NOSTALGIA: Gentleman Eddie wouldn't look out of place on this fire engine

Imagine this machine being driven through the streets of Portsmouth today

I don’t know if Eddie, as a young man, is in the main photo here.

Alas, it is too late for me to talk to him.

For those who wish to attend his funeral, it is tomorrow, Thursday, at St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road, at 12.30pm. All welcome.

City of Portsmouth Fireman.

Imagine this machine being driven through the streets of Portsmouth today. — City of Portsmouth Fireman. Imagine this machine being driven through the streets of Portsmouth today.

A private cremation will take place afterwards.

A wake is to be held at the Royal British Legion Club, Lucknow Street, just by Fratton Bridge.

As to the photograph, it looks like it is a steam-driven pump to be used alongside the fire engines.

The firemen look a picture, don’t they?

A look along Outram Road in 1920s Southsea on a winters day. The camera in the street would have been a novelty back then.
Photograph Robert James Collection. — A look along Outram Road in 1920s Southsea on a winters day. The camera in the street would have been a novelty back then. Photograph Robert James Collection.

Below we see two winter views along Outram Road, Southsea.

These two views are looking along Outram Road, Southsea, at the same time of year, although about a century apart.

It always amazes me how people used to stop and look at the camera in these street scenes.

Of course, a camera anywhere would have been a novelty back then.

Outram Road on a winter's day 2018. Cars and vans replace the barrow.

I would expect the cameraman would have been leaning over a tripod with a large dark cloak over his head.

The aperture would have been open for a couple of seconds and the image reproduced on a fragile glass plate.

I would imagine the photographer had got the people seen to pose for the picture and then got them to stand stock-still to avoid ghosting.

Ghosting is when white shadows appear of people who have moved when the aperture was open.

The George Hotel, Old Portsmouth, where Nelson breakfasted before leaving for the Battle of Trafalgar. The building was destroyed in the Second World War. Picture: costen.co.uk

As ever, in photographs of this period, the perennial barrow is parked by the kerb.

The modern view, bottom right, is a winter’s day this year.

This picture was taken in a split second with a modern camera.

Not a lot has changed in the road, just the means of transport are different.

The trees are not of the same vintage as the houses. The branches are bare of foliage to get a look-a-like view.

The trees on the right hand side of the road have been done away with.

Have a look into the far distance on both photographs and the chimney stacks are exactly the same, even after a century and with modern central heating no doubt installed.

At one time Outram Road ran into Victoria Road North but was blocked off some 30 years ago.