Grandad bought me Noddy's car from therehe was my first boss - got a job, in '75, at another shop he owned, and his 70+ mom managed, over the road from his model shop at Stockland Green - it was called 'the Gift Shop' - he also owned Toyland next door to it, which I was seconded to in '76.
I wonder if any of the staff that worked there visit here - a Margaret, a girl a year or two older than me called Marian, and another lady, can't recall her name - might have begun with a 'D.'
I remember he (Jim Davis) had 2 sons, James, the elder, (3rd Jim Davis in a row) was about 2 years younger than me, 15 when I was 16/17, and a younger son.
I recalls a Doll's Hospital (discussion a page or two back), in the rag market on a stall - my mom used to take me to in the 60's to get my dolls eyes and suchlike fixed. Plus one in Erdington market in the 70's (by then used for my younger sister's dolls).
MauriceAnd going back to the 1950s, does anyone remember Juneero (Junior Engineering)? I doubt if it would get past 'elf'n'safety these days as it included small pieces of sheet steel (around 22 swg) with a guillotine, some 1/8" diameter steel rod and a tap to thread it. The guillotine also had a slot for cropping the rod to size, and lots of nuts and bolts (around 4BA). I spent hours playing with this stuff as it was much more flexible than Meccano for model building. About the only thing missing was an arc welder!!!
Maurice
well done VivAn advert from 1955. Viv.
and one on nechells park rd.nechells.I remember going to Horntons Corner in the late 60's when my parents bought me my first "Airband Radio" which enabled reception of the Air Traffic Control at Elmdon (in those days!) Compared to the gear I have now, it was pretty basic, just a tranny with a bit more coverage on VHF!!
I still remember the shop owner in his natty striped suit!! I'm pretty sure at some point I had binoculars from there as well.
Talking as you were about model shops, in the 70's I used to frequent a great little emporium at the bottom of Formans Road Sparkhill (I lived in Tetley Road, Springfield, off Shaftmoor Lane) I'm not 100% sure but I think it was "AV Lucas" he used to stock all the Construction kits ie Airfix, Revell, Frog (showing my age now!) and all the rest. He used to stay open until about 8-00pm on Friday evenings as well. Wonder if anyone remembers him ?
It would be mind blowing to see a photo of the place, Long shot though!!!!
Regards BobM
PS There was a "Dolls Hospital" on Stratford Rd near College Road, owned by Bev Bevan's mother. Later it became his record shop.
They are still available, from A to Z, around £5 to £10. If you are impulsive they are also sold as pairs.Mentioned earlier in this thread, who remembers one of these?
Yes, Jetex 50 & 75 as I recall!there was a great toy shop on aston rd north,/phillip st .were i bought mini jet engines from. (i think they were called jetex)
i went formans road when i got a p/t job for co op butchers at hall greenI remember going to Horntons Corner in the late 60's when my parents bought me my first "Airband Radio" which enabled reception of the Air Traffic Control at Elmdon (in those days!) Compared to the gear I have now, it was pretty basic, just a tranny with a bit more coverage on VHF!!
I still remember the shop owner in his natty striped suit!! I'm pretty sure at some point I had binoculars from there as well.
Talking as you were about model shops, in the 70's I used to frequent a great little emporium at the bottom of Formans Road Sparkhill (I lived in Tetley Road, Springfield, off Shaftmoor Lane) I'm not 100% sure but I think it was "AV Lucas" he used to stock all the Construction kits ie Airfix, Revell, Frog (showing my age now!) and all the rest. He used to stay open until about 8-00pm on Friday evenings as well. Wonder if anyone remembers him ?
It would be mind blowing to see a photo of the place, Long shot though!!!!
Regards BobM
PS There was a "Dolls Hospital" on Stratford Rd near College Road, owned by Bev Bevan's mother. Later it became his record shop.
yeeer well done richard.thanksYes, Jetex 50 & 75 as I recall!
Thank you Maurice for sharing that! I don't remember that when I took heat engines at university! I also remember the "collapsing can" in secondary school that I thought was very good!Posts #97, #124 & #132 referred to the Dippy or Drinking Bird. But how does it work? I came acropss this explanation the other day, so for the inquisitive and technical amongst us, here's why.......
Maurice