CHAPTER 4: Dulcimers in the British Isles since 1800 > Dulcimers in London

Ted Carr - social context

"The first money I ever earned at it was 7/6d - a lot of money that was and if you were any good you got a 1/- encore; We paid £1.10s.0d a week rent then ... When my Dad was alive we had a billiard match against the then Clapton Orient Football Club in Lea Bridge Road Police Station ... and one of the policemen was a one-string-fiddle-player: and do you know what - I tuned my 80 strings up to that one-string fiddle. It's unbelievable but I did, because he wouldn't alter his instrument: most probably he could only play in one key ..."

"one tune and all... "

Ted had a good job, originally as a forecutter machinist and then as foreman, in a wood machining mill, and later on was often sent out sorting out customers' problems, too; he was declared redundant after 49 years, but feels that he had fair treatment, and after a while accepted an offer to return to help in the print room, particularly with the mailing list.

He likes to get around, and is glad to go out and play, but not as much as his son Ken, who is a representative for the same firm, and on top of that is out playing the organ three nights a week.