Premium Framed Print : Refuse collector at work on a Balham street, SW London
Framed Photos from Mary Evans Picture Library
Refuse collector at work on a Balham street, SW London
Refuse collector at work on a Balham street, SW London. He is wearing a mortar board which someone has thrown away. Date: circa 1960s
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14223987
© The Paul Kaye Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Balham Binman Binmen Bins Collector Collectors Dirty Dustbin Dustbins Dustman Dustmen Missing Mortar Refuse Rolled Shirt Shirtsleeves Tooth Waistcoat
31"x27" (79x69cm) Premium Frame
FSC real wood frame with double mounted 24x20 print. Double mounted with white conservation mountboard. Frame moulding comprises stained composite natural wood veneers (Finger Jointed Pine) 39mm wide by 21mm thick. Archival quality Fujifilm CA photo paper mounted onto 1mm card. Overall outside dimensions are 31x27 inches (787x685mm). Rear features Framing tape to cover staples, 50mm Hanger plate, cork bumpers. Glazed with durable thick 2mm Acrylic to provide a virtually unbreakable glass-like finish. Acrylic Glass is far safer, more flexible and much lighter than typical mineral glass. Moreover, its higher translucency makes it a perfect carrier for photo prints. Acrylic allows a little more light to penetrate the surface than conventional glass and absorbs UV rays so that the image and the picture quality doesn't suffer under direct sunlight even after many years. Easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Please note that, to prevent the paper falling through the mount window and to prevent cropping of the original artwork, the visible print may be slightly smaller to allow the paper to be securely attached to the mount without any white edging showing and to match the aspect ratio of the original artwork.
FSC Real Wood Frame and Double Mounted with White Conservation Mountboard - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 54.4cm x 59.9cm (21.4" x 23.6")
Estimated Product Size is 68.5cm x 78.7cm (27" x 31")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with portrait (vertical) orientation to match the source image.
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, taken in the 1960s on a quiet Balham street in South West London, we find a refuse collector at work. Dressed in a simple waistcoat and shirt, with rolled-up shirtsleeves, he wears a mortar board on his head, an unusual accessory for someone in his line of work. The mortar board, it seems, was once someone else's graduation cap, now discarded and repurposed. The scene is one of quiet industry, with the collector carefully sorting through the contents of a dustbin, separating recyclables from non-recyclables, no doubt for efficient disposal at the local dump. The dustbins, made of metal, stand proudly in front of the houses, their rusted surfaces a testament to the passage of time. Despite the grime and dirt of his job, the collector wears a smile on his face, a small reminder that even the most mundane of tasks can be approached with a sense of pride and satisfaction. The photograph captures a moment in history, a snapshot of life in the 1960s, when the world moved at a slower pace and the simple act of collecting refuse was a vital part of the community. The image is a poignant reminder of the past, a time when the role of the refuse collector was a respected and essential one, and when the humble mortar board could find a new life as a makeshift hat on the streets of Balham. The photograph is a treasure trove of historical detail, from the missing tooth of the collector to the front gates of the houses, and is a must-have for anyone interested in the social history of London in the 1960s.
MADE IN THE UK
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
FREE COLORIZATION SERVICE
You can choose advanced AI Colorization for this picture at no extra charge!
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Basket.