Glasgow Lamplighters Options

[dorcas]

I dont know if there has been a topic on the Glasgow lamplighter, my uncle was one for years, and as a child I was facinated watching him write all these numbers down in this wee book he carried, he done all the closes from pollokshaws ,shawlands then up Minard Rd till he got to the monument at the Victoria Infirmary where the corp lighting dept was. Some times he would take me,and he would pick up these tiny ladders on his route which he had chained to railings, to save carrying them all the way home (picture that today)He would replace mantles which were so fragile,I think thats what they were called, and he had a stick with a horrible smelling stuff at the top I think to light the lamp's, feel free to correct me, and on his cleanig day's when he would be up the ladders wipeing the panes of glass you would always get a wee woman coming out to say "mind the corner's son" He retired in the early sixties do we still have men going round doing , cleaning, changing bulbs or is it all in the past

[Catherine]

Hi Dorcas
What a wonderful wonderful memory to have...ah thoroughly enjoyed reading yer wee story there.
I'd be surprised if they still did that, I think most every street would be electric lamposts now, but maybe they still do in some parts.

[jimmyd]

My wee maw ,was a lamplighter,shortly after the war,around the Bridgeton are.She taught us that song The old lamplighter,we used to go out with her sometimes,and we would walk along the road singing the song. The neighbours ,used shout oout the windaes " Here comes Greta's choir. Think it was a sulphur compound, they used in the Wick Stick as she called it.

[davyab44]

Hi Dorcas...great memories indeed...I believe the awful smelling stuff you mention was carbide.....they used to be called "Leeries"

[wee mags]

I remeber the wee lamplighter going down Kelvindale Rd across from the Barrakswith his wee ladder on his shoulder and his stick with the smelly stuff,in his pocket he had the Mantles.
this is for Jimmy
He made the nights a little brighter wherever he did go
the old lamplighter of long, long ago
Iam going to have to look up the rest of the words,I cannae remeber them. Ha, Ha

[Melody]

The Leeries, there was something very comforting to see the Leerie.

[FrankM]

I believe the depot at the top of Langside Road is now a restaurant.

[Archie Millar]

Hivnae been on the boards fur a wee while(a couple o' months) but a'm gettin' back on ma feet again - an this bloody m/c is playin' up
Anywise a got to tell youse, ma old man wis a lamplighter all his life from 1918 we lived in the dwellings at Brigton cross an' ma faither used tae light a' the lamps roon about there We moved to Househillwood in 1939 an he got a transfer to Langside depot.

That's a' the noo gote a lot tae catch up wi

[Heather]

I remember how dark the close and the landings used to get in the winter waiting for the Leerie coming and you would get half way up the stairs and someone would jump out and frighten the life out of you.

Now we will all be singing about the "old lamplighter ". I can't remember any more either, so I'll just have to wait until Wee Mags gives us the rest of the words.

Nice to see you back Archie, hope you are feeling a lot better.

[Gallusbisom]

What a wonderful memory! I remember the "Leeries" going around, but not in Glasgow, actually I remember them from Riccarton (acht away y'se go, fin oot whaur it is-no that far fae Glesga), and, at least for us kids in those few years I was there, it meant we could go out for our Hallowe'en, you couldn't start before the Leerie lit the gaslights, although there were electric lamps on some of the streets, that was not the "official" time to start saying, Please to give me my Hallowe'en, then do your wee poem, dance, etc,. Sorry I have completely wandered off topic here, but it just brought the memories flooding back about the Leerie and this time of year, Hallowe'en. G.B.

[Scotty]

Great Topic Dorcas
I remember Danny well like you I followed him around it fasinated me yet he never got mad at us kids good old days and great story

Archie great to see you back hope things are going well for you

Joan

[dorcas]

Glad you are all enjoying this thread, I forgot about them being called Leerie's,and I think you are right Jimmyd about it being a sulphur compound, and I look forward to hear the words of the Old Lamplighter Wee Mags.Thank-you Frank will let my Uncle Danny know about what has happened to langside depot, yes Joan,we did follow him,and Johnny Thomson ,also lamplighter from Harriet st then he moved to househillwood

[Heather]

Hi Dorcas
We had relations that lived in Harriet St. Pollockshaws, the McGuires, they were a big family. Did you know them?????????

[Scotty]

Hi Heather
yes I knew them my Aunt Uncle Jannete and Billy Crawford also lived in Harriet St as did my Pal Jim Morrison
Cathie I forgot about Johnny
Uncle Danny will be delighted to hear about the changes

Joan

[jock]

If you Google " the old lamplighter" you will get all the words to the song. I don't type well enough to copy them.