August 18th 2014: London's Big Ben gets a polish from abseiling cleaners

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by Diaphone Jim

The contrast between the cleaner of the past and those of the present puts this on my list of the top Cellar Images of the Day.

I'd guess the earlier pic was taken by the washer's partner, who brought his camera as well as his bucket and his big brass ones.

If you haven't watched the BBC video above (and below) you'll see some B&W footage of the same operation taking place in 1953. It starts at about the 0.20 mark.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28838218