UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > General Vintage Technology Discussions

Notices

General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 14th Oct 2013, 3:55 pm   #181
gingpeakin
Hexode
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK.
Posts: 274
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Does any one remember Huggett's - between Crystal Palace and Croydon? I only went there once and picked up an A/APN-4 LORAN display. Must have been very early 80s. Shut shortly afterwards. Full of war surplus stuff even then.
I used to spend endless Saturdays in the 70s in Deptford at BiPak, Garland Bros. and another shop on the same side of the road. Again full of old computer stuff. Transistors and core memory as well as loads of test gear. I remember carrying a Marconi TF801A sig gen home on the 53 bus. I was only 11 or 12.
Last time I looked Garland Bros. was still there selling sound systems and the like. They must be one of the last shops to survive this long. I know they had another store in Lewisham in the 50s but that was before my time.

Ging
gingpeakin is online now  
Old 23rd Nov 2013, 12:40 am   #182
KenIBrown
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whitley Bay
Posts: 2
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Quote:
Originally Posted by telstar View Post
Hi Nick. They had a back room at Teleservicenter, full of valves, magic eye t.i's, perspex knobs for Bush TR82''s and many other items. A real Aladdin's cave!
I remember: "Bigger, Brighter, Better: Tele-Servi-Center" [not my own words I might add]
I used to work there from age 14-21! The best old stuff was in the garage or the cellar! Not sure what happened to David Bushell the idiosyncratic owner?
KenIBrown is offline  
Old 27th Nov 2013, 6:11 pm   #183
telstar
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Hi. I remember the owner telling staff off occasionally when I and other customers were there. The place just mysteriously closed one day, not sure if to another part of Headingley.
My brother used to go there for spares for his projects, like sound to light disco lamps.
The place must have generated a lot of money, they used to advertise on the Leeds Bus service (no.45) from Wortley to Stanks.
telstar is offline  
Old 27th Nov 2013, 9:24 pm   #184
vidjoman
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

In Dartford, Kent there was a shop that sold surplus gear including various components called Budds, this was in the late 40's. I still have some crystal diodes that I bought to build crystal radios. In the 50's, also in Dartford, J.T Filmer moved from his earlier shop in Bexley. He sold all the components and loads of kits based on designs in the magazines. Jason amplifiers and tuner kits were popular and I built dozens of them for his customers who didn't feel competent to do it themselves.
vidjoman is offline  
Old 27th Nov 2013, 11:29 pm   #185
Focus Diode
Octode
 
Focus Diode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Borough of Gateshead, UK.
Posts: 1,420
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Quote:
Originally Posted by threeseven View Post
There's a shop in Newcastle upon Tyne that I used to buy components for projects, repairs etc when I first started messing with electronics, Aitkens, it's still going but I think it's moved into DJ equipment but I haven't been up there for years so I don't know for sure.
Sadly Aitken Brothers are no longer with us, at least at their High Bridge premesis. I had a look for it back in March on a rare visit to Newcastle City Centre only to find it no longer there. Don't know when it closed. I went there often in the '80s and '90s.

Brian
Focus Diode is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2013, 3:59 pm   #186
telstar
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Leeds Amateur radio shop (originally in Cookridge Street near Leeds Cathedral, then moved to Upper Briggate & now long closed) was mainly for people in the s.w transmitting hobby, but they were useful for valves, components, etc.
Occasionally there were events in Leeds where components suppliers would have an exposition, they were sometimes at Leeds University, other times at a hall in Keighley, and there used to be one at an old school on the corner of Otley Road & the A6120 Ring Road (
telstar is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2013, 4:28 pm   #187
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

I remember the window display, rows of valves and transistors on wooden slatted shelving. I bought an OC45 transistor here to replace an intermittent one in a Perdio PR36, my first repair. Happy days!
AC/HL is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2013, 4:42 pm   #188
telstar
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Hi Bill. Yes it was quite a display in the shop window. It is now a bookshop selling religious books (Cookridge Street). From what I remember the shopkeeper was someone called Tom, and the shop was nicknamed "Tom's cabin".
Not sure if there is a Leeds Amateur radio shop elsewhere in the outskirts?
telstar is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2013, 4:56 pm   #189
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

There was (Lowe?) up near the University I think.

Got me thinking, there was also the "Radio Ham Shack" in Bradford, also long gone, and one amongst the collection of second hand shops near the bottom of Leeds Road, also in Bradford. I bought a Ferrograph de-magnetiser there, lent it to someone never to be seen again!
AC/HL is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2013, 6:30 pm   #190
short wave
Pentode
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 246
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

My recollections of electronic suppliers , traders and people in Leeds (1980s my mental RAM is fading so - to put it to paper /net) To start with , in no order ,
“Leeds Amateur Radio” in Cookridge St ,next to the library good for components , small units , test gear and valves.

“M &B Radio” under the railway arches, on Bishopgate St. M&B were run by Brian and Lee (father /son).As a regular customer I remember it “walled out”by units /PSU s test equipment etc. A large table in the middle of the shop had containers of components, you could just reach the middle at a stretch!. Does anyone remember “ THE GUN ”.. Telstar/Threeseven?.

M&B had a second outlet, by the river on Water lane (now back of Asda).As I recall it was a large “garage”style of a building , backing onto the pub, Keith (Morris ?) ran this. Many a good bargain and chat was had. At a later date this shut and Keith moved to a shop on Meadow Lane , just a few yards over the road. Keith was into fixing TVs ,one day when it started to rain I recommended he covered up the 2 tvs he “always” had outside NO he said as they were on “soak test” LOL I think they were scrappers and used for advertising .

“Myers Electronic`s” , on Harper St next to the market above “Union Jack Store” (army navy clothing surplus) and “Dennis`s” fish & chip shop. Gerald Myers and Jack Sharp did mail order government surplus , books , components and a few test items. This eventually closed and Gerald moved to Blackpool and set up “Chevet Supplies” on Dickenson Rd ..now also gone!

“Leeds Radio”was close to “Myers Electronic`s” run by Harvey (I think “RAM” fail) and his
mother , sold general things electrical/electronic.

“AC Electronics” run by Alan Cusworth (good pun!) did mail order ..ex government , test sets and radios I met him through mr Myers.

“Telly Service Centre” I only remember it in its latter days “Mark” fixed my VCR only met David once.
I used “Birketts” and “John Bull`s” for mail order. To finish off my memories
“A H Supplies” in Sheffield.... Brilliant only went 2,3 times all good trips.. best buy C12 rx/tx with spare O/P valves also gone.
Happy days..Hope this may bring back some memories and may fill in some gaps in
others .
Regards S-W.
RAM now powered down!.
short wave is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 10:05 am   #191
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,800
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Before Lowe's moved in, the one on Cookridge street by the library and next to Austick's bookshop was Blakey's selling various components, and had a little glass display case on the right of the lead-in to the door with rows of B9A/B7G valves on little shelves which had long before sagged by an inch or two in their middles.

George Blakey, I think the sign said.

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 11:36 am   #192
Station X
Moderator
 
Station X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,192
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

In the late 60's / early 70's there was a shop selling components in St Giles Street, Norwich. It was at the end of the street close to Grapes Hill. I don't remember the name of the shop, but remember buying a pair of 4CX250B's for a 2 metre linear amp there.
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator

Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.
Station X is online now  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 12:32 pm   #193
Wendymott
Octode
 
Wendymott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,782
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Such memories are too fading in my head... but here goes.. my recollections of Radio and Component traders 1960's onwards
Annakin of Otley, Jack sold stuff mainly Ex gov by mail order,. J Birketts of Lincoln, still going and well worth a visit... M & B Radio Leeds, the shop under the arches closed and moved "out of town", but I understand is not now trading. Padgetts radio, all ex gov, near Foster square in Bradford, we used to go on "Tech" days.. Meadow Lane, Leeds was a haven for Ex gov and the Original M&B Shop, with JT Supply, Mac of Morley, Leeds Radio, but the dual carriage way put paid to all that. I too remember cueing for the Otley bus on Cookridge street, looking in the window of what I now know as Leeds Amateur Radio, The Town Hall Liversedge, featured on Northern TV once showing piles of scrap or otherwise TV's everywhere.
I remember a closed cinema in Haworth selling Ex gov, I bought a ZC1 from there, another Ex gov shop in Keithley town centre, and another EX gov barn on the Skipton road "Green Head road" I think in Keithley. Ahhhh Memories.
Wendymott is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 1:10 pm   #194
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

The one near Foster Square (Cheapside) was Passinghams as I remember. Padgetts was the one in Liversedge.
AC/HL is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 1:25 pm   #195
Restoration73
Nonode
 
Restoration73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK.
Posts: 2,801
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

I have spoken to the owner Peter, who says that the next year may be his last at
City Radio, Bond Street, Ealing W5. Why not pay him a visit ?
http://www.cityradiostores.co.uk/
Restoration73 is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 4:53 pm   #196
telstar
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Hi. I don't remember The Gun (Short Wave), but I do remember Lowe's & Blakeys. Not sure what Tom's surname was at L.A.R. in Cookridge Street. Sometimes a lady called Hazel would serve customers.
You would have a job getting buses in Cookridge Street nowadays (wendymott), it is now limited access.
I remember Leeds Radio having a shop near Tetley's Brewery on Hunslet Road (in fact there was another one further down near Braime's Engineering Factory as well as the shop near the Kirkgate Market. The guy called Harvey sold me some pocket radios there once (all turned out to be junk & unrepairable).
M & B are now no longer under City Station arches, they are in Stourton (Leeds 10). Someone once told me they are near the old copper works (not that I have been).
Mike
telstar is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 5:59 pm   #197
Wendymott
Octode
 
Wendymott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,782
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Reply to Bill...... Sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yes it was Monty Passinghams.... sorry for the error...
Yes Mike...Everything in Leeds is "Limited access" now... That place Leeds Radio, as I remember was in a corner shop, just outside the Tetley brewery, very narrow stairway.
I have been to the Stourton site of M&B.......to buy scopes for the repair dept I was running...everything from Studer and Revox to EMI studio equipment.. there was an armoured car "with gun removed" to greet you into the yard...I did hear the owner had passed away, but that might not be correct.
Wendy G8BZY
Wendymott is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 6:19 pm   #198
telstar
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Hi Wendy. Good to hear from you. Glad the thread brought back memories for you, I did not know that it would bring so much feedback (U.K & Worldwide!!).
Leeds certainly was a mecca for radio & components shops, you only have to look in the old GPO telephone books (in the library) to discover that fact. There was even a specialist in early music keyboard synthesizers (Clavioline). I suppose that I only visited a fraction of what was once available.
Newmart in New Market Street/Vicar Lane (opposite Kirkgate Market) was also a good component shop. Do you remember that one?
Regards
Mike
telstar is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2013, 9:15 pm   #199
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,800
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Ah, Newmart, that was the name. I remember ogling some speaker drive units in the window, 40 years ago (ouch!).

What I can't remember was the name of the M&B guy's other shop… Malvern TV or something like that?

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is offline  
Old 3rd Dec 2013, 12:21 am   #200
Wendymott
Octode
 
Wendymott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,782
Default Re: Bygone radio traders

Hi Mike. I vaguely remember Newmart... bur more certain was PWB Audio on Call lane.. they supplied Leak Amps and Reslo mikes for my eldest brothers dancehall promotions. Also Laskys sold Linear Diatonic audio amps and the more powerful "Cant remember the name" with EL34's for my fathers Sequence dancing business.
Also I remember visiting Manchester I Think it was JT Electronics on Hyde Road, just at the end of Oldham road, I bought my Mod Transformer and Ex WD Rotator from there
Happy dayze...
Wendy G8BZY
Wendymott is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 7:14 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.