Younger generations may not have heard of them - but 'rag-and-bone men' were once a well-known sight on the streets of Merseyside and beyond.
For those who don't know, rag-and-bone men, were known for collecting unwanted household items to sell on themselves, whilst travelling on a horse and cart. Sometimes referred to as 'totters,' the trade was immortalised by the BBC sitcom Steptoe and Son.
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. Hearing their calls, Merseyside 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.
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They would pay for the unwanted treasures, usually giving something to children of the household such as balloons, sweets and in some instances - goldfish in bags of water. By the late 1970s, it became less common to hear or see a local rag-and-bone man and whilst we do still see people in transit vans taking unwanted goods, many still have memories of the days the rag-and-bone man slowly travelled down our streets.
The below image, courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix, shows a rag-and-bone man on an un-named northern town looking for scrap metal in 1982. We shared this image on our Facebook page and were overwhelmed by your memories of the trade on the streets of Merseyside.
Brian Phillips said: "My dad was a rag man I remember when I was about seven we where out with the hand cart down scoty Road there was a a fellow sitting out side a block of flats he he both his legs amputated he was waiting for his wheelchair to be delivered his name was whistler Smith he said to my dad mick I am dying for a pint put me on the cart and push me to the pub my dad put him on top of the rags and took him the pub and we pick him up at 3 o'clock when the pubs close in them days I am afraid whiseler Smith never got his wheelchair he died not long after that but he got his pint xxxx"
Jackie Davies said: "I remember getting a balloon and one of my friends giving her mums Sunday best dress to him so she could get a balloon. Her mum nearly murdered her lol." Susan Smith commented: "When I lived in the Northend of Birkenhead In the 60s and 70s if you took an item of clothing or an old pan they would give you a goldfish in a little bag of water or a windmill or a whistle. X"
Steve Howe wrote: "I remember the cries of 'Old Iron!" coming from my gran's back entry in Tuebrook. It's called recycling now, they were well ahead of their time." Noeleen Aldridge O'Connor wrote: "We used to beg our mum to find something we could bring out to the rag and bone man. Sometimes he gave us sweets"
Kathleen Golling commented: "I remember those days when I was 7 we got a balloon it was a hand cart full of rags he would shout Any old Rags that's how you knew he was outside this was crump Street my dad worked just over the road from our house."
Anita Sullivan said: "My life long love of horses started with the local Rag and Bone man’s horse." Barbara Clark said: "The original recycling system. Young people don’t think we ever did that in the past."
Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Patricia Connor posted: "When we lived in the Dingle my little sister ran down to the rag and bone man and gave him her brand new coat and got a balloon in return. My Mum was desperate to get it back but he was well gone when she realised what had happened. As one of seven children there was no way she could afford another one. I laugh about it now but my Mum was beside herself."
Irene Vegas Murphy wrote: "I used to love the rag man… because I loved the horse. I used to walk round with him, till the horse bit me on the ankle didnt half hurt i ran home screaming." Pam Hurdsman commented: "Ye loved getting something from him he had a fish on string and. a stick anyone remember it."
Marie Fishwick said: "I remember my friend with 5 children.The children came in with balloons she looked for her washing ready to be ironed and screamed after the rag& bone man , she rummage through his cart until she hopefully found all the washing. Years to come we thought it was sooo funny but not at the time."
Kevin Mercer said: "Ours in Crosby used to sing “any old iron” as he trundled past on his horse and cart." Karen Henderson wrote: "The rag and bone man would come up our road on a Monday he would always let you pet his horse."
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Alan Collins wrote: "We had a rag and bone man lived in our street but he only had a hand cart." Geraldine Kay wrote: "'Anyol'rags? Anyol'rags?' . Such a common cry when I was a little girl in the 1960s, accompanied by the clip-clip of the horse."
Ian Thomson commented: "I remember my Dad sending me out with a bucket and spade to pick up the manure." Shaz Keane commented: "Oh my goodness this brings back memories, he would come and shout rag an bone in a language I never understood. My mum told me what he was saying, when you gave him old stuff he would give you a balloon or a sweet."
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Karen Carr commented: "I remember him coming around the street around 70’s early 80’s." Sheila Sheerin said: "My Godfather was Ragmerchant...he always gave me a bundle of the best clothes off his cart..and i always got to pick whatever i wanted off his cart like dress jewellery /balloons/fish....even the best cups/saucers for our Mum."
Elsie Nichols posted: "Ah my mum always gave them a cup of tea we gave home rags and we would get a little chicken we kept them in a draw till older we had six and they gave us eggs later, happy days." Pauline Evans wrote: "I remember them. It was a good way of getting rid of unwanted things and he would pay a small amount of money for it too!"
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