BS: Armitage Shanks

Subject: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 08:48 PM

It's 0140 hours BST. I am on nights and bored so beware of some deep meaningful thought processes...

I just went for a pee and realised that possibly the most popular bit of grafitti on urinals is 'Armitage Shaks'. What I wonder is -

1. Who is, or was, Armitage?
2. Why does he Shank? and
3. What the hell is shanking anyway?

Makes you wonder doesn't it.

I also passed a wagon on the way in tonight that proclaimed 'Curbishley, Builders'. Why should they build things curbishley? Is it a real word? If so I thought it would have been more suited to late night antics anyway. You know - 'He crawled home from the pub, curbishley...'

Ah well. Back to the grindstone I suppose.

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: curmudgeon
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 08:53 PM

What the Hell kind of libation did you just eliminate?

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 08:54 PM

Just tea, curmudgeon, just tea.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 09:19 PM

Dave - You obviously are NOT busy enough when on Nights ! Please forward your Managers E Mail and I will attempt to rectify that !

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 09:55 PM

A "shank" is, in prison argot, a home-made knife. To "shank" someone is to stick the blade into him or her.

This is not graffiti, it's an advert for a guy named Armitage who kills people. I suppose it could and probably does advertise his home-made blades.

I'm rather surprised that the UK allows such advertising, but over here it often reads "American Standard."

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Darowyn
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 04:18 AM

American Standard?
Isn't that the thing with the red and white lines and all those stars in the corner?
I'd have thought that it would have been regarded as next to treason to use that as a toilet!
The patriot Police will be hunting you down any minute!
Cheers
Dave
"Twyford" is quite common here too. I think it's the name of an imagined village somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: GUEST,Russ Meyer
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 05:22 AM

The company Armitage Shanks was founded in 1817 by Thomas Bond here in Armitage, Staffordshire. Generations of our families worked for them. The Bond family still live in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 06:18 AM

When I was growing up, ours had 'Bristol' writ large across the top.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: gnomad
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 07:39 AM

Our dentist when I was a child had a terrific victorian willow-pattern one, proudly emblazoned "The Waterloo". It would be worth a good bit these days, but I'll bet it is gone now.

I also remember a row of miniature equipment by Armitage in the nursery school at Armitage village, separated by low stalls so that a carer could supervise several tots at once. When occupied by those of adult size (though not necessarily mentality) on a Lichfield Ale weekend, the heads poking over the stalls put you in mind of a roomful of meerkats.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 07:55 AM

Not a bad band in their way and in their day...

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 08:19 AM

I always pictured him as either a westen hero (riding a Bronco, naturally) or a James Bond type: "The name's Shanks, Armitage Shanks, pardon me if I look flushed...". Even seen the name on Greek narrow-guage plumbing...


RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 10:22 AM

Liz - as well as threads on tits will you now also be remembered for Bristols?

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 10:32 AM

In my Youth the best porcelain urinals were made by Adamsez.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 10:46 AM

Well, it's only my opinion, but the best porcelain (or any other) urinal is the one that's there and doesn't leak when you most need it.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Nick
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 12:11 PM

It's not rhyming slang is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Nick
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 12:12 PM

eg Armitage Shanker = Banker

or Sitar player

or something

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 02:29 PM

ARmitage Shanks = Robbing banks.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 03:13 PM

And in eastern Ontario, the company is Crane.

Subject: RE: BS: Armitage Shanks
From: goatfell
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 03:39 AM

Armitage Shanks of Barrhead in Scotland makes Toilets