Talk:Rag-and-bone man

Rag & Bone
Do I recall that they actually used to shout out something like "rag and bone" as they went round with their horse and cart (only it came out sounding more like "ra bo")? Deb 20:46, 12 Aug 2004 (UTC) people think that rag and bone man and they were sceard
 * A rag and bone man just came round here now (I can actually still hear him) and the call was more like "rag-boooooooooohne" (long ending)... I think he was using a truck though, couldn't fully see what he was driving/him... never mind... interesting that in 2008 there still around though...! I thought they would be made more or less redundant by recycling points/charity shops/bags (At least in the UK anyway). 86.29.16.37 (talk) 10:52, 23 June 2008 (UTC)


 * No they are just like illiteracy, they wont dissapear until stupidity does. 84.213.143.33 (talk) 15:34, 9 January 2024 (UTC)

My recollection of the sound ringing round the streets in the 50s and early 60s was more like "yeole raghboooooooooohne" (any old rag and bones)212.21.118.192 (talk) 14:46, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Does anyone know the name of that BBC documentary? It might be valuable as a reference.mitchco 16:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Rag and bone men around here (Walsall, Black Country) blow a trumpet. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.172.40.211 (talk) 11:44, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

A rag and bone man in the North of the borough of Solihull, West Midlands, has some kind of trumpet and his call sounds a bit like "Any old iron!". 86.22.78.112 (talk) 00:36, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

There's no mention of how the 'Bone' part arises. Presumably beef or lamb bones were sold to rendering works, as animal glues were the only type in those days. Rendered protein glues were surprisingly strong and durable, and used to make fine wood furniture. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.219.80.116 (talk) 04:03, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

Suggestion for Popular Culture
Bubbs from the wire seems to fit the description, i dont know how to edit properly but hey anyone who's up to it might want to do this 86.131.206.103 (talk) 04:40, 22 July 2010 (UTC)

New version
I've written a new version of this article, to be found here. If nobody objects, I plan to copy it across, replacing this article, in the next day or so. Parrot of Doom 19:25, 5 December 2011 (UTC)
 * I plan to move my sandboxed article to Rag-and-bone man (the usage most commonly found in sources), and then change this article to a redirect. Parrot of Doom 00:20, 6 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Done. Parrot of Doom 11:43, 6 December 2011 (UTC)

Proposed merge of Ragpicker with Rag-and-bone man
These articles clearly have the same scope - rag-and-bone man even opens with "A rag-and-bone man or ragpicker". &spades;PMC&spades; (talk) 23:24, 11 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Agree, same scope. Adpete (talk) 11:56, 21 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Merge should definitely happen; just a synonym for the same occupation. 2601:4A:600:3E70:C438:6DE8:C0EB:688E (talk) 14:37, 9 July 2022 (UTC)

Agree Throughthemind (talk) 14:07, 14 April 2022 (UTC)
 * ✅ Klbrain (talk) 12:37, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Pots for rags
My memory is that the rag-and-bone man gave pots (plates, etc.) in return for the old clothes he took. Manchester area around 1960. Snugglepuss (talk) 21:33, 10 October 2022 (UTC)