Model A Ford, Made in Birmingham, UK - 1928

The front of the car jacked up so that the 5 year old Grand-son could eassily turn the steering wheel at play.

The rear of the car

The 'running board' of early days.

The starter handle.

On the road from Karawanella to Kegalle, near Atale, I saw this beautiful car made in Birmingham in the UK in 1928 by the Ford Motor Co. of UK. It was called 'Ford Model A' and was in running condition. The owner in his 70s claimed that this was used as a bus to transport passengers in the early years.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Model A Ford, Made in Birmingham, UK - 1928

On the road from Karawanella to Kegalle, near Atale, I saw this beautiful car made in Birmingham in the UK in 1928 by the Ford Motor Co. of UK. It was called 'Ford Model A' and was in running condition. The owner in his 70s claimed that this was used as a bus to transport passengers in the early years.

It had the following features :-

1.       ThePetrol tank was in front of the dash-board.

2.       Petrol was gravity fed. There was no petrol pump.

3.       The floor board on the driver’s side had 5 pedals :-

a.       The brake pedal on the  right

b.      The accelerator pedal in the middle

c.       The clutch pedal on the left

d.      High up on the left side was the starter motor pedal – This was connected by a series of metal links to the solenoid switch on the starter motor. This when activated by pushing the starter motor pedal, started the starter motor.

4.       There was a starter handle.

5.       There was a distributor which had current fed from an ignition coil.

6.       The brakes were linked by metal links to the drums on all four wheels.

7.       There were two horns one electrically operated and the other was a rubber bulb horn.

8.       There was a luggage carrier in the rear.

I asked the owner whether he got any offers for the vehicle.

He said he had plenty but did not want to sell.

He said he occasionally takes the car for a run.

 

Waterfall in the heart of Kandy town, Sri Lanka.

The water rushing out of the Kandy lake.

The waterfall as seen from the 2nd floor of the multi-storeyed car park.

The water flowing down-stream.

It was a rainy day in Kandy. The Kandy lake was receiving all the rain-water. It was rushing out of the sluice gates and creating a beautiful waterfall in the centre of the town.

The Parliament Complex, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

There is a new highway behind the Parliament Complex at Sri Jayawardenapura. It has a long foot-path beautifully laid out for strollers by the side of the lake. Trees are being planted and in a few years time will turn out to be a nice shady avenue.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrhv1ReuEGc

Sale at the BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The front of the BMICH.

Two-wheelers for sale.

Sewing machines for sale.

Household furniture for sale.

There were shoppers galore at this 'Trade Fare' organised at the BMICH for 3 days. Anything from Cell-phones to household goods were for sale. A few scenes from the Fare are shown above.

Singer Sale, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Clown

Video :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2xPr_FYELI&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA&index=2&feature=plcp

Magic show

Video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31cH8CvrTiE&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA&index=1&feature=plcp
There was a 'Singer Mega Sale' at the 'Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Hall' at the BMIC, Colombo. The above two items were part of the entertainment.

Scenes at 'The Waters Edge Park', Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Evening strollers at the Waters Edge Park. A time to relax and have fun.

Scenes from 'The Waters Edge', Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Swamp land ideal for bird-spotting.

Scene along a foot-path.

Road closed to traffic with paintings.

'The Waters Edge Hotel seen in the distance.

Scenes from the Waters Edge, Baththaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

At the flower plants sale site.

A footpath by a waterway for strollers.

The 5 star Waters Edge hotel bordering the park.

The mini golf course.

The Waters Edge was a swamp land near the bifurcation of the roads leading to Baththaramulla and to the New Parliament Complex. It is being developed as a park. It surpasses the old Victoria Park - Vihara Maha Dewi Park, in Colombo 7. It is becoming more and more enchanting day by day.

3D Street Art, Waters Edge, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Entering the road approaching the Waters Edge Hotel and proceeding straight on at the road barrier by foot one comes across these paintings on the road.

An old Austin passenger car, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

A few vintage cars were advertised for hire for the ceremonial ride of newly married couples at The Bandaranayake Memorial International Conferance Hall (BMICH), Colombo. I took these pictures there.

Carbide bicycle lamp.

In the old days lamps on vehicles were of various sorts. One of these varieties was a 'carbide lamp'. Calcium carbide nuggets or powder was put in the bottom container. Water was added to the top container. An outlet from the water tank had a nut to stop and also to control the water-flow as droplets onto the carbide particles in the bottom tank. This released acetylene gas which was led by a copper tube to a nozzle in the lamp chamber. A flame was applied to the nozzle when the acetylene started burning. On closing the glass front of the lamp there was a steady bright beam of light ahead.
I came across this lamp in Kandy, Sri Lanka in the 1980s and bought it for Rs.100/- It was manufactured by 'Lucas of Birmingham, UK' in the heydays of British Empire and had been bought in Ceylon of those days.

Xerophytes for sale, Waters Edge, Colombo.

Xerophytes - Plants thriving in water-scarce dessert conditions are easy to look after in flats. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and add colour to a living room. They need minimal attention.

Traditions of a 'House-warming' ceremony, Sri Lanka.

Lighting-up the brass lamp.

Placing the pot of milk on a make-shift hearth.

Lighting-up the hearth.

The pot of milk boiling over.

Entry to a new residence is associated with so many traditions in Sri Lanka. An auspicious day and time are chosen by an astrologer. The brass-lamp is lighted at the specified time. The pot of milk is placed on a make-shift hearth and the hearth lighted up. The milk boiling over equally all round the rim of the clay pot is considered a good sign. The table covered with sweet-meats already prepared is uncovered and the guests enjoy the meal.

Boating on the Diyawanna Oya, 'Water's Edge', Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Canoeing

Sailing

The 'Water's Edge' near the Parliament is a hive of activity now. This beats the old 'Galle Face Green' for leisure activities.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_smQdqG1ESo