Blackouts Collection

Fuel Shortages, Corley, Birmingham, Tuesday 4th December 1973. No Petrol. Forecourt Empty

Fuel Shortages and Fuel Rationing Signs, Bearwood, Birmingham, Tuesday 4th December 1973. Supply Shortage. Sorry No Petrol

Elderly woman, drinking a cup of tea, by candlelight, Perry Barr, Birmingham, 11th February 1972

Coach and Horses, being used to beat the fuel shortage at Walton Hall, Walton, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, Wednesday 12th December 1973

Road painters carrying broken white line stencil, Sept 1939
Road painters carrying the " blackout stencil" which enabled workmen to paint broken white lines down the centre of roads with ease, in order to reduce accidents when driving in blackouts

Blackout, meal by candlelight, 1949
Once again the victims of an unofficial strike: the long-suffering public. Recalling the inconveniences of the long wartime blackout

Blackout. Fuel-crisis shopping in London, 1947
The Candlelights of London: business as usual in the capital. Fuel-crisis shopping with department store lighting - modern style

Fuel Rationing, customers limited to two gallons, Bearwood, Birmingham, Tuesday 4th December 1973

University Students, chopping logs, Cambridge Street, Birmingham, 22nd February 1972

Oldbury Newsagent, able to beat blackout and stay open by using a gas lamp, Birmingham, Friday 25th February 1972

Coal Dump, Northampton Street, Birmingham, Wednesday 9th February 1972

Scavenging for Coal, Hednesford, Staffordshire, Monday 31st January 1972

Christmas Trees, On Sale during blackout, being sold by candlelight, Market Hall, Birmingham. Monday 17th December 1973

Wine shop, still open during blackout, selling wine by candlelight, Priory Ringway, Birmingham. Monday 17th December 1973. Peter Dominic

Petrol pump in garden, for one enterprising Erdington Resident during fuel shortages, Birmingham, Thursday 13th December 1973

Diesel Fuel Queues, Corley Service Station, Birmingham, Wednesday 12th December 1973. Bond Worth Rivington Carpets

Petrol Station Forecourt, Perry Barr, Birmingham, 11th February 1972. Cosed

Reduced Service on Commuter Trains, due to power cuts, New Street Station, Birmingham, Monday 14th February 1972

Power Cuts at the offices of the Central Electricity Generating Board, Shirley, Birmingham, Tuesday 15th February 1972

Council Staff affected by power cuts, set up their offices in Town Hall, West Bromwich, Wednesday 16th February 1972

Protective colouring for black outs, WWII - hi vis dog
A night time shot illustrating the use of white accessories to ensure visibility during black outs, making pedestrians visible to motorists during the early weeks of the Second World War. Date: 1939

Guide to available moonlight during 1939
A diagram prepared for readers of The Sphere in order that they may know, at a glance, how much moonlight they will get on any particular evening of the period

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"Unveiling the Shadows: A Glimpse into Blackouts Through Time" Korea at night, a satellite image reveals the enigmatic beauty of urban blackouts. Power cuts strike unexpectedly at the offices of the Central Electricity Generating Board in Shirley, leaving employees in darkness and uncertainty. Fuel shortages grip Corley, Birmingham on Tuesday 4th December 1973 - an eerie sight as forecourts stand empty with no petrol to be found. In September 1939, road painters persevere through blackout conditions while carrying broken white line stencils, determined to maintain order even in darkness. The year is 1949; a candlelit meal becomes a symbol of resilience during times of blackout-induced inconvenience. Londoners navigate fuel-crisis shopping in 1947 amidst blackouts, adapting their routines to overcome scarcity and uncertainty. During WWII's protective coloring for blackouts, even dogs don hi-vis gear as they become essential companions navigating darkened streets together with their owners. Bearwood experiences fuel shortages and displays signs of fuel rationing on Tuesday 4th December 1973 - limitations imposed as society grapples with energy crises. Customers are restricted to two gallons due to fuel rationing measures in Bearwood, Birmingham - an era where resourcefulness became paramount for survival. University students take matters into their own hands by chopping logs on Cambridge Street in Birmingham on February 22nd, 1972 - embracing self-sufficiency during challenging times. An Oldbury newsagent defies blackout challenges by utilizing a gas lamp to stay open for business amidst darkness that envelops Birmingham's streets. Coal dumps like Northampton Street serve as reminders of the struggles faced during Wednesday 9th February 1972 when resources were scarce but determination remained strong. In these snapshots from history, we witness the resilience, resourcefulness, and adaptability of communities facing blackouts.