Do you remember The Rag and bone man

historical memories

Do you remember the Rag and Bone Man?

His name was Alf Lane, He was known as 'The rag and bone man' all over the area.

Although (some would call him 'Old Raganbone' after his call)

Why it was the 'Rag and bone man' was a mystery. He never collected any bones, only clothes and odd items that would resell. Perhaps something from years long gone by

He would ride down the road on the right-hand front of his cart, wearing his black well-worn jacket grey trousers, a grey well used cloth cap. his loose-fitting comfortable black boots completed his outfit. 

The old black horse (Bessie) just plodding steadily on Clip - Clop - Clip - Clop. Always the same slow pace Clip - Clop - Clip - Clop. 

He had several spots he used at varying times where it was convenient for the housewives to bring out old clothes now outgrown, out of fashion, old toys, unwanted ornaments.

  

You could hear his call as he stopped at the collecting spot before ours

As the turned the corner into the road Alf would call out in a loud voice that carried to all corners  "Any old rags - raganbone - old rags" "woa" Bessie would stop

Alf would pick up Bessie's nose bag and carry it round and fixed it in place for Bessie to eat the contents if she wished. all the time calling out his well-known call "Any old rags  -Raganbone"  "Any old rags"

The housewives would come out with bits and bobs, hand then to Alf, he would inspect what they had to offer, make a judgement about what he (or more likely his ever-suffering wife Hellena) could make on their 'second hand' market stall. 

Then make an offer for the items. 

With a few coppers to add to the housekeeping, or put aside to pay for a treat, birthday, or chidrens new shoes.

 

The cart had a few piles already. once all the housewives had been served he would sort the pickings onto the piles, before removing Bessie's lunch bag. jump up onto the cart "Walk on, Gee up" Bessie would start out to the next spot. She knew the way Clip - Clop - Clip - Clop with no guidance from Alf

A few minutes later you could hear the distant call "Raganbone"  "Any old rags"

At the end of the day, Bessie would automatically turn through the gates in the yard and pull up by the side of the sorting shed, where Alf would unhitch her from the cart shafts.

 Hellena would come out of the house "What sort of day has it been? Anything special?

 "Not bad lass, got a few bits o' fasion items from the lasses in Upper Batley then a few trinkets fer yer stall, some good kiddys clothes, may be a bit on a wash but not too worn"
Bessie was by now in her stable and getting a rub down and evening meal.
Each pile was taken from the cart and placed on the sorting table for resorting later.
"Got some stewing meat from t'butchers I'll have ready by t'ime your cleaned up" 

Sorting through the items. The children helped in the process

Kate found a fashion jumper in her size Colin had discovered a pair of football boots
"Can we have these dad? They  asked
"No! If people saw you in that jumper they would think we were rich and expcet me to give more for their stuff or stop giving us stuff Foot ball boots no you dont play football"

Hellena had sorted through the trinkets and odd items gave them a price, which she marked on the underside

Clothes were put aside for washing. All was to be made ready for their Saturday market stall

Those textile items unsuitable for resale were put aside for the rag grinders  

 

Wild Rose
Februray 2020

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

My great uncle was a rag and bone man. My Nan was quite embarrassed by her brother's job. However, I loved it when he came into our square with his horse and cart, I couldn't wait to go and talk to his horse. Your lovely story Wild Rose in all its detail has brought back so many memories. I used to sit on the front steps with my Nan, shelling peas. What happy days they were. A little went a long way then. You convey and express those times so well here Wild Rose.

Chris

Chris

[Wild Rose]

I went to school with a 'colin lane' & yes his dad did come round our houses

Strange I posted this on here - later in the day a village newssheet was delivered
One of the church correspondents wrote an article ending with a reference to the rag man

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[Wild Rose]

You can come here and shell pea. slice beans and things like that
Pity we don't grow our own now

[Katrina Mckeown]

I miss those good old days, I remember going out with items my mum gave me to take to the rag n bone man, I used to earn extra pocket money that way! Not read all but I will try to!
Brilliant fond memories thank you for bringing those back!

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Katrina
I never saw the money - into mum's purse
I am adding to that collection

[Katrina Mckeown]

You are welcome and yes sometimes my mum kept the money if she needed it for something.
Adding more, now that will be interesting :)

[Wild Rose]

They are in a collection "Do you remember ----" 10 so far

[Katrina Mckeown]

I’ll need to find the time to read all of them :) looking forward to that and to more to come. :)

[Wild Rose]

Enjoy them

[Katrina Mckeown]

Thank you! I’m sure I will ! :)

[wordman]

great story,,rag and bone man,we had the billy goat man,had a horse and wagon with a dozen or more goats,he ate with them,slept with them

[Wild Rose]

Pleased you like it
I have a few more to add > Never heard a 'billy goat man' but then we lived in a town - no goats or other animals > Just dogs & cats

[wordman]

the goat man just passed through a couple times a year,but we had one that worked in a slaughter house and would drink the warm blood,he drove a 51 pacckard with 36 mirrors and lights on his car

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story shared dear friend. I loved the feel of the old days and the simple conversation with the Rag and bone man. Thank you for sharing the excellent story.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

That was when customers, no matter how poor. or their status level; were important
The days before 'charity bags' and 'food banks'

[Coyote Poetry]

We need these days back my dear friend.

[Wild Rose]

Wish we could turn the clock back
We were poor - but so were all the other people around

[barleygirl]

This is one of your best pieces becuz you've taken your time & included a ton of great details. Sometimes you breeze thru a piece, touching the high points, which is also good storytelling. But I prefer this, where you dig deep & show us every little detail from more than one direction. I have no experience with this type of person, but maybe "bone" refers to the body, rags for one's bones. In my experience, here in the USA, the GARAGE SALE reigns -- this is where people unload mountains of clothes bought obsessively, often to scratch an itch, then new clothes are put away without even being worn. It's hard to compare your story, which speaks of not having enuf, to my own cultural experience, which is an overabundance of the necessities, I guess you could say! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

The rag n bone man was around when I was a kid _ we had a 'Colin Lane' in our class at school
Bones think it must have just passed down

Here we now have Car Boot Sales whatever will fit in your car boot (Or delivery van) same thing
We did party plan sales (flower displays)
On one delivery a girl had a ticket still attached to her blouse "Don't cut it off" they said = She's sending it back to the catalogue tomorrow > New dress and you only have to pay for the return postage
I did wonder about people in the States relating to some of these items - Oh and people living in towns, when it comes to country fares & harvesting. but those in the states should relate with them
Enjoy reading

[Einstein Noodle]

nostalgic moments in time to be sure .. we didn't have a raganbone man but an old man in a tan long coat.. not matter the weather .. rode a three wheel tricycle with basket behind the seat ... and it had a large grinding wheel attached somehow, i can't quite remember .. but he sharpened knives and scissors throughout the neighborhood .. he was a mystery to us kids for sure ... we couldn't play with knives nor scissors ;) i enjoyed your story ... easy to picture ... i like the background of his life at home as he tends the horse and prepares for the sale with his family ... i like them :)
E.

[Wild Rose]

I went to school with a rag & bone mans son
Yes we had a knife sharpener
Think his grinding wheel was on a trailer
Adding that to my list > The lamplighter < Milkman > Ice cream man on a Sunday > Coal man
Thinking about trying them in an old folks home

[Einstein Noodle]

what a great idea! ... :) i'll be on the look out .. could be quite the gathering

[Wild Rose]

I will make a collection of them > There are several on hee already

[Einstein Noodle]

i can see the rag man stealing clothes... the sharpener grabbing a hand to file the nails ;))))))))) a pandemonium in the Common Room :))))))))))))))))))))))

[augustus]

Those were the 'good old days' when my Mother used to run out into the street with shovel and bucket to scrape up what the horse used to leave. The horse seemed to know the exact spot where it would deliver his 'manure for the roses'.

[Wild Rose]

That was the milkman's horse It left a parcel every day

[JudyRosella]

Beautifully told. Interesting way of telling the story. You do have a spelling and punctuation error, or two. But, this is lovely. Thank you.

[Wild Rose]

some/most of my 'Do you remember' items have 'bits o' dialeket' in em

The spell checker doesn't like them
Oh also I have a northern England dialect which is not understood by southerners Also went to junior school in Scotland
Thanks for troubling to read and comment

[Paul Bell]

Strangely enough, I only ever remember getting a balloon for my rags.
Did love the big horse mind you.
Those were the days.

[Wild Rose]

Aye lass they did hand out balloons at times but I think all the mum's round us wanted a 'bit o' brass' in their purse

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A time gone by, well not all together, we still have these folks here in Ireland, although now it's designer gear at knock down prices is what they promise, but seldom deliver, a nostalgic and uplifting piece.

[Wild Rose]

They seem to hand unwanted clothes to the various charities - we get a new bag every week now -old shoes in pairs tied together some want no 'bric a' brac'
After a major flood they were appealing for household goods we were about to go out for a new dinning table - two guys came to collect the old one "Oh they will only accept new ones. We can take to the tip for you" It stood in the garden for two year before succumbing to the weather > legs were burnt on our neighbours fire the top was put on two cement blocks as an outside coffee table
I thought at the time what a cheek they are almost destitute all their furniture ruined no insurance - I would have been glad to receive any sort of help