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Bentons

A

Austin K2

master brummie
Does anyone remember BENTONS toy shop in Erdington High St.
On the right hand side going away from six ways, near the old Roebuck inn I believe.
An absolute cornucopia of toys, very little of which I could afford to buy, but always in there looking and wishing.
On the rare occasions I had a half crown in my pocket, that's where Mom could find me, absolute nightmare making ones mind up as to which one to buy.
 
Used to be a paper boy there early 60's!! Newsagents etc downstairs and upstairs were all the toys, model cars, train sets etc. Mr Pugh was the manager then and when they shut he opened a shop in New St?
 
Yes, I certainly remember it from a very early age. Possibly even just about prewar. It was a long, narrow shop, if I remember correctly, and all the Hornby stuff was towards the back on the left hand side. Which floor, I don't remember; or even whether there was an upstairs then. A vision of wonderful, reddy-brown boxes with contents to die for and, if you got close enough, even a distinctive scent of Hornby cardboard! Just a very few of the contents came into my possession, most of them via my elder brother when he was absent and engaged on more serious matters in the 8th Army. They survived for over 70 years and I finally hardened my heart to dispose of them via eBay two or three years ago when I moved house.

Chris
 
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