Many from younger generations may never heard of them but 'rag-and-bone men' were well-known on the streets of Greater Manchester.
For those who don't know, rag-and-bone men, sometimes referred to as 'totters,' would collect unwanted household items to sell on themselves. They were familiar sight travelling slowly down our roads and, in the 60s and 70s, the trade was immortalised by the BBC sitcom Steptoe and Son.
Known for travelling on a horse and cart, the rag-and bone-man would collect anything that homeowners no longer wanted. Hearing their calls, Greater Manchester residents would bring out their second-hand items and the rag-and-bone man would let them know if he wanted to take it or not.
Read More:
- Tesco prices in 70s Manchester show just how much has changed
- Classic treats that will transport you back to a Manchester childhood
Rags, or any type of clothing, were usually sold on for recycling and animal bone, such as that left over from meals, could be used for fertiliser or to make other items. Rag-and-bone men would pay for the unwanted treasures, usually giving something to children of the household such as balloons or sweets.
Many will remember getting 'donkey stones' from them in exchange for items, donkey stones being the scouring stones that could be used to clean a doorstep, window sill or other stonework.
By the late 1970s, it became less common to hear or see a local rag-and-bone man. In 2017, it was locally reported that by 1978, only 12 rag-and-bone men were still working in Manchester and Salford, using a horse and cart for collecting waste and trading.
These images, rediscovered from our archives, Mirrorpix, show rag-and-bone boy Russell Woods in a residential Manchester street. Taken on July 18, 1975 for the Sunday Mirror, we see Mr Woods on his horse and cart with the scraps of unwanted metal and materials he had collected so far.
Do you remember your local rag-and-bone man in Greater Manchester? Let us know in the comments section below.
We shared an image, with a call-out for your memories on our 'Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group'. Maureen Batchelor said: "I remember them giving donkey stone and firewood. Used to love seeing the horse and cart."
Meanwhile Jean Holland New posted: "Remember running out with clothes, getting a donkey stone to clean our steps with, and the best part was getting a balloon."
Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.
Love Greater Manchester's past? Sign up to our new nostalgia newsletter and never miss a thing.
Elsewhere on Facebook, a poster described the rag and bone man as the 'only place to get donkey stones." Another poster said: "We had a great little fella called Dennis, he pushed a big handcart around Hulme x"
One Facebook reader commented: "Only memory I have of them was them passing the house with a horse and cart shouting "Ragbone". We could do with them now." While another wrote: "We kids would run out with a few throw outs, for which we had a choice of gift. Either a balloon on a stick or a bow and arrow that could take out an eye. We always chose the bow and arrow."
Another poster said: "When I was in school we was asked what we want to be when we grow up, I said a rag and bone man just so I could have a pony." And another posted: "Ours had a horse who knew he would get a carrot or apple off my mum and regularly tried to walk up the step and into the hall."
Read Next:
- 17 nostalgic photos of neighbours chatting and kids at play in 1960s Salford
- Eerie photos taken inside abandoned Greater Manchester hospital show decaying medical equipment
- Past photos of Manchester kids playing out to make Health and Safety conscious parents shudder
- 'Ghostbusters' called to rid 'dangerous poltergeist' terrorising family home in Greater Manchester
- Life at Chorlton Precinct, Hulme Crescents and Quinney Crescent in the 1970s
