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Midland Educational

Thanks jennyann. Your searches got far better results than mine it seems. I did find one and am waiting for an email back from them, but yours will give me an alternative. Thanks for taking the time.
 
I remember my parents taking me into it for school stuff back in the 1970s.Didn't use it so much as there was one in solihull,which was nearer.

Think this was a business that was seen as a bit 'swatty' as mentioned before.Stores like WH Smith tended to take over that sort of trade,but without the same professionalism.
 
This gem of a picture of the Midland Educational comes from the book Birmingham Shops & Shopping in which Peter Drake & Andrew Maxam have collected wide ranging photos from Birmingham.
 
This certainly is a "gem of a picture" BordesleyExile. Thanks very much for posting it. I had never seen it before.
 
The Midland Ed. was the parent company for Barnbys. Both shops had stores in Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol, & Solihull. There were other shops that were part of the group, but my memory is on meltdown at present.!
I left Barnby's at the end of 1970. I heard much later that they had been bought out by a tobacconists, but don't know what happened next.
The company warehouse was in Moseley, Thursday was our normal delivery day, except near Christmas, when we had deliveries virtually every day, even coming in on Sundays to clear the receipts.
 
I was their Van driver when they closed down about 1987, taken over by Next we were told, I was only there 7 months after taking early retirement from BT, my shortest job ever. Eric
 
That's a cracking photo Bordesley Exile, it is just as I remember it, even the windows were crammed with books. Thank you for posting it.
 
Most Saturdays I'd get the 5 or 5A bus into town from Witton, and after an hour or so in The Science Museum (my favourite place of all) I'd go to the Midland Ed. It was the smell more than anything. It reminded me of hot paper... Then up to The Model Aerodrome, finally into The Kardomah for a coffee and then home.

I was deeply in love with an assistant at the Midland Ed. Never even knew her name, but she sold maps. She had long brown hair...

Whoever took the decision to close the Midland Ed should be placed in the stocks for all time.

Big Gee
 
I worked at the Midland Educational (known as the MECo) for 3 years at the school contracts dept on the Moseley Road (Malcolm House) from 1970 to 73, It was my first job from school, it was a great place to work with a good crowd, sadly the money was poor so apart from a few die-hards, there was a good turn over of staff.
 
chris911 said:
The Midland Ed. was the parent company for Barnbys. Both shops had stores in Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol, & Solihull. There were other shops that were part of the group, but my memory is on meltdown at present.!

I worked as a manager (As a young lad, In truth, the wonderful Staff there did all the work, I just signed the paperwork!) for The Midland Educational from approx. 1973-1977, from memory, they also had stores in Sutton Coldfield, Stratford on Avon, Wolverhampton, owned Mawson Swan & Morgan in Princes St. Edinburgh?, traded under "A.O. Jones?" in the midlands somewhere (Worcester?)and bought a high class china and glassware company (2 or 3 units) based around Derby?. (Caused a lot of consternation at the time as the MD, Jonathon Sayers, installed his Son as Director of this latest aquisition, not that I should complain as I was given some nice cut glass as a wedding present! ). Cliff Harris, I believe, started as toy director?, later joined the big ctm chain (Alfred Preedy?)who ended up buying what was left of Midland Ed.
I will always remember a conversation with a guy who had previously been an assistant manager at the Solihull store in the 60's - had to take two shirt collars to work every day, collar changed daily at 12:00 precisely!
His main job, as he put it, in the afternoons, would be to hand deliver "2 pencils" or similar using his bicycle, to various local account customers - how things have changed.

Generally speaking, not bad people to work for at the time, some lovely people and stores with a great range of products.

Keith.
Click to expand...
 
Stebro,

My first job after leaving school too in early 60's. Money was no different then. Still enjoyed it there. Recall some hot summer days just popping into Moseley Road Baths during lunch interval for a cooling plunge. Somedays I was let loose when I'd go on the book deliveries with the driver...Tell you what I did learn, how to tie parcels! and yes, count quires of paper and card. I think there was 26 to a quire.
 
Di.Poppit is dead right - the Midland Ed was in Corporation St - on the left going up from New St. and by the 5a (Perry Common) bus stop. Also nearby were the 29 (Kingstanding Circle) & 29a (Pheasey Estate) stops which I used to use on my way home from St. Philips GS to Kingstanding
I also used to go there on a Saturday afternoon and buy "Observer's" books at 5/- a time.
 
I have only just seen the photograph of the frontage of The Midland Educational.... it is an absolute gem... thank you.. It was practically opposite my school... Pitmans College in Corporation Street. What memories. Thank you.. Georgie
 
Hi, I used to work there in the early 70's. This would be in corporation street, beside the ramp. I recall that, at some point, a Bang & Olufsen shop opened next door. I was fascinated by this shop as, eventually, I would get very much into Hi-Fi and there was a drama program on BBC called 'The Brothers' that featured a B & O linear tracking turntable which was *uber* expensive. I would spend loads of time drooling over this in the window .... Anyway, the ME was a strange antiquated place to work for, even then. I worked downstairs which was the toy department. I remember putting little plastic models of the Magic Roundabout to one side, trying to save up enough money to buy them (I never did). So that may date it .... Anyway, there was a lovely woman I worked for in the basement and I wish I could remember her name .... If a customer bought multiple items, we could only put *one* item through the till! I was told it was something to do with finance and they got a bit upset if they had multiple items on the till roll!!! I could be wrong here but I have a feeling the manager moved from there to Fine-Fare above New Street station where I later worked. I *think* it was Fine-Fare. It was right in the corner. If anyone knows the correct name, if that is not it, would be appreciated. Anyway, that is another story in itself ....All the best, Gary M Walton
 
I loved the Midland Educational, I used to buy bits of leather to thread together for belts. They were like a figure-of-eight and you had to fold them and thread another one through.
There was canework, felt, craft paper, etc. I would spend ages dreaming what I would do if I could afford to!!
I bought some resin which was mixed with hardener and you could put all sorts of little things in to make paperweights.....I even saved a lock of my son's hair that way and I've still got it 40 yrs. later!!!
Happy Days!
rosie.
 
i had to go to the mid ed for nylon rope for a stool i was making in woodwork at school. i used to go there with the family years later for books for the kids. the mid ed was around the corner from bull st opp lewis's
 
An old, but interesting thread, brought back to life.

In the early 1950's, on Saturday mornings (not summertime when I used to cycle across the city), I always made a visit to the Midland Educational store in Corporation Street. I bought many of my school books there and many other scholastic needs items. In fact some of the maths and English books are still here I believe as I encouraged my children to make use of them. It was a fascinating place to be in - often taking longer than it should have. Cranes - for classical music recordings and of course the model shop in Cherry Street were also on the ports of call. Of course, at that time, clothes shops and pubs would be of little interest.
 
After taking early retirement from BT I worked there as their Transit Van driver their previous driver had gone hippie and swanned of to Devon and left them in the lurch according to the manager Mr Baker ( he was straight out of a Dickens book, strict but fair) I loved the shop, real Dickensian, this was the late 80's, I obtained all my art materials 25 % off, and finger marked watercolour paper, chipped china pallettes squashed paint tubes etc... were written off and given to me, I drove all over the black country, Solihull, Droitwich, Bromsgrove and Worcester delivering books and educational materials to all the schools, unfortunately 7 months later it was taken over by 'Next' and they closed it down, it was so sad as a lot of the staff had worked there all their lives, some 30 years or more I was kept on an extra 2 weeks to remove the stock down to Winchester and Bath (they continually overloaded the van so that was a bit hair razing. I came away with £100 worth of art materials for £12.50, the plan chest used to display the watercolour paper and the managers desk, they let me use the transit van to bring them home, I garaged the Van on my drive anyway as they had no garage (I said it was a Dickensian Company). Still have the plan chest and the managers solid oak desk. A good company to work for, pity my time was so short. Eric
 
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Robert said:
Nijinski I think it may have been the Everyman store that was on Bull st.
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. Hi robert, I meant it was around the corner from bull st in corporation st. It was above the ramp to the underpass opp lewis's. Sorry about that I didn't explain it very well
 
Midland Ed was a brilliant Shop. It had much that was unobtainable elsewhere. Many Gov't publications such as large scale Maps were sold here, along with other specialist books. They had the best range of Fireworks ever. In the 70's when I was running a Youth Club, our Annual Village Bonfire always had a couple of £100 worth of display fireworks from Midland Ed.
 
Pete R said:
Midland Ed was a brilliant Shop. It had much that was unobtainable elsewhere. Many Gov't publications such as large scale Maps were sold here, along with other specialist books. They had the best range of Fireworks ever. In the 70's when I was running a Youth Club, our Annual Village Bonfire always had a couple of £100 worth of display fireworks from Midland Ed.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure they were the only place locally selling OS maps and Gov't publications. I think the HMSO had a shop somewhere too. I think there was one at 5 ways. I know HMSO had a place on Bull St for a few years but that could just have been after Midland Ed closed.
 
The HMSO was on Broad St, about half way down on the gas st side if I remember correctly.
 
I may be hallucinating, but although I remember the Midland Ed being opposite C&A & later opposite Rackhams, I also think that they opened a branch on the Aston University campus. Think it may have been just books & stationary though.
 
I believe that you're correct in that.

Sent from my HTC Desire X using Tapatalk 2
 
I have a photograph of the Erdington High Street - Midland Educational shop...I would have to have a look for it. Not sure if it was ever posted on the forum before.
 
I worked at the branch on Corporation Street, opposite what was Lewis's (now The Square Peg pub) from 1979 - 1980. It was my first job after leaving school and I started as a Saturday girl. I worked on the Pen & Gift department on the Ground Floor with Carole Smith & Teresa Miskella. Also on the floor was Stationery and Cake Decorations. 1st floor was Books & Toys and the 3rd floor was Arts & Crafts. Tucked away in the corner on the 3rd floor was the Cashier's office. Happy, happy days.
 
I worked with Mr Laing it was my first job when I left school,I remember when anyone famous came into the shop he had his camera there at the ready.I also remember Linda her sister ellen we worked in the same dept.Good days happy memories.
 
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