Colour transparency; the enquiries desk at Piccadilly Circus with staff and customers, by Paul Proctor, 1974

In this photo from 1974, a female employee of London Underground is helping a member of the public. Although ticket machines have been in use since 1908, passengers could still get tickets and information from enquiries desks like this one. The picture was taken from behind the counter and shows that there were no ticket machines or computer terminals. In fact the clerk is reaching for an old-style book of tickets while the customer hands her some bank notes. In 1974, ticket machines on London Underground couldn't process notes.