The Birmingham Daily Post was established in 1857 by John Feeney in association with Sir John Jaffray, and was the first daily newspaper to be published in the provinces at the price of one penny. During the American civil war, the newspaper stoutly supported the cause of the North, despite widespread British support for the South. Research Birmingham Daily Post
Blue Heaven was a British, Channel 4 situation comedytelevision show written by Frank Skinner, starring Frank Skinner and Conleth Hill about a Birmingham-based blues band struggling to make it big. Blue Heaven was shown during 1994. Research Blue Heaven
A cabriolet (cab) was a vehicle similar to a hackney-carriage with two or four wheels, originally drawn by a single horse but later by a motor. The original cabriolets were for a single passenger beside the driver and were a kind of hooded chaise. In the beginning of the 19th century an effort was made to introduce cabriolets into Britain, to supersede hackney carriages. It was not until 1823, however, that licences were obtained for cabriolets. At first their number was limited to twelve. These were of an improved pattern, with a folding hood, and seated two passengers, the driver being separated from them by a partition. In 1832 all restrictions were removed, and cabriolets came into popular favour. In 1836 a cabriolet on four wheels, the precursor of the brougham, was introduced, and from this the clarence evolved. In 1834 a patent was taken out for an improved, two-wheeled safety cab by Hansom, the architect of Birmingham town hall. The safety consisted in an arrangement of the framework which prevented the cab tilting backwards
or forwards in case of accident. These cabriolets had a small body, hung between wheels of over seven feet diameter. Two years later a fresh patent was obtained for an improved Hansom. Motor cabs were first introduced in 1897, but failed to pay and were phased out, only to start to reappear in London around 1905. Research Cabriolet
Caucus is a term, originally American, for a private meeting of citizens to agree upon candidates to be proposed for election to offices or to concert measures for supporting a party. In Britain the term is applied to the system of political organization of which the Birmingham Liberal Association was a former typical type, where all electioneering business is managed by a representative committee of voters. Its origin is referred to a fray between some British soldiers and Boston rope-makers in 1770, which resulted in democratic meetings of rope-makers and caulkers, called by the Tories (or Loyalists) caucus meetings. Research Caucus
Crossroads was a British soapoperatelevision series following the daily lives of the staff and guests of a fictional Birmingham motel. Crossroads was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling and ran from 1964 to 1988. Research Crossroads
Gilt Toys was the old trade term for Victorian costume jewelry or trinkets made from copper or German-silver, with a thin coating of gold or silver spread over its surface. Gilt toys were thus cheaper than gold and silver jewelry, but they could be equally brilliant and as little liable to tarnish. In Britain the industry of their manufacture was chiefly carried on at Birmingham; and in France at Paris and Lyons. Research Gilt Toy
A hallmark is an official mark stamped on British gold, silver, and (from 1913) platinum.
Hallmarking was instituted in 1327 by the royal charter of London Goldsmiths so as to prevent fraud. After 1363, personal marks of identification were added. Today, tests of metal content are carried out at authorised assay offices in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh; each assay office has its distinguishing mark, to which is added a maker's mark, date letter, and mark guaranteeing standard. Research Hallmark
Respect, the Unity Coalition, is a British left-wing political party formed directly out of the anti-war movement in the UK which followed the invasion of Iraq in 2002. Some of those involved in the anti-war movement felt that a political movement was needed to further the aims of those millions who marched against the war. A public meeting was called in January 2004 in London at Friend's House and from that meeting, which was attended by more than 1500 people, an executive was formed. Among those instrumental in founding Respect were George Galloway MP (who had been expelled from the ruling Labour party for revealing truths about the illegality of the invasion of Iraq), Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Ken Loach the film maker and Salma Yaqoob, of the Birmingham Stop the War group. Many British political observers see Respect as an attempt to recreate the true Socialist Labour party which had become a party - renamed 'New Labour' - with almost identical aims to the Tory party, and in so doing had misled and cheated its supporters who traditionally believed in values such as the national ownership of railways and public services and which they had thought would be re-nationalised by the Tony Blair led Labour government.
Wood screws or screw nails are nails which are screwed into the material instead of being hammered. Until 1760 they were not popularly used owing to the high cost of their production, but in 1760 a machine was invented for their manufacture and in 1817 a German clockmaker patented an automatic screw-making machine. In 1854 an American invented a practical serviceable machine for producing screws and the industry took off, especially in Birmingham, England. Research Wood Screw
The Angry Brigade were a British anarchist group of at least three men and two women who carried out anti-establishment bomb attacks in London, Birmingham and Manchester in 1970 and 1971. Three men and two women, believed to be responsible for the attacks were arrested in August 1971. Research Angry Brigade
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Birmingham Daily Post
