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Barman has a stern word with a disreputable customer
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Barman has a stern word with a disreputable customer
Barman has a stern word with a disreputable customer who has been stealing pewter beer tankards, which he has been turning into coinage to bring back to spend at the same establishment! " I don t so much mind your sneaking my Pewters (Pewter Pint mugs), but when it comes to bringing em back in the shape of arf crowns (coins) its a bit too much" !!! Date: 1892
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Media ID 11574833
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
1892 Barman Beer Cheek Cheeky Coinage Coins Crime Criminal Crowns Customer Disreputable Half Londoner Melting Mugs Pewter Phil Publican Ragged Rough Steal Steals Stolen Tankard Tankards Thief Thieving Spiv
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from 1892, a stern-faced barman delivers a reprimand to a disreputable customer at a London public house. The customer, a rough and ragged type with the air of a spiv or wideboy about him, had been stealing the establishment's prized pewter beer tankards and melting them down to create makeshift coins, or "arf crowns," to spend at the same establishment. The barman, with a no-nonsense expression, leans in close to the customer, his hands on the countertop, as he delivers a stern warning. "I don't so much mind your sneaking my pewters," he says, "but when it comes to bringing them back in the shape of farthings, it's a bit too much." The scene takes place in a dimly-lit, smoky pub, the air thick with the mingled scents of gin and stale beer. The patrons in the background look on with interest, some chuckling at the exchange, while others shoot disapproving glances at the thieving customer. This historical photograph captures a moment of social tension in the East End of London, a time and place known for its colorful characters and criminal underworld. The use of pewter tankards was common in pubs of the era, and their theft was a significant problem for publicans, who not only lost valuable inventory but also faced the risk of damage to their reputation. Overall, this image offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, providing a window into the gritty, working-class world of London's East End in the late 19th century.
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