Ritual

I frequently use one of these. I use for all sorts of things, from pipe soldering to starting barbie charcoal.

But whenever I do, my thoughts stray to when I used one of these.

I do not doubt that the former is able to perform the task better than the latter.

But the task of priming with meths, of managing to succeed when so many people would fail at the task etc etc... the exercising of some knowledge and skill... always leaves me with the feeling that something is missing with the LPG torches.

A trivial example, I know. No doubt many tasks have become de-skilled as technology develops.

Anyone else find the rituals of the past are a thing they miss?

Waiting for my wife the other day, outside the chemist's shop, a tradesman's van pulled up beside me and a lad jumped out and went into the chemist's, returning to the van seconds later and driving off.

When my wife came out and got back into our car, she told me the lad had asked the pharmacist, "Do you sell liquid paraffin"?
"No, sorry", says the pharmacist.
"Oh, no, I can't get any anywhere round here", says tradesman.


It made me think - it's ages since I saw anywhere selling paraffin!

Just thought I'd mention it!

I thought liquid paraffin was for when you were bunged up.

"it's ages since I saw anywhere selling paraffin!"

I wonder if garden centres sell the stuff? They still manufacture and sell greenhouse heaters fuelled by paraffin. Chandlers seem to also do paraffin. I guess some boat owners still are using paraffin heaters.

We used to sell paraffin in the 1950's. Although we had a shop, we also had a coal delivery business. The paraffin was bought in 55 gallon drums (About one weeks worth of stock as long as weather did not turn very cold) It was kept in an outhouse behind the property, and people would turn up any hour of the day or night wanting to buy paraffin, and it was yours truly usually tasked with dispensing the stuff.

We had ceased by 1960's: it was smelly fuel for home heating, and gas was becoming more economical.

It appeared to get a new lease of life in the 1970's when power cuts could leave you in the cold. The drip feed paraffin heaters were quite effective heaters, though I recall they were responsible for some house fires: not sure if they ended up banned.

Paraffin seemed to disappear rapidly thereafter. I think hardware stores quit selling the stuff in late 1980's.

Tonks it depended which Liquid Paraffin he required A small bottle for constipation or Paraffin for a heater. The latter can be purchased from Platt Bridge DIY or B&Q

Bleeding expensive now for a little bottle , but it is still the best thing for cleaning motorbike/bike chains.

Paraffin Just under £12 at B&Q for 4 ltrs. When I worked at the pit I used Jizer has a degreasant but now it is at least £30 for 5ltrs

About a quid more from Amazon, but that includes delivery, so may work out cheaper, as long as you qualify for Prime deliveries.

Never used Jizer. I have used a product called Gunk, which I guess does a similar thing.

Anyone know how they compare with each other?

Have not used Gunk since 1980's, but I see it is still available. (Amazon)

Tonker,
I remember when paraffin was 'in vogue' -there was a choice of of pink or blue. Esso had a advert on TV with a skit on 'smoke gets in your eyes'... recommending that people should buy 'Esso Blue'!
The 'Paraffin Man' came around our estate regularly in the late 60s and early 70s. A bit later you could still get it from many petrol stations.

The 'Pink' was Aladdin Brand (Shell-Mex & BP)

The "smoke gets in your eyes", is interesting, as the attempts to increasingly refine paraffin to decrease its sootiness made it more costly, just at the time municipal gas switched to natural gas, and rendered paraffin less price competitive.

Who remembers ....... The Football Pink - Dolly Blue - Sally White - Morgan's Pop?

Tonks my wife went to school at the same time has Billy Morgan. What was Morgan's Pop building became a Doggy Day Centre a few years ago

Tonker,
I always remember my Mam and Grandma sending me to the shop for a dolly blue.
I also remember pestering the newsagent on a Saturday afternoon demanding when the Pink would be delivered. He got so aggravated with me one day that he took me by the scruff of the neck and threw me out on the cold hard concrete! Ouch; still hurts thinking about it!

JR /
I too recall those day's waiting for the "PINK "delivered on a Saturday evening with all the score & results in my papershop was up Half-way house Then later on Atherton road Hindley green ,Happy time ,G.B.

"No! Not 'Hindley'. Hindley GREEN"!