Historic Images Of Old Ceylon - Automotive And Otherwise

Rumesh88 · August 13, 2013

Thank you Sampath for your glimpse of the past.

BTW is n't interesting to note the physique of our people those days! Hardly any pot bellies to be seen. They must have been regularly attending their gym, aerobic, and yoga classes I believe.

Sampath Gunasekera · August 13, 2013

On 8/13/2013 at 3:22 AM, Crosswind said:
My guesses are
1. Photo 1 - Taken from where current Hilton Hotel is.

2. Photo 2 - This photo has been flipped. Look at the first Morris Minor's license plate. This is most probably where current SLECC is, opposite Lake House

3. Photo 3 - Almost impossible to guess. But my guess is Chalmer's Granary

Thanks Crosswind.

Photo1: I don't think so. ~~The buildings showings "Stanvac" & Fly are not in Fort , I think~~. However Bus looks like traveling to "Kotahena" if my eyes are correct.

Added content: This photo might taken from CTO side aiming present Hilton Hotel side. Today I observed that Long-Short fence posts are still there at Transwork House side (Colombo Fort Police Station). For me still not sure the correct place.

Photo 2: Great. You are Correct Machan. It had been flipped.

I too think this is opposite Lake House.

Here is the correct photo.

Photo 3: I also feel like Chalmer's Granary.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Devinda_Z · August 13, 2013

On 8/13/2013 at 10:45 AM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
Photo 3: I also feel like Chalmer's Granary.

I park there now -rather sad when you run over the old tram tracks & whats left of the cobblestone paving from where the warehouses used to be

Sampath Gunasekera · August 13, 2013

On 8/13/2013 at 10:42 AM, Rumesh88 said:
Thank you Sampath for your glimpse of the past.
BTW is n't interesting to note the physique of our people those days! Hardly any pot bellies to be seen. They must have been regularly attending their gym, aerobic, and yoga classes I believe.

Thanks Rumesh.

On 8/13/2013 at 1:53 PM, Devinda_Z said:
I park there now -rather sad when you run over the old tram tracks & whats left of the cobblestone paving from where the warehouses used to be

Devinda, as far as I know they are not Tram Tracks (in side Chalmer's Granary) . They are old railway track connections which connected main railway line at Fort Railway Station and Harbour Railway Line via Chalmer's Granary by crossing Olcott Road. If you check most of the Colombo maps, still you can see that old railway line.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Devinda_Z · August 13, 2013

On 8/13/2013 at 5:21 PM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
Thanks Rumesh.
Devinda, as far as I know they are not Tram Tracks (in side Chalmer's Granary) . They are old railway track connections which connected main railway line at Fort Railway Station and Harbour Railway Line via Chalmer's Granary by crossing Olcott Road. If you check most of the Colombo maps, still you can see that old railway line.

you learn something new everyday! Thanks Sampath

Sampath Gunasekera · August 18, 2013

Morris Oxford - 5 Sri 8365 belong to Prof. P. A. de Silva

He bought this car from UK at GBP 630/= (late 1960s) and returned back to Sri Lanka by Road. (8,000 miles / 21 days).

Still this car is with him.

Interesting Story……

News paper: Sunday Lankadeepa - 18 August 2013

Pages : 12 & 21

Edited August 19, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

carboy2011 · August 19, 2013

On 8/13/2013 at 10:42 AM, Rumesh88 said:
Thank you Sampath for your glimpse of the past.
BTW is n't interesting to note the physique of our people those days! Hardly any pot bellies to be seen. They must have been regularly attending their gym, aerobic, and yoga classes I believe.

yeah i noticed it too on a serious note i feel that the food that they ate was healthy and fresh cooked daily unlike the frozen stuff we eat which has a load of chemicals

Sampath Gunasekera · September 25, 2013

CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) trucks in Jaffna for School Transport in 1940s

(Source – Facebook – Old Ceylon)

Another School Bus waiting to pick students from Jaffna Vembadi Girls schools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Military_Pattern_truck

They were mass built in Canada during World War - II by Ford and Chevrolet both companies.

As per one commenter, these vehicles (in Jafna) had the accelerator pedal on the center, the brake pedal on the right and the clutch on the left.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Rumesh88 · September 25, 2013

Thank you Sampath for the two photographs. It just struck me that the landscape, road pavement, and the way the two bystanders dressed up in the first photograph do not seem like the features of old Jaffna. I could be wrong though!

Edited September 25, 2013 by Rumesh88

Devinda_Z · September 25, 2013

On 9/25/2013 at 3:45 AM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) trucks in Jaffna for School Transport in 1940s
(Source – Facebook – Old Ceylon)

Another School Bus waiting to pick students from Jaffna Vembadi Girls schools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Military_Pattern_truck

They were mass built in Canada during World War - II by Ford and Chevrolet both companies.

As per one commenter, these vehicles (in Jafna) had the accelerator pedal on the center, the brake pedal on the right and the clutch on the left.

I think there was one for sale a week or two ago!!!

john cooper · September 26, 2013

On 10/16/2012 at 11:01 AM, JayZ said:
Not related to automotive history but ... what a change

Feel like crying..........

Blitz · September 26, 2013

Found this on fb.

seems like this was taken in Sri Lanka

Blitz · September 26, 2013

another great shot found online,

Sampath Gunasekera · September 30, 2013

Loading Tea crates for export ~ 1910 - 1920

Source - Facebook - Old Ceylon

That lorry and the wheels ....

Watchman · October 1, 2013

Though it has nothing automotive, it really is awesome how a thread like this (or FB) can help share with the world those priceless images, documents etc All this amazing bits of history would otherwise be sitting in someone's cupboard till they decayed away and were lost forever.

Charith H Jayasinghe · October 1, 2013

Agree with you watchman. This photos really feels to heart and makes tears sometimes. Sri Lanka would be in a great place if we didn't have war. I heard that one of great observer suggested this thread to begin.

Sampath Gunasekera · October 7, 2013

'Motor Vehicle Spare Parts Purchase Card' in 1970s

Original Source: Facebook - 'Vintage & Classic Cars'

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.274465172678939&type=1

Members, if you have more details/experience , please share …..

Edited October 7, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Sampath Gunasekera · October 8, 2013

Ceylon Passport - 1924

Original Source: Facebook-Old Ceylon

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152257705544466&set=o.112421478481&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152257693239466&set=o.112421478481&type=1&theater

Edited October 8, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Sampath Gunasekera · October 9, 2013

Colombo - Early 1960s .... Video

Full of old classic beauties...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151920860038482&set=vb.112421478481&type=2&theater.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Sampath Gunasekera · October 22, 2013

Photos in 1973

(Source- E-mail)

(1) Ceylon Hotels Corporation - Tourist Car with Red/White Number Plates & Hood Rack - 5 Sri 9048

(2) Fruit and vegetable market, Kandy (1973)
Red CTB Buses, Classic Cars...

No 'Polythene Bags', Paper Bags & Cloth Bags only...

(3) Elephant approaching, Kandy (1973)

William’s Biscuit Van

http://www.muncheelk.com/our-history

Edited October 22, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Sampath Gunasekera · October 28, 2013

Exactly 35 years ago....28th October 1978

Country lost Mrs.Rukmani Devi - 'The queen of Sinhala Cinema' & famous photographer Mr.Daya Perera due to tragic motor accident.

That Toyota Hiace van and photos of the same can be seen here...

Edited October 28, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Charith H Jayasinghe · October 28, 2013

On 10/22/2013 at 7:06 PM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
Photos in 1973
(Source- E-mail)

(1) Ceylon Hotels Corporation - Tourist Car with Red/White Number Plates & Hood Rack - 5 Sri 9048

(2) Fruit and vegetable market, Kandy (1973)

Red CTB Buses, Classic Cars...

No 'Polythene Bags', Paper Bags & Cloth Bags only...

(3) Elephant approaching, Kandy (1973)

William’s Biscuit Van

http://www.muncheelk.com/our-history

Sampath, have they edited the photos? their qualitiy seems to be good

Sampath Gunasekera · October 28, 2013

On 10/28/2013 at 8:38 AM, Charith H Jayasinghe said:
Sampath, have they edited the photos? their qualitiy seems to be good

I don't think so. Have seen even some videos before 70s are in very colourfull and high clarity.

Edited October 28, 2013 by Sampath Gunasekera

Rumesh88 · October 28, 2013

On 10/28/2013 at 8:58 AM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
I don't think so. Have seen even some videos before 70s are in very colourfull and high clarity.

If the original was on a negative film of small grain size, it can be converted to a digital photo of the quality as in those pics above. IMO there may have been some corrections in contrast and color but the pic of this quality is possible only with a high quality negative, a professional scanner and converter software.

xXx · October 28, 2013

On 10/28/2013 at 7:49 AM, Sampath Gunasekera said:
Exactly 35 years ago....28th October 1978
Country lost Mrs.Rukmani Devi - 'The queen of Sinhala Cinema' & famous photographer Mr.Daya Perera due to tragic motor accident.

That Toyota Hiace van and photos of the same can be seen here...

Did both of these individuals die from the same accident? I thought Rukamni Devi got into an accident in a Mitsubishi Delica hence the phrase Rukmani model Delica.

Edited October 28, 2013 by xXx