A few nice business pc images I found:
Orkney Constabulary 1899
Image by conner395
This is the whole of the "private" police force covering the County of Orkney in 1899: -.
1 chief officer (Superintendent),
1 Sergeant (the rank only just created there and which would not be used again until 1938) and
4 Constables.
Total - SIX!
It appeared in the Police Review and Parade Gossip in 1900, along with an article on the force (obviously written by Supt Cruikshank!!)
The officers in the photo are:
Back row (L-R) PC James Lowden (deceased) ; PC Alexander Wright; Sgy John Tulloch
Front row (L-R): PC Richard Atkin, Supt Cruikshank; PC James (actually Alexander) Grant.
PC Grant appears to have been the former Superintendent of the Orkney force (1858-1898) who - as the article very remarkably stated - was back in uniform due to dire straights.
Both Tulloch and Atkin would go on to become Superintendent (Chief officer) - remarkably Atkin was appointed ahead of Tulloch, when Mr Cruikshank gave up the post (in the huff??) and headed south again in 1900. Indeed even in 1907 when a successor for Mr Atkin was required, Mr Tulloch did not get the job, as a junior officer (who joined after this photo was taken) was promoted to Superintendent and held the post until 1927. Thereafter Mr Tulloch was finally made Superintendent, which he held until 1938. So this photo shows 4 of the 5 chief officers during the "private County council force" period (1858 - 1938) - including:-
- the first (Grant),
- the last (Tulloch) and
- the only one taken on from outwith (Cruikshank) - albeit Grant was a Sergeant in Ross-shire when appointed to Kirkwall to set up the force in 1858. Quite a bit of history in a wee photo!
PC Lowden was killed at the Battle of Magersfontein in December 1899 so presumably was recalled to his regiment in the October - hence the photograph would likely have been taken midway through 1899 since "summer uniform" is specifically mentioned in the article.
The article is reproduced in full at the end of this article - it is well worth the reading.
Orkney is a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland. Like its sister island-group to the north, Zetland (Shetland) is was a self-contained County. As a result both Counties were exempted from the requirements of the Police (Scotland) Act of 1857 to establish a police force. The other Scottish island groups (Outer and Inner Hebrides) off the west coast of Scotland were part of mainland counties (Inverness, Ross or Argyll) and thus were not exempt.
Orkney did in any case decide to set up its own force in 1858 although it remained a "private County council" force until 1938, and was not subject to Governement inspection - and thus no Government funding was forthcoming till 1938.
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POLICE REVIEW AND PARADE GOSSIP" newspaper
dated 16 March 1900
"THE ORKNEY CONSTABULARY"
We have pleasure in reproducing above a group photo of the members of the Orkney County Constabulary.
The County of Orkney - with the exception of Shetland - is the farthest north of H.M. home dominions. The Orkneys consist of a group of 65 islands, 30 of which are inhabited. The population at the last census was 30,453.
The county is famed as a summer resort, but is considered by many Southerners too far off for a short holiday. The journey can however be accomplished from London in two days. There is excellent shooting and fishing in the county, and ample facilities for boating and bathing. The roads also are first class for driving and cycling.
The scenery in some parts is magnificent, and antiquarians visiting the county are invariably delighted with the many ancient and interesting ruins, etc., of bygone days.
The Police Force consists of only six Officers, all told. Besides being Police Constables, they are all sworn Sheriff Criminal Officers, and draw Exchequer fees in addition to their county salaries. The work, although varying considerably from what is experienced in a large city or populous county, is very arduous. The weather in summer is delightful, but in winter it is very trying. Travelling through 'the wind-swept Orcades,' as a Police Officer, gives a good illustration of the saying that 'the Policeman's life is not a happy one.'
Upon receiving information of a crime or offence in the outlying parts of the mainland or in the Islands, the Orkney Constable has to don his oilskins and sou'-wester, and set off in a trap or boat, as the case may be, and he then looks quite a different creature to what he appears in our portrait, where he is depicted in his summer uniform.
"Fancy," writes a correspondent, "an Officer being sent off to an outlying island in a sailing boat to investigate a case, and being 'storm-staid' for three weeks. There is no pier, no steamboat connection, no telegraph, and neither the authorities nor his wife and family can have any knowledge of whether the absent Officer is dead or alive."
"We never think about an eight-hours' day here, and it often exceeds double that time. The small Force is quite unable to overtake the Police work, and many of the smaller offences and complaints are never thoroughly investigated for want of time."
The present Chief, Mr Colin Cruikshank, has recommended a substantial increase of the staff, and no doubt his recommendation will be given effect to.
The variety of the weather in the winter time is extraordinary. A fine morning frequently turns into such a fearful night that the Chief Constable's pony cannot face it, and the Chief has to get out of of the trap and walk in front of the pony, sheltering it, for miles, eventually reaching home exhausted at a time when the ordinary work-a-day folks are getting out of bed.
Boating is worse, and the variety of the weather is more felt. Sometimes it is too bad to venture in a boat. At other times it is so bad that oilskins are not sufficient protection from the sea, and the occupants of the boat feel thankful at being preserved from a watery grave. On another occasion, the day is perfectly calm, and an Officer, engaged perhaps on an urgent case, probably has to row for many miles, until his hands are blistered with pulling.
The inhabitants of Orkney are extremely hospitable and obliging people - provided an Officer does not go with a warrant to arrest, or a summons - and Police Officers can always rely upon a kindly welcome, especially in the Islands or country districts.
We give below a few particulars concerning the members of the Force:-
THE CHIEF CONSTABLE (Mr Colin Cruikshank), joined the Edinburgh City Police in 1887, and by his marked ability drew the early attention of his superiors. He rose through the various grades of Constable, Detective Officer, and Station Superintendent to Sergeant at the Headquarters of the C Div., with great credit to himself and to the Edinburgh Police force. During his connection with Edinburgh he was well-known as Secretary for the City Police Concerts Committee, which position he occupied seven years, and it is mainly due to his efforts that the concerts have reached their present popularity. From being a practically obscure entertainment, he raised them to the front rank of social concerts, and the Committee are now able to hand over an annual surplus of £150 on an average to the City Police Widows' and Orphans' Funds. His connection with the Swimming Club also deserves notice, and the prizes he won show that his aquatic powers are of no mean order. He was very popular with the Police, and also with the public of Edinburgh.
In April 1898, Mr Cruikshank was selected from 46 applicants for his present position of the Chief of the Orkney Force. On his leaving them, his Edinburgh comrades subscribed towards a purse and £29, which were presented to him.
Sergeant TULLOCH is a native of Orkney, and joined the force six years ago. There was no Sergeant when the present Chief was appointed, but as Constable Tulloch had charge of the town of Stromness, where there is considerable fishing and shipping industry, the Chief recommended his promotion to Sergeant, which, on the approval of Sheriff Cosens, was sanctioned by the Police Committee.
PC ATKIN, before joining the Force, was Sergeant-Major in the Field Artillery, and although he has seen half a century, he recently volunteered for active service in South Africa. He has three sons in HM Services - viz: one in the Navy, and two in the Artillery - all doing well.
PC WRIGHT was also a Sergeant-Major in the Field Artillery, and but for his rather indifferent health, would have volunteered for service in South Africa.
PC GRANT is the 'father' of the Force. He joined the Aberdeenshire Force so far back as 1855, and served in several Forces, till he reached the rank of Superintendent. Leaving the Police, he entered business, but, misfortune overtaking him, he had again to apply his talents to his original vocation. He has frequently been complimented by the Authorities for his services in
the detection of criminals, etc.
PC LOWDEN was an Army Reservist of the 72nd Highlanders, and (as reported in police Review of January 5th last) lost his life at the battle of Magersfontein. It is stated that he 'was every inch a soldier, and always regretted leaving the army. Nevertheless he faithfully performed his duties as a Constable.'
PC JAMES WALLS has replaced Constable Lowden in the Force. He was at one time a Constable in the Edinburgh City Force, where he earned a good reputation as a Police Officer.
Our portrait is from a photo by the Orkney Photo Co., Kirkwall.
- End of Article -
Dave's Notes:
a) Shoulder (Collar) Numbers visible in photograph are: #1: PC Grant #2: PC Atkin #3: PC Lowden #4: PC Wright Sgt Tulloch has NO number.
2) It is interesting that Mr Cruikshank is referred to throughout as "Chief Constable" - in fact that rank/title was only applicable to chief officers of County (and Burgh, after 1892) forces subject to the 1857 Act - from which Orkney was specifically excluded.
General Electric's Ecomagination
Image by Thomas Hawk
To see this commercial, click through here.
"Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."
-- Andy Warhol
I just saw the above commercial on CNBC about 5 minutes ago. It's a beautiful commercial and the ethereal voice of the cover artist (I believe it's Juju Stulback, based on Yahoo Answers) is simply stunning.
I think it's fantastic when commerce and advertising converge with art. Whether it's Target's commercials pulling new versions of the Beatles' Hello Goodbye with a sort of pop art sensibility, or Apple's iPhone advertisements, or Joshua Radin singing "Only You" for JC Penny, or the type of commercial above, I think that these types of advertisements are 1000% more effective. They make you excited to see the commercial again and it's nice to see money manipulating our culture into a more beautiful place.
This is the one thing that I miss with my Media Center PC. I never see commercials anymore. Net net I think I come out ahead on this as the commercial above probably represents less than 1% of TV advertisement. But it makes you wonder if in the TV of tomorrow we might increasingly see more and more interesting commercial art.
As consumers become more and more aware of and conversant with the tools to strip bad advertising out of their television experience, the best way for advertisers to survive is to quit being so lazy and instead offer us compelling visually stimulating experiences tied to their brands. An added benefit to crafting interesting commercials is that oftentimes you get an added viral boost of your commercial beyond the TV experience through blogs, YouTube, the internet, etc.
A movement towards more interesting advertisements could also represent a boom for music publishers as well as oftentimes the most familiar songs of our culture become the most interesting when repackaged. I, for one, enjoy Cat Power's version of Cat Steven's "How Can I Tell You" used in a diamond commercial much more than Cat Steven's original.
Hopefully, someday soon, the days of seeing the latest crappy Ford/Mercury car advertisement of some boring car zooming around curves with 0% financing splattered across the screen or XYZ pharmaceutical company warning you that their latest anti hay fever drug might induce vomiting as a side effect will be behind us and TV ad land will turn into the more beautiful side of what selling to the American Dream can be about.
My photography set "So This is America" depicting US advertising, commerce and pop art here.
Blocked!?
Image by Jeff Hester
While visiting a PC terminal in the British Air business class lounge in London Heathrow, I tried to access www.bigblueball.com but it was blocked! WTF?
