BBC Metal Bins

Three metal bins installed at BBC Broadcasting House. Made by an unknown maker in the early 1930s and used well into the 1970s. At various times these had been used as waste bins, ashtrays, and spittoons, as well as perhaps as fire buckets.

Broadcasting House is the headquarters of the BBC. These buckets contained sand ready to extinguish fires. According to a former BBC employee based at Broadcasting House they may have originally been used as spittoons for brass players and musicians performing at Broadcasting House.

Located in Portland Place, W1, London, Broadcasting House opened in 1932. During the Blitz on 15 October 1940, the building suffered a direct bomb hit, the explosion was heard to listeners during the 21:00 news. The resulting fire was brought under control by BBC fire squads. The building was damaged again by a landmine on 8 December 1940. This time the fire took hold and was extinguished after seven hours by the Auxiliary Fire Service. The BBC continued operating, despite extensive damage to areas of the building.