Rag and Bone man. What does he say?

Question

There's a rag and bone man that still comes round our area. What is it he says? It sounds like 'any litter' or 'any lumber'. I know what he collects, and I think it's great that an old tradition hasn't died off. (in NE of England anyway). Apparently, my hubby asked him what he shouts, and he said 'anything to get people's attention that doesn't hurt your voice'. He said 'you learn what sounds you can make without hurting your voice.' I think there must be some kind of conspiracy that nobody is meant to know what they shout. Do you know?

Answer 1

The initial words were, Rag Bone, Rag Bone, Money for your any Rag Bone. This first phrase was used in a time of poverty when the rags were collected for sorting. Anything that just needed a wash to use again or what rags were no longer usable were cut up into strips about 2 cm wide and about 10 cm long which was used for making rugs by inserting them into used sacking bags. The bones were collected to boil down and make ANIMAL GLUE.  Later on they discovered the value of collecting iron, so a later phrase became, Any old Iron, Any old Iron , Which is what is used today

Answer 2

"There used to be quite a few rag&bone men" n/w lancs,I never could decipher what they were yelling,any old rags,was the only thing I could make out,sadly they are a thing of the past round here now,,,,,,

Answer 3

We had a local rag and bone man with his horse and cart when I was little (I'm only 30) and he used to shout "Rag and Bone - bring out your old rag and bone"

Answer 4

any old iron, any old iron, any any any old iron

Answer 5

That is Jimmy Tarbucks dad, Freddy Tarbuck.

Answer 6

Theres 2 around my area and always say

Raaaaaaag Booooooooooooone

Strange throwback to the Victorian times when even rags and bones could be put to use. People were so poor then absolutely nothing was wasted.

Somehow I dont think rags and bone are what he is after, its more metal and old appliances he collects

Answer 7

"you dirty old man"

Answer 8

haha,im from rag and bone people he's saying just what you asked....'aaaaaannnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyold ragbone!!!!if you were nr me id show you how its done.just bought all block sets of steptoe as it happens!

Answer 9

He is shouting, "Should any person have items of value, possibly not to them but to me, could they possibly produce them for my inspection and thereby have the opportunity to exchange them for a puny goldfish in a plastic sack of tepid water."