging down on the other side. most still seemed to have their hats on.

there were multiple ropes strung across the room, and it seemed to be pretty packed. hope that helps, but probably not. movies have no obligation towards determining historical fact.