Tag: oddity

March 14th – This is for Richard Burnell. Last autumn, he was exploring the canals of Birmingham, and he happened upon these boxes, mounted either side of the canal in Ladywood. He asked what they were, and I told him – to some incredulity – that they were a traffic counter. I vowed that next time I passed, I’d take a picture or two.

In the tall metal box is a mains power supply and a counter. In the long, flat one next to it, two photo electric beam switches (made by specialists Sick), which detect a light beam reflected from a target in the box on the opposite side of the canal. When both beams are broken together, it’s most likely by a boat, so the count increases. By using the two beams, this filters out false signals from curious hands, waterfowl etc.

Measuring boat traffic is important. Similar systems on cycle routes count bikes, and we’ve all seen the temporary ones that count traffic.

February 17th – I’ve no idea what’s going on here. This building, sat halfway along Lindon Road, Brownhills, was once a gent’s barbers. Latterly workshop of Maurice Baker, genius but grumpy engineer, it was converted back into a house in the mid-80’s. I’m unsure what the joke is or was, but whoever restored the building embedded the tail fin of a bomb into the gable wall just below the eaves. Originally painted red, it has fascinated me for years. There is, as far as I can tell, no record of the property being bombed. Anyone got any idea what it’s about?

The house has since been converted to flats and is in some disrepair. I’d love to know what this distinctly Brownhillian bit of wit is all about.