Slang

[Bruno]

Further to Ian’s post, I heard (some time ago, can’t remember where) that criminals who opened safes by using an explosive were known as petremen in reference to the saltpetre (chemically correctly called potassium nitrate) which was one of the three principal components of gunpowder (or black powder), the other two being sulfur and charcoal.

[iansmithofotley]

Hi Bruno,

Your post reminds of a job that I went to around 1973 when I was a D.S. at Dewsbury Road Police Station C.I.D. There was a burglary at the premises of Ringtons Tea in Parkside Lane and the safe had been 'attacked'. When I got there I found that the safe had been 'blown' with explosives but the burglar had used far too much explosive. I think that large boxes of tea bags had been used to surround the safe to keep the noise down and stifle the explosion. Not only was the safe, and its contents, completely wrecked but part of the building was unsafe and I seem to remember tea bags had been blown out of the building into Parkside Lane. The burglar got nothing from the safe as everything was destroyed and I think there had also been a fire.

Ian

[buffaloskinner]

I think that large boxes of tea bags had been used to surround the safe to keep the noise down and stifle the explosion. Not only was the safe, and its contents, completely wrecked but part of the building was unsafe and I seem to remember tea bags had been blown out of the building into Parkside Lane. The burglar got nothing from the safe as everything was destroyed and I think there had also been a fire.
Ian

[tilly]

Thanks for your post Ian from your post on police slang rozzers dates back to the late 19th century.

[blackprince]

Further to Ian’s post, I heard (some time ago, can’t remember where) that criminals who opened safes by using an explosive were known as petremen in reference to the saltpetre (chemically correctly called potassium nitrate) which was one of the three principal components of gunpowder (or black powder), the other two being sulfur and charcoal.

As a chemist (rtd) I like the saltpetre explanation but there are other possibilities.
The origin of peterman came up in a thriller I am currently reading. It was generally used for a safe cracker by any means - not just by use of gunpowder.
There are other possible explanations. Some dictionaries say that the 17th C slang for a safe or strong box was a "peter". The origin may have been religious - St Peter holding the keys to heaven.

[volvojack]

I recall that Two of my Uncles who were the Army often referred to Mounted Regiments, Cavalry etc. as "Donkey Wallopers". obviously as a derogatory term. Just as we in the "RAF. referred to the Army lads as "Pongos" and they called us "Brylcreem Boys".

As Regards to this expression in relation to the Police I had a look on Line and it mentions the Term "Donkey Wallopers" as Mounted Police when attending Public Events i.e. Football Matches, Pop Concerts and such.

[MiggyBill]

Hi Bruno,

Your post reminds of a job that I went to around 1973 when I was a D.S. at Dewsbury Road Police Station C.I.D. There was a burglary at the premises of Ringtons Tea in Parkside Lane and the safe had been 'attacked'. When I got there I found that the safe had been 'blown' with explosives but the burglar had used far too much explosive. I think that large boxes of tea bags had been used to surround the safe to keep the noise down and stifle the explosion. Not only was the safe, and its contents, completely wrecked but part of the building was unsafe and I seem to remember tea bags had been blown out of the building into Parkside Lane. The burglar got nothing from the safe as everything was destroyed and I think there had also been a fire.

Ian

Hope police resources were not too *strained" in apprehending the *the tea leaves". They probably thought "this one's in the bag" until the explosion, then they knew trouble was "brewing"

Oh dear!

[tilly]

I had to laugh at that Bill my first job on leaving school was at Ringtons.That would be in nineteen fifty seven there was a factory next door that made pork pies to die for sorry for going off thread.

[volvojack]

An old expression you never hear nowadays "What the Cobbler threw at his Wife"..... Which referred to The Last, usually "No More". Most Houses had one of these Multi sided pieces of Iron,each side was different in the shape of a Shoe / Boot and Father would repair or Resol the family Footwear.
Nowadays they are quite often used as Doorstops.

[volvojack]

I know that Laikin' Is a Yorkshire expression for playing but when i try and Google it, there is not a clear definition.

Also we always used the Expression "Right as Ninepence" meaning we were O.K. Don't know where that came from