Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

In every walk of life. times change so does the trades and traders, that fead individuals. the loss of the Coal Mines in certain parts of the UK was a disaster that split families, caused premature deaths, and pergatary for many of there families for generations to come. you may say, that, that is life nothing lasts for ever, to see the glass blowers, at Brierley Hill. disapear, a travesty. one of my first jobs was as a Horse Holder for a Milk Man, not only is the holder no longer neaded nor is the Milk Man, no Chimney Sweeps. and what about the Knocker Upper Man, replaced with some cheap Alarm Clock from Poland. but dont forget the Chimney Sweeps, pole with a brush on the end replaced some 6 year lad who did it all by hand.

In certain cases, the past is remembered in some way. and the Pit Poneys. of the 50s were given jobs on Blackpool Beech until they died out a glorious end for a glorious animal.

By now you may be saying what is he leading to, well when I was a teenager, I followed the family trade as a Racecourse TICK TACK. for those who do not know much about this old established art, may see the failed Eatonian John Macririck waving his arms about, on TV,whist hosting Ascot, or Derby Day, it appears that he knows about 5% of the actual signs, and his shows certainly doesnt have any panash or class, or even clearness, something that I was taught as imperative.

The history of Tick Tack appears to have been developed at the same time as the grouth and popularity of British Racecourses, and there Multi betting Rings. Tattersalls. Silver Rings and the Cheap or Outside Enclosures, with the poularity, came the increase in Gambling, and the nead for Bookmakers to Trade with each other ring to ring.

No Walkie Talkies, or Mobile Phones, just Binoculars, and Tick Tacks, I have no knoledge why the word Tick Tack. and of course sigh language is as old as speach, itself.

Alongside. the Tick Tack, Bookmakers have always had to be secretive and Back Slang or Rhyming Slang has always been a tool. of this trade. the reason is obvious, when working at a course the Bookmaker requires to know price changes, in an instant without relaying that infromation to the Punters.

During the peak of Racecourse Interest, there would have been a hundred Tick Tacks carrying on there occupation, and a good show man who had the capacity to carry out 100s of betting transactions, without putting pen to paper, and remembering every one. settling the next day, was at a premium.

Prices of horses is no different to a price of a loaf, it is a comodaty, that can be bought sold or traded,
In the 40s when I was a lad. my job was to read the shows from the main ring, informing my Gaffer, the Bookmaker what prices were being offered in the main ring. as I grew a little older I was given instructions and allowed to pass on actual financial wagers, the next advancement was as a Floor Man, for this not only did I require the art of the Tick Tack but I had to remember every Punter on the track and could grade them from past experience, a “Face” who had placed a sizeable wager that had affected the ring and prices was remembered if the horse won, his face, would be loged in my memory bank and a sign designated to the man, the Bookmaker would also remember him and mans face and what horse, he had backed, so a large noes, would have been part of my show next time he came into the ring, a show of careful “the Noes” is in the ring, would triger the Bookmaker into looking to see if the Stable of the horse succesful the last time had a runner in this race,
I also was at the look out for any teams of Pick Pockets, who after a while we knew at a glance.
Everyone in there team had a show, The Hook. who actually did the dirty work, resembled, a butchers hook. in the hand movement.

Once I came of age, I was aleaviated onto the Tattersalls Wall. the highest point in the main grandstand, and with my very best white gloves, would trade onto the betting floor. this was indead, an advancement for which I could earn £5 a day, that compared with the £3.50 a week that i received as a Trainee Draftsman, that my Mother wanted me to persue, she never did like Gambling. by the way I lasted 2 weeks.

I have raised this story, for the very reason that with the introduction of Computors and Mobiles, the number of official ticktacks is now 5. 3 of those, in there twighlight years., perhaps in a very few years the Art will be lost, therefore I intend to creat a Video, of the dying breed, so that anyone interested, can refer to the signs and back slang, one thing I can say, it is a very good after Dinner conversational piece. I remember being on a Cruise ship when after dinner, one of the Snobs, in the company. took centre stage with.
” I think Introductions are in order”

I have mentioned the tale in one of the other storyies, but it is appropriate for this one also.

The toast master seamed to wish to place himself on a pedstel,

“My name is Thomas Beaverbrook. my wife and I started with a £5 loan from her father and we now have 65 Dry Cleaners,”
Next one up was Mrs J Fox, her husband seemed to be drunk already, and after just one sherrie.
We are the Next in Line from a long line of Film makers, and my husbands family are Caladonians Air.

My wife nudged me, saying what are you going to say, you cant tell them we have one betting shop in the slums of Brum.

When it was my turn to deliver my maiden speech. I just stood on a stool. and with my White Jacket just out of a dry cleaners, packet, showing the stain from the previous, occupant. I told all and sundrea
I AM A TICK TACK.

I only wish that the dry cleaner had been the one who cleaned the Jacket, I could have given him a right Bollacking but all was well. and even his wife, wanted to learn a sign or two.

Well thats all Im sorry that a gloroius Art, is now on its last legs wont be missed like the Miners, or even Pit Poneys, but just the same for all that.

Cubone