The Courier joins search for Dundee's Caird Hall clock

On Saturday 9 October 2010 Dundee's edition of The Courier newspaper publicised the Transport Museum's search for what happened to the Corporation Transport Department clock fixed to the side of the Caird Hall.

We have checked with Dundee City Council's Museum and Art Galleries division and they have no record of it having been transferred to their care. Could it really just have been disposed of when it was taken down?

The earliest dated picture we have of the clock in place is from September 1951:

This photograph is most likely from 1974 or 1975 and by this time the clock has been removed:

In fact the marks left by the clock are still visible today.

If you can help us in our search for the clock and its history please leave us a comment below or get in touch through our contact page.

  

What happened to the Corporation clock on the Caird Hall?

Over the past few months I've been trawling through literally hundreds of photographs of Dundee's city buses from 1912 to 1998 for our forthcoming exhibition.

It has been great seeing so many views from the past and hopefully you'll enjoy seeing a small selection of them in the Central Library from 22 October - 6 November 2010.

However one picture in particular got me thinking. There used to be a magnificent clock mounted on the side of the Caird Hall at the Crichton Street/Shore Terrace junction. But where is it now?

I'm guessing it may have been taken down when Tayside House was built, but was it simply disposed of or has it been put into safe storage?

If the clock still exists how about putting it back in the same place when Tayside House is demolished and the area opened up again?

If the clock had indeed been lost, then maybe a replica could still be created and put back in place?

Click on the 'comments' link below if you know anything about what happened to the clock and if you would like to see it restored to its rightful place.

  

Another Maryfield picture poser

Last Sunday we posted a picture of 8 Daimler buses outside the Maryfield Dock Street depot and asked which one had been saved for preservation. Well, the answer was number 161 PYJ461L as highlighted below.

Now, here's another great line-up but this time inside Maryfield. What do the four buses have in common?

  

Dundee Museum of Transport's FIRST exhibition

22nd October - 6th November 2010

For the first time since we were formed in February 2010 Dundee Museum of Transport is mounting an exhibition at Dundee's Central Library in the Wellgate Centre.

This is our chance to share with you some aspects of Dundee's fascinating transport history. Read about Scotland's first passenger rail service. Did a Dundee man beat the Wright brothers to the first powered flight? See one of Scotland's first ambulances. Come and rekindle your memories of Dundee's old buses and trams. Plus we want to hear about your memories about Dundee transport from the past.

The exhibition runs from Friday 22nd October 2010 until Saturday 6 November 2010 and full opening times and location details are available by clicking here (external link).

PS Which Daimler from the above line-up at Maryfield Dock Street has been saved for preservation?
  

Lochee High Street Opening

Saturday 4th of September was the official re-opening of Lochee's rejuvenated High Street. The Dundee Museum of Transport were approached by Dundee City Council, at short notice to see if we could possibly put on a display of interesting vehicles.

We said we would do our best. So we set about contacting members and friends to see who was available to bring some of our vehicles along to set off the big day. We ended up with 15 classic vehicles (including possibly a bus from the legendary Napper Tamsins) following the pipe band parading down the High St.

The crowds that had came to see the celebration seemed to enjoy our vehicles very much. It has to be said it must be some time since a 1942 Ferret Scout car was in Lochee high St

I think we should be very proud to have been able to pull this one out of the bag with about a weeks notice to organise it all.