Tuesday 30 April 2019

Workers' Day / May Day

CAPE ARGUS - May 4 & May 6, 1886
Paging through the CAPE ARGUS from 1886 several articles mentioning RIOTS & STRIKES caught my eye. In those days Cable News were received per Telegraph and therefor reports were short and sweet.
The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, in the USA and Canada, decided that eight hours should constitute a legal day's labour as of 1 May 1886





In some countries MAY DAY /International Worker’s Day/Labour Day is a celebration of Labourers and the Working Class. Today, MAY DAY is an official holiday in 66 countries and unofficially celebrated in many more, but ironically it is rarely recognized in the country where it began, the USA. 
Ray Alexander reported that the first recorded celebration of MAY DAY in South Africa was organised by the Johannesburg District Trades Council in 1895.
Following the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994, 1 May was inaugurated as an official national public holiday, WORKERS' DAY, to pay homage to the working class of the nation.





Monday 29 April 2019

Launching of the GRAF SPEE - Germany's Third "Pocket Battleship"

CAPE TIMES - July19, 1934
The GRAF SPEE, Germany's Third "Pocket Battleship" was launched on 30 June 1934. At her launching, she was christened by the daughter of Admiral Maximilian von Spee, the ship's namesake. She was completed slightly over a year and a half later on 6 January 1936, the day she was commissioned into the German fleet.
The term "Pocket Battleship" refers to any of a class of cruisers with large-calibre guns, operated by the German navy in the Second World War.

Bakers Strike in Paris - Labor Leaders Arrested

CAPE TIMES - April 12, 1907

The NEW YORK TIMES (April 30, 1907)
had a special cablegram on Page 4:
THREE PARIS LABOR LEADERS ARRESTED;
A Preliminary Measure Before MAY DAY --
Other Arrests May Follow.
CITY TO BE AN ARMED CAMP
Rioting Feared in Large Towns --
Government to Act Against Public Servants 
Who Are Agitating.

Saturday 27 April 2019

Eight Horsepower Ford

CAPE TIMES - April 4, 1933

What intrigued me is the spelling of the 2 different models: TUDOR (Two-door) and FORDOR (Four-door). 
As a matter of interest I was wondering when they started with the term coupé for a two-door car.

CUTEX for Smart Women

THE STAR Johannesburg - July 23, 1935

Wednesday 17 April 2019

USS Akron Wrecked

CAPE TIMES - April 5, 1933
The USS Akron had its maiden voyage on Nov. 2, 1931, with its main role to scout for enemy ships and submarines. During a full-blown thunderstorm during the night of April 3-4, 1933, the ship crashed into the stormy Atlantic. Sadly, of the 76 people on-board, only 3 survived. Most had died of exposure or drowning in the turbulent and freezing cold sea. Incredibly, the Akron had not been equipped with life jackets. 

More interesting facts about the USS Akron
  • It was 785 feet long - over three times longer than a Boeing 747 airliner. 
  • Nearly seven and half million cubic feet of volume was displaced.
  • It had four starboard propellers and the engines’ water reclaiming devices appear as white strips above each propeller.
  • The emergency rear control cabin is visible in the lower fin.
  • It could carry up to five small fighter-reconnaissance aircraft.
  • The plane was launched and retrieved via a trapeze-style mechanism.
  • Bristled with 8 heavy machine guns, it had a crew of 60.
  • Range of nearly 7,000 miles.
  • With a top speed of 79 miles per hour, it was twice as fast as the latest American Lexington-class aircraft carriers.


Tuesday 9 April 2019

ELECTRIFICATION work began on RAILWAY TO BELLVILLE

CAPE TIMES - April 4, 1933





FIRST ELECTRIFICATION 
OF A RAILWAY 
IN CAPE TOWN

Work on the electrification of the Cape Town-Bellville railway line began in April 1933, and it is hoped to be completed by December.

It will result in a quicker service between Cape Town and Bellville, and hopefully there will be increased passenger traffic.

Only the suburban trains between Cape Town and Bellville will be affected by the electrification. 

The main line trains, goods trains and passenger trains to and from places beyond Bellville will continue to be worked by steam.

Cape Town’s new £22 000 Broadcasting Station at Milnerton

 CAPE TIMES - 1933, July 18 The Cape and Peninsula Broadcasting Association started Cape Town’s first Broadcasting Station on September 15, ...