J M Postcard - The Clock, Morningside Road, Edinburgh

The Clock

Morningside Road

Morningside

Morningside lies about two miles to the south of the West End of Princes Street, on the road to Fairmilehead and Biggar. The clock at Morningside has been a well known landmark for many decades. The time is 2.15pm, but what is the year?

Postcard

This postcard was posted in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders, on 10 August 1945.

Postcards were probably in short supply at the end of the War. The photo on this one appears to have been, perhaps, 25 years old when the card was posted, judging by the transport in the street.

Maybe somebody with a better knowledge of vehicles, or of Morningside, can give a more accurate estimate of the date.

On the left of the photo is Baird the Bootmaker and a sign pinting to a garage.

On the right of the picture, hanging above the pavement is an old AA (Automobile Association) sign.

This card is No.3636 in the JM Caledonia Series. This series of cards was published in Edinburgh by J McCulloch and Co. Most of the other cards that I have seen in this series were posted in Edinburgh between about 1911 and 1918 - but is the small car in the foreground more recent than that?

Question

Was this photo, perhaps taken around 1920?

Can you help to date this card?

If so, please e-mail me.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs: September 2, 2006

Reply

Douglas Beath

Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

Thank you to Douglas Beath who replied:

1923 or later

"The tram is electric, not cable-hauled (see trolley on roof and overhead span wire and insulators over Baird's), so the scene is after electrification on 18 March 1923. (Source: Hunter p.186)"

Douglas Beath, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia - formerly Edinburgh: September 3, 2006

Reply

Sarah Dalrymple

Edinburgh

Photo - 2007

Thank you to Sarah Dalrymple, Edinburgh, for taking this recent photo from the same location. This is one of several photos that Sarah has taken, comparing Edinburgh 'Then' and 'Now'. Sarah's photos have been added to the Flickr web site.

- If you click on this Flickr link it should take you to a page showing Sarah's photos.

- Then you can click on the individual photos to enlarge them and read the comments that people have written about them.

Reply

Ian Taylor

South Glasgow, Scotland

Thank you to Ian Taylor who wrote about Photo 1 above:

Morris Cowley

"The small car in the foreground appears to be a Morris Cowley 'Bullnose' of 1913-1918."

Taxi Base

"The building on the right, where the AA sign is, remains more or less the same today. In the 1950's, and beyond, this was a taxi base and booking office."

Baird's Shoe Shop

"The Baird's shop was where I was taken for years to get shoes, using the x-ray machine, mentioned elsewhere, to check the fit of the chosen pair."

Station Entrance

"To the right of the shoe shop is one of the two entrances to the railway station; you could enter either, and then use the appropriate steps to the required platform. The other entrance is beside the flats to the right."

Station Entrance

"I like the fact that the clock is still there, albeit slightly removed from its original position. I look forward to once again visiting my old stomping ground in early December."

Ian Taylor, South Glasgow, Scotland: August 11, 2009

Reply

Brian Alexander

Prestonfield, Edinburgh

Thank you to Brian Alexander who added:

Cars

"Regarding the postcard of 'The Clock, Morningside Road':

- The car in the foreground is, I think, a Morris Cowley Bullnose produced between 1919 and 1926.

This model of 'bullnose' differs from the previous version (1913-18) in respect of the type of headlights and the sidelights mounted on the front wings.

- The car directly behind the Cowley looks very much like a Rolls Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost made between 1906 and 1926.

But, I'm not sure about the type or manufacture of the bodywork. (Rolls Royce did not supply cars complete with bodies.) The clues are the radiator and the fact that it appears to be chauffeur driven.

- The other two cars, I don't know, as there is not a lot to go on. They may be taxis.

Added to Douglas Beath's information about electrification of the trams, the photograph may date from the mid/late 1920's."

Brian Alexander, Prestonfield, Edinburgh: November 20, 2011