Wigan Album
Ashurst Beacon
7 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 32118
My memory of it was that the front windscreen could be wound open to allow fresh air to circulate on hot days however, as often as not, this led to the road tax holder falling off from the inside of the windscreen on to the road. Also a starting handle to help start it on cold days. Small running boards and pop up indicators to turn left or right. They were situated in the middle columns and often would require a thump from the inside to help them work.
Finally a small control situated in the middle of the dash which could be used to manually operate the windscreen wipers if there was a problem with them. Once on a four hour journey to Wales, with persistent rain, and failed wipers, meant my father had to operate them manually for most of the way as he drove. Fond memories.
I love these photos from the fifties, the clothes especially. Little lads seemed to be miniatures of their dads. Even playing out they wore a tie and pullovers. I bet those 'short' pants were itchy too and their socks! I remember my brother dressed like those lads and the fashion for black laced up boots I recall as well.
My Dad bought a Vauxhall much the same shape, the doors opened the same way. I bet your Hillman had leather upholstery too Keith, all slippery & smelt wonderful.I dont ever remember many car number plates but I remember that one TMT30 !
Yes Helen, many abiding memories remain including the small of leather. My grandmother (born 1875), my father's mother, was brought up on a smallholding of 20 acres in Wales. Amongst the various animals they had a cow, it was much loved, and given the name "Betsy". Yes, you've guessed it, that was the name given to this car.
My Dad bought a 1963 Hillman Minx, red and white station wagon. We loved that little car. We brought it back to America in 1965 and kept it until 1970 when it must have been traded in for a 1969 Chevy Impala (big as a boat, but had a radio!) Loved these photos!
Keith, You have mentioned Wales in your text above, and I
have noticed that the Hillman car has a Welsh number plate.
ATH 713 would have been first registered in the County of
Carmarthenshire in South Wales. Cheers, Ray.
Thank you Ray, you are quite right. My father came from LLANELLI and the car had a Carmarthenshire number. Dad played rugby for Llanelli and after a final Welsh trial signed for Wigan in 1938. It wasn’t’ until 1951 that he was able to bring the car “up north”.