Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Brass pillars for female tube passengers at Manor House
I've not come across this 'innovation' before. Placed as they are at the bottom of the escalator, I can only assume that they were intended to offer support to dismounting women wearing high heels. (Daily Herald. 7 September, 1932).
Here is a better version of this photo protected by Getty's copyright dogs of war. It seems to clearly suggest that men should exit through the sides of the post whilst women use the gap between them. The description for this image says "The posts were erected to avoided a crush during rush hours." (Getty's descriptions on historical photos are not always accurate. It's not the same as the description used n the contemporary news clipping. I'd go with the latter).
-
Comment by Hugh on February 13, 2025 at 9:47
-
When I posted this, I also contacted the London Transport Museum. I heard back quite quickly with the following:
I have searched for similar images or information about the posts across our collections, but unfortunately have not been able to identify them. I only found a ‘speedray’ system introduced on escalators at Manor House, but that was later in 1934. This was the first use of an infra-red device on escalators to adjust their speed according to usage, but as the device was also mounted on a side panel (Source Rails through the clay : a history of London's tube railways / Desmond F. Croome and Alan A. Jackson (1993) p.545) I think that is irrelevant
Then a couple of days ago, I was forwarded a message from one of the museum curators who'd dug out some photos not yet in the public collection.
“We have a very similar photo – there would have been a press call at Manor House in September 1932, so the Getty image by Fox Photos is close to the museum image attached. We also have a second image from November 1932 (no 2 attached) with horizontal bars added to the poles. My colleagues have discussed this and feel it was some kind of attempt to reassure women wearing heels that escalators were safe. Possibly there was an accident somewhere, and this was an attempt at risk management? The wooden treads on escalators were wider apart and deeper than the ones from the ‘80s, (shown by the 1955 photo) so getting heels stuck between them might have been a concern. The Nov photo (no 2) with the horizontal bars would make sense in that scenario, but they themselves would be a danger to other passengers, so it’s not surprising this experiment wasn’t taken up.”
The three photos mentioned have not been scanned for our collection but my colleagues has sent photos of them (attached). Please note these images are sent for your personal reference only and they may not be reproduced without our permission.
I'm sorry I can't show the new photos. One of them is a close-up of the lower legs of a woman wearing high-heeled shoes standing on one of the escalators. Both what the photo shows and its very presence in the pack suggest that the Museum's speculation as to the reason for the bars is spot-on.
The additional horizontal bars mentioned look to have been just below waist height, fixed facing in towards the escalator about two feet long with a solid brass spheres at the end. You can imagine what sort of damage those could have done! I assume they didn't last very long and probably caused the rapid ending of the whole experiment!.
-
Comment by Chrisandsally on Friday
-
What a lovely insight into the world at that time! Thank you Hugh.
-
Comment by Geraldine yesterday
-
Another fascinating snippet, Hugh.
Add a Comment
© 2025 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Harringay online to add comments!
Join Harringay online