malcolmdee
New Member
My maternal grandfather owned a successful string of wireless shops in Birmingham between approx. 1927 and 1939. At around that time he sold all but one which was situated at 1514, Stratford Road, Hall Green and run by his son "Jock" Houghton. I used to rummage through discarded items at the back of the shop as a youngster. I still have a surface coated mirror from an early projection TV somewhere. I have a photo of his first shop, No.89, at the Corner of Nineveh Road and Grasmere Road taken circa 1936 and on trawling the internet was amazed to find (in 2016) that it was still there and even featured his name on it. I attach a composite showing both images spanning 80 years. My grandfather was something of an entrepenuer when he moved to Birmingham from Liverpool in 1911 and after a brief spell as a Pawnbroker's Assistant he opened a shop at the corner of Heaton Street selling clothing from one window and Jewellery from the other! I found a glass negative of the shop a print of which I attach here. The date could be anything from 1913 to 1921. It was a long time ago but any memories, photos or information relating to my grandfather's businesses would be most welcome.