Today’s TV viewer can pay for his/her licence in a whole host of ways … with monthly instalments, direct debits or via the web. The “old fashioned” way of doing this was by saving up your sixpences – or ‘tanners’ – in a special tin … or using savings stamps.

The small brass tin (centre) holds twenty 6d pieces and has “WIRELESS LICENCE SAVINGS BANK” embossed on the front. This dates it to between 1922 and 1946. The large brass tin (right) holds forty 6d pieces and has “WIRELESS LICENCE £1 SAVINGS BANK” embossed on the front. £1 bought you a radio licence from 1946 to July 1965.

The red tin is for a combined TV and Radio licence but, as one pound never bought such a licence, its hard to date this item. By the look of the material though its probably from the 1960s

Savings stamps were used until recent times to save up for the cost of a receiving licence.  Here’s an example from 1965-1968