"Obsolete," but still in use

[Laurence Horn]

At 10:28 AM +0100 9/21/06, Michael Quinion wrote:
>  > I remember working in my father's office with my brother and father
>>  where one native speaker (?) of British English would call my father
>>  "Mr. Barnhart" but my brother and I were called "Mr. Robert" and "Mr.
>>  David". But I suspect that's different.  Would it still be that way or
>>  is (was) that decidedly "old-fashioned"?
>
>That was once common in family firms in Britain. I worked for Bulmers, the
>cidermakers in Herford in the late 1970s and the members of the family
>were still being referred to by older staff in that way. My boss was "Mr
>Bertram", the senior member of the clan.
>
Would this be just at the firm, or among the family retainers among
the "downstairs" staff as well?  This usage seems very Forsyte
Saga/Upstairs, Downstairs to me.

LH

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