Ration Books

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ian16th
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Ration Books

#1 Post by ian16th » Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:03 am

When I took the Queens shilling in 1952, I handed in my Ration Book.

When I was demobbed in 1965, I didn't get it back.

Should I complain?
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Re: Ration Books

#2 Post by CharlieOneSix » Fri Nov 09, 2018 9:39 am

Well, just in case it's ever needed :D I've still got my petrol ration book that was issued during the fuel crisis in late 1973. I was driving a Vauxhall VX4/90 then but it was rather more than 14-19HP with its 1975cc engine.
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Re: Ration Books

#3 Post by ian16th » Fri Nov 09, 2018 9:54 am

Can't remember petrol rationing in 73. Was it a Service thing? My main memory of that 'crises; was the increase in the price of heating oil.
I bought an unheated house in the Forest of Dean, at the back end of 1971, and installed an oil fired system.

What I do remember of the 1956 session, besides getting jabbed up for going to Suez. I drove a car unaccompanied by a licence holder, with only a provisional licence. This was legal with 6 months experience.

The petrol coupons that were issued at that time were the old WWII ones and my dad had some genuine WWII ones left.
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Re: Ration Books

#4 Post by G-CPTN » Fri Nov 09, 2018 9:57 am


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Re: Ration Books

#5 Post by ian16th » Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:11 am

Thanks for that. You have successfully demonstrated my senility :ymdevil:

I was a service rep at this time, driving to, from and between customers. So it must have affected me, but I honestly cannot remember it happening.
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Re: Ration Books

#6 Post by G-CPTN » Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:59 am

I had to make a journey from Bedfordshire to Northumberland (and return) at the height of the shortage when I wasn't certain whether I could obtain fuel for the return journey, so I carried a couple of cans in the boot.
In addition I abandoned my usual flat-out driving technique in favour of constant throttle 50 mph.
I saved so much fuel on the journey up that I hardly needed to add any before returning.

I learned a lot that weekend.

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Re: Ration Books

#7 Post by CharlieOneSix » Fri Nov 09, 2018 12:24 pm

I think all roads, even motorways, had a speed limit of 50mph during the crisis. Fortunately I missed most of it as from the January I was working in the toe of Italy until it was nearly all over.
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Re: Ration Books

#8 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:26 pm

Yes rat books issued but I am pretty sure not implemented. I think the 50 limit was Jim Callaghan 's winter of did in '78.

Drove south and remember station hopping to fill up. Town filling stations often limited to regulars only. At an A1 filling station near Leeming Bar I think a Dutchman filled his large BMW to full. The filling station guy protested that it was a 10 litre limit. The Cloggie was going to Dover, just shrugged, nothing to do with him. But could hardly get the fuel back :)

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Re: Ration Books

#9 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:39 pm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Eight

This article shows that an 8HP engine was about 1000cc. HP had little connection with BHP. In the case of the Standard 8 the BHP was about 30.

My 1964 Ford Anglia was a massive 38 bhp and 61 in my Triumph 1300. I had the upgraded SAAB99 next with 86!

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Re: Ration Books

#10 Post by ian16th » Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:42 pm

CharlieOneSix wrote:
Fri Nov 09, 2018 12:24 pm
I think all roads, even motorways, had a speed limit of 50mph during the crisis. Fortunately I missed most of it as from the January I was working in the toe of Italy until it was nearly all over.
I remember the 50 mph limit, one night during the wee small hours I drove from Melksham to Tadcaster at an average speed that was above the limit!
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Re: Ration Books

#11 Post by G-CPTN » Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:45 pm

'Touring' with a convoy of HGVs in Italy when a strike of fuel delivery drivers meant long stationary queues at filling stations with restricted anounts being dispensed - no good for our convoy,
Our wagon-master pointed out that the fuel price was way below that in the UK, so he approached the staff and offered to pay twice the pump price to fill our tanks, so we were summoned to the front of the queue and received as much as we needed.

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Re: Ration Books

#12 Post by Sisemen » Fri Nov 09, 2018 3:23 pm

I kept my 1973 ration books for ages afterwards (‘cos they said we had to!) but I eventually junked them in the grand “divorce” clear out 10 years later.

I seem to think that the current 70mph upper limit on British roads was as a result of the 73 crisis and the “Do Gooders” have quietly kept it current.

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Re: Ration Books

#13 Post by CharlieOneSix » Fri Nov 09, 2018 4:10 pm

I took these excerpts from an RAC document "The 1973 – 1975 Energy Crisis and Its Impact on Transport".
From the very beginning of the crisis, motorists were asked to economize in the use of fuel. Peter Walker, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and cabinet minister responsible for the energy sector, asked on 24 October 1973 that “motorists should endeavour to cut down on petrol consumption and to use public transport to a greater extent where that is available.” By 19 November, the government introduced a 10% reduction in all oil supplies and appealed for voluntary avoidance of driving at weekends and a voluntary reduction in maximum speeds to 50 miles per hour (mph).
The voluntary limit of 50 mph was made statutory in December 1973 and stayed in place until the end of March 1974, when it was lifted to 70 mph for motorways. The limit was subsequently increased for other roads in May but this proved only temporary as limits were reduced again in December 1974 as part of a package of energy saving measures. The new limits were 70 mph on motorways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 50 mph on single carriageway roads. The limits were revised again in 1977 to the present structure.
Ration books were distributed to all motorists with effect from 29 November 1973. By the end of March 1974 the short term threat of rationing had been effectively lifted as the supply situation eased. The threat of rationing finally disappeared in July 1975 when motorists were told they could destroy the ration books.
A Barrister, Andrew Thompson, has produce an interesting article on speed limits here: A Brief History of Speed Limits
There was no speed limit on motorways until 22nd December 1965 when a national speed limit of 70 mph was imposed - initially for a four month trial period. The trial period was extended and made permanent in 1967.
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Re: Ration Books

#14 Post by 4mastacker » Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:04 pm

I thought the 70 mph limit on motorways was brought about because certain car manufacturers were using the motorways as speed test tracks.
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Re: Ration Books

#15 Post by fareastdriver » Fri Nov 09, 2018 7:33 pm

That was Aston Martin from Newport Pagnell. They would do a max chat production test drive early Sunday mornings.

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