Other than Blue Beauty - my little hobby on the side.

[simonc]

@vtechtom, Morning fella and I see you're still up. Tsk, tsk, and on a school night as well.
Indeed I do remember the vouchers. My mum used to used to smoke Embassy Reds and they had the vouchers in them. Different values for a pack of ten and twenty if memory serves me.
It's interesting you mention the vouchers because it's something I've never come across in my travels and would like to get my hands on a few.
I guess they were so 'disposable' back then that I reckon they're like hen's teeth now. I'll let you know if I come across any.

[simonc]

I hope you don't think I'm being self-indulgent in showing you these photos, but on my last trip to Blighty, I picked up a few bits and pieces that I brought back with me and had framed for my office. It's quite a mix, theatre posters, lobby ads, a bus timetable, ads from pubs and a selection of first day covers. I thought they'd all look interesting and add to the 'Britishness' of the look I'm aiming for. Anyway, please take a look and see what you think.

These are in reception.


Panto lobby ads and a few First Days Covers


In one of the meeting rooms


The wall of fame plus overloaded whiteboard


More lobby posters plus my pride and joy. A polished rotor.


Tyres buffed to perfection.


I have no idea why I've framed the 'Sale' sign, but I like it.


One of my memorabilia bookcases.


Bookcase number 2.


The Speedway and T&A section.


I drove to Leeds to pick this up from First. They thought I was bonkers asking for a bus timetable.


I just like this shot.


There you go, my little outpost here in t'tropics. Thanks for taking a look.

[simonc]

My latest acquisition. Thinking either a seat or a table. Cost me RM30.00 (five quid) and tons of grovelling but it's well worth it.

[simonc]

A few more little bargains from Sunday's foray to the flea-market. Bagged a couple of really nice things.
Tai Hin Motors. Great nick but could do with a good clean to get off the grubby stuff.

ICI promo for Lunar New Year. I have a larger version of this in my collection. Great condition.

This is in mint condition. Ceramic made by 'Claytan'. I think they also make loos.

One tiny hairline crack on the lip, but other than that, it's magnificent. Wade, UK.

Ship (yes, Ship) Aerated Water. Pressed metal and in great nick.

This is great. Hard Bakelite type plastic and absolutely mint.

This is fabulous and it was a real steal. The tyre is genuine as it says 'Inoue' on the 'sidewall'.

Apologies for this shot but I was trying to get rid of the glare off the ashtray itself. Nice eh?


Thanks for looking.

[simonc]

I've been at it again. These are shots of my latest acquisitions from three different visits to the flea market. Worryingly, I'm beginning to be recognised as 'the ashtray guy' by some of the sellers. Anyway, here they are. worth a gander if you've a minute, as some may bring back a few memories of when smoking was commonplace. The payphone was a real steal. It was bloody filthy when I bought it, must have been in a restaurant or bar. Covered in a thick greasy film, stank to high heaven of fags and old chip fat but I'm sure you'll agree, it came up a treat.

This is a nice local B&H JPS look-a-like. Bit worn but pleasantly so.

I have no idea what this is made from but it weighs a ton.

It's carved so it's not a mass produced item

This is the label on the base. Made in Pakistan but can't see what it's made from.

Mint San Miguel in plastic

Very nice Johnnie Walker from Wade UK. Superb condition.

Another Johnnie Walker from Wade UK. Borderline mint condition.

Nice to see a brand such as Toyota using an ashtray as a promo piece. Won't be seeing that anymore.

Here's the back of it.

Bit of a novelty. An attempt at a 'smokeless' ashtray. They didn't work by the way.

Nice local L&M ceramic.

This is nice. A transparent green/yellow hue to the acrylic. Local, I think.

This is in great nick. A tin for 50 Consulate ciggies. not UK, these were the local Consulates, non menthol

Here's the payphone after three solid hours of cleaning work on it.

Another angle.

The instructions. Mid to late 80's?


Thanks for looking.

[Max]

I never thought ashtrays could be so fascinating, i want some!

[wurlycorner]

Two questions...
1. Where's the fourth lude alloy gone?
2. What the heck is an "English enrichment centre"?

[mercutio]

tobacco related stuff has gone out of fashion over here so its all pretty cheap great time to collect it

[Sailor]

tobacco related stuff has gone out of fashion over here so its all pretty cheap great time to collect it

True 'nuff. Time to fight back!

A photo of an ashtray should show it 3/4 full with a slightly out-of-focus glass of something liquid and strong in the background.
Stuff fashion: we all know that tobacco is as risky as a big Mopar Hemi - lose one, though, and the next will fall!

[simonc]

Morning chaps. @wurlycorner, good point and I've often been asked, and there was method in my madness for not putting the four of them in my Centre. Just supposing I were to be broken into, (it's happened once before by the way), if the set of four were there, they might be viewed as rich pickings. However, as there's only three it's perhaps less likely anyone would nick 'em, as it'd be a pretty tough sell. Unless someone's driving a souped up Robin Reliant, of course.
Yes, the name is a bit of mouthful isn't it? However, to differentiate myself from the rest of the rabble, I needed something away from the 'trad-dad' descriptions of what it is I actually do. So, I work with clients with a fundamental understanding of English and, when sprinkled with the magic simonc dust, enrich their speaking and presentation prowess so they can talk proper English, innit. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.