Did You Know Snippets: 1960s and 70s Britain - The Golden Age of the Electric Milk Float

 

Electric milk floats were first seen on the roads and streets of Britain in 1932. The Express Dairy Company introduced a small fleet of electric vehicles in London that eventually replaced the more traditional horse-drawn milk float. 

By the 1960s and 70s, electric milk floats were everywhere.

Early each day, long before most of us were awake, the soft humming sound of an electric motor powered milk float signalled the arrival of the milkman. There was no engine roar and no exhaust fumes. Just a steady, reliable hum delivering fresh milk to doorsteps across the country.

It’s easy to forget now, but these electric milk floats were, in many ways, decades ahead of their time. Long before electric cars became the future of transport, they were quietly going about their business through the streets of Britain every day.

Their near-silent operation meant milk was delivered without waking the entire street. At least, the low hum wouldn’t wake you. Occasionally the rattling of crates and bottles reminded us that the milkman was on his way. But their silence was not the reason electric vehicles were used.

Electric power did the job in a way that petrol engines couldn’t match. Milk floats were typically battery-powered, designed specifically for short, frequent journeys. And that’s exactly what was required, as the float was constantly stopping and starting. The milkman would make dozens, sometimes hundreds, of stops on his round every morning.

They were perfect for the job. The float would be charged overnight. First thing in the morning they would be loaded with glass bottles with their distinctive coloured foil tops. Silver, blue, red, and gold tops. We always had the silver top.

At a time when most people had never heard the term “electric vehicle", the electric milk float was a part of daily life. Yet no one saw it as cutting-edge technology. Only a few claimed that it would be the future of transport. It wasn’t introduced because of climate concerns. But they were clean, quiet, and perfectly suited to their job.

Children would watch as the float rolled by. Some lucky ones even got a ride on the back during a round. Mind you, at the speed it was doing, I would often beat it to the end of the road on my way to school.

Eventually, as supermarkets rose in popularity and home delivery declined, the electric milk float gradually disappeared from Britain’s streets. Convenience shifted, habits changed, and it largely faded into memory. 

Almost. 

Like the last remaining red phone boxes on Britain's streets, there are still some milk floats delivering milk today. But most did their last round years ago.

They may have been consigned to history, but their legacy remains.

In many ways, they were pioneers. Long before the world began seriously discussing the environment, the electric milk float had already played a small part in showing the way.

That early morning hum was the sound of the future, long before its time.

 

 

Photo by Jaggery, Creative Commons, via Wikimedia Commons (No changes made)