Originally Posted by harit

Here is a street scene. In the back is a gate over which is written New Elphinstone. Presume this to be the textile mill, where exactly was this located?

That was the round-tana [junction of Mount Road and Walajah Road] of Mount Road, Madras, aka Anna Salai, Chennai. New Elphinstone was a cinema theatre, which used to show mostly English movies. Now, Annadurai statue is located at the round-tana. New Elphinstone was demolished in 1980s, IIRC. In the background, we can also see a logo of clock that must be P.Orr&Sons show-room. There were more people wearing dhoties walking on the road. The roundtana photographed in 2003: The Hindu : Round Tana and around

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

In the background, we can also see a logo of clock that must be P.Orr&Sons show-room. There were more people wearing dhoties walking on the road.

I remember seeing a P.Orr & Sons tower with a clock on it often in Madras, forgot the area. What were they dealers for?

And of course, as you would know, those technically arent dhoties, but Veshties!

But I guess you referred to them as such for the benefit of our non-tamil speaking friends.

[kasli]

Originally Posted by harit

Very nice, and ceremonial. The rear section which appears added on has the shape of a carriage.

Here is a street scene. In the back is a gate over which is written New Elphinstone. Presume this to be the textile mill, where exactly was this located? The riksha's appear to be Lambretta types, when did ricksha's start to ply in Mumbai? This photo is taken after 1956 because of the Dodge, and we can see the rear of a Caddy. Fiat of around 1962 is seen, and 2 Standards as well. Not much traffic in those days.

Cheers harit

Rear of a Buick 1953/54 but very fascinating really. Can this be on the rey road belt ? Lalbaug side or sewree gonna really check this sunday . Thanks lovely snap" sorry did not read he other part so it's in the south

[harit]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

That was the round-tana [junction of Mount Road and Walajah Road] of Mount Road, Madras, aka Anna Salai, Chennai. New Elphinstone was a cinema theatre, ..... P.Orr & Sons show-room...

Originally Posted by Stanher

I remember seeing a P.Orr & Sons tower with a clock on it often in Madras, forgot the area. What were they dealers for?

Thanks Ravi, would have never imagined Chennai.
P.Orr & Sons dealt with clocks and watches, I have a few with their name on the dial.

This is a street scene in Kolkatta taken in 1955, note the Hindustan, another Dodge like Rehan's grandad had, the shop with GAS mentioned, the woody in the background, and lots of cycle rikshas. Can anyone identify the area?
There is a banner for a Carnival (in Kolkatta?). It was to be held in "Monsoon Square", is there such a place today?

Cheers harit

[mbz180]

Originally Posted by harit

T

This is a street scene in Kolkatta taken in 1955, note the Hindustan, another Dodge like Rehan's grandad had, the shop with GAS mentioned, the woody in the background, and lots of cycle rikshas. Can anyone identify the area?
There is a banner for a Carnival (in Kolkatta?). It was to be held in "Monsoon Square", is there such a place today?

Cheers harit

I just showed this photo to an elder colleague of mine, and he immediately identified the building and the office with the GAS sign board. The building is the famous Queens Mansion on Park Street and this pic shows the Chowringhee end of the building. The connecting road with the Woody is Russell Street, and the building on the right side of the Woody with a gate visible is The Bengal Club. This side of the GAS office was the billing department for the Calcutta Municipal Corporation's piped gas division. In some localities, piped gas is still functioning!

Though not a part of the photo, the adjacent building to Queens is Stephen Court, which is as old and was in the news last year as the top 2 floors were destroyed by a fire. On the other side opposite the confectioners Flurys is Park Mansion which is also a lovely old building.

Thankfully, after the Paul's of the APJ Park Hotels Group bought over Queens and Park Mansions, both of them have been restored quite well. Bengal Club is, as always, in great shape.

Nobody in office seems to have heard of Monsoon Square, but a quick check on the net brings up a 'Monsoon Garden Square', which was a theatre set up of Chinese-Indian-Burmese collaboration. Or it may have been the old name of a park which has, as is so common, been re-named.


Best Regards
Prithvi

[harit]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

That was the round-tana [junction of Mount Road and Walajah Road] of Mount Road, Madras, .........................

Originally Posted by mbz180

I just showed this photo to an elder colleague of mine.....Best Regards Prithvi

Here are some more pictures, maybe also in Chennai? Let us wait for feedback.

And a very old picture of Howrah bridge in Kolkatta, not a clear photo but there is an old bus visible.

Cheers harit

[harit]

A street scene outside VT Station. To go to Chembur Colony you had to climb ONTO the bus. One chap appears to be trying to get in through the window. There may have have some protest or demonstration, or whatever.

Cheers harit

[V-16]

Actually according to what i have read on the net, Ahmedabad was the pioneer in introducing the Autorickshaw to India. Ill put down what i recollect from the article on the net quite a while back when prying Vespa auto rickshaws.

When Bombay State banned the cycle rickshaw after Independence on humanitarian grounds, cycle-rickshaw owner Vishnu Kumar imported a 1.25 HP motor cycle engine and cleverly fitted it to his cycle rickshaw. This was the first motor powered three-wheeler to be plyed on Ahmedabad streets and this was way back in 1948.

Success made Vishnu Kumar turn into an auto manufacturer by importing several of similar motorbike engines and he started converting cycle rickshaws into autos. By the end of 1948 at least 25 such vehicles were registered with the Ahmedabad RTO.

The need for a more efficient vehicle was clearly felt.

The auto-rickshaw as we know it today was first brought to Ahmedabad in 1950 and was made in Italy. These had a canopy-like hood and was uncovered on the sides thus providing additional (hardly) safety from the Vishnu Kumar brand which was fast driven out of production by its Italian counterpart. In its first year of introduction, there were in excess of 150 autos registered in Ahmedabad.

In Mumbai autorickshaws started during the seventies or late sixties. Maybe the picture is from mid to late sixties.

The New Elphinstone is not a Mill but a theatre. Notice the posters and film stills around on the walls. Also it looks typical of a theatre entrance of those days. Is it the oldElphinstone Talkies opp Metro? Nope does not look like that as it is from mid 60's

Is this Mumbai? I would say yes but where???


Firsty are we sure this is Mumbai?

Originally Posted by harit

Here are some more pictures, maybe also in Chennai?

I can easily identify the Bombay Mutual building with clock tower located at NSC Bose Road, Parry's Corner [aka George Town, Esplanade], Chennai, presently houses LIC offices.

[anjan_c2007]

Most of us have been car freaks since childhood. Here's a story about a local car-lover who was studying automobile engineering in the mid 1990's. He saw a pile up of rotting government cars that were mostly Ambassadors from the VIP fleet. Among these he sighted a very special car, a Dodge Kingsway which made him reach the concerned official at the Collectorate with his friends. When told that may be auctioneers will bid and get the car after the office process is through, the car lover still had hope.
Valuation was done and the Kingsway was costed at a few thousand bucks,that was its weight's scrap value.Hanging on at the office regularly with his friends, he explained to the Dy Collector, that as an engineering student he will gain much knowledge wise with the Kingsway in his possession.
The car was rotting, grounded and almost 2 plus feet under the soil.One fine day, the Dy Collector offered him the car for a few thousand bucks.He said that you have been coming here regularly and since our costing is that much we offer the car to you for the price.Shows that some bureaucrats are human too! He was a student and it took him lots of efforts to garner the amount. His uncle too helped and the car finally came home. They own a workshop till today and the car was refurbished there.
I told my friend that BML 9014 was a VVIP car in Nagpur and the then Chief Minister Shri V.P. Naik used it always during his visits here. Apart from this many other visiting dignitaries including India's erstwhile Prime Ministers (Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964) and many Union Ministers used this car while at Nagpur as it was the queen of the then small VVIP fleet.The car was dark green and white (two tone colour) originally.


This is the Kingsway

[harit]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I can easily identify the Bombay Mutual building with clock tower located at NSC Bose Road, Parry's Corner [aka George Town, Esplanade], Chennai, presently houses LIC offices.

I wonder how all these Chennai pictures landed up in Mumbai.
Soon after independence India nationalised almost all insurance companies and Bombay Mutual was one of them to fall into LIC which was founded in 1956 with the merger of 243 insurance companies and provident societies. And so this building houses LIC.

A Standard for Stanher, from the rear. This place appears to be the entrance of some fascility or whatever.

Two pictures of navy guys, the second picture shows some funny flying machines and in the background it says Domino Sugar on the chimney, google gave a later picture and location is LA USA. Apparently the Navy sailed around the world a lot.

Cheers harit

[harit]

A street scene in Musoorie. Wish I could get one of these Chevy woodies now. There are newish Tata-Mercedes-Benz busses, and also the older version with the snout.

Cheers harit

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by harit

A street scene in Musoorie. Wish I could get one of these Chevy woodies now. There are newish Tata-Mercedes-Benz busses, and also the older version with the snout.

Cheers harit

The Tata buses are not the 1210 kind. So it must be a picture from the pre-1210 TMB era.The Chevrolets must have all been petrol powered, as the diesel and petrol price differential was not so glaring.

[Stanher]

A really nice old photo of Bombay Airport circa 1967. There is a Standard Van (possibly the 20) seen plus what look like some American trucks/vans used by the airport?

Also a Fiat Millecento and a Ford Consul on the right. 'wonder if they belonged to the airport staff? Considering their parking space is so close to the tarmac!



Found in this flickr album:

Bombay Airport | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by Stanher

A really nice old photo of Bombay Airport circa 1967. There is a Standard Van (possibly the 20) seen plus what look like some American trucks/vans used by the airport?

Also a Fiat Millecento and a Ford Consul on the right. 'wonder if they belonged to the airport staff? Considering their parking space is so close to the tarmac!

Attachment 842117

Found in this flickr album:

Bombay Airport | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Standard 20 is also very much there along with the others.The airplane to the left could be a Viscount or a Caravelle that were quite popular those days.The one to the right is a Boeing.