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Fischer's watch and clock parts.

J

JohnO

master brummie
Does anyone have any information regarding the old firm of Fischers; they sold watch and clock parts.
As a child I visited the shop on a Saturday morning, with a list of watch/clock-parts required by my father. Because of my unstable mememory, I can recall the shop itself, and the eccentric staff who worked there; but for the life of me I can't recall where the shop was! Any ideas?

I think it was a Jewish firm; the people who worked there were a very odd lot indeed, always loudly back-chatting, and insulting each other...appearing, at least on the surface, to be very grumpy and sarcastic. They all wore a jewellers' lens screwed into one eye, or dangling from a cord around their necks. Those who wore spectacles had the lens attached to their glasses, to be flipped-in or out, as required. They all smoked incessantly, never removing the cigarettes from their mouths ... the fag-ash flew everywhere! Whenever someone opened the shop door a great cloud of tobbaco smoke used to escape into the street....and seen from outside, it looked as if the place was on fire!

The shop was always very busy on a Saturday morning and I sometimes had to queue for ages to get served; as a child I thought it was like having to spend time with the living dead! Everything took such a long time to happen; long, tedious discussions about obscure watch-parts; measurings, micrometers and long-winded tales on excruciatingly boring topics. Of course, I'd now I'd be fascinated by it all; but not then!
 
in the 1963 kellys - r fischer watch material dealer 47 great hampton street. is that the one?
 
Thanks Shera, I imagine that must be the place. Any idea where Great Hampton Street is; is it in the jewellery quarter?

Does anyone have it on a map? For some reason I just CANNOT remember how I got there; and yet I went there dozens of times!
 
John O my dad repaired watches and he used to give mom a list of parts and she always took me with her. I remember the staff used to make me laugh and I visited the Dolls Hospital next door or close bye. I remember some of the parts on the lists as staff spring bezel etc. When my dad died there were lots of spare watch parts and mom had them made into a collage that my brother still has on his wall. I am glad you started this thread as I have been trying for ages to remember the name of this shop. John it is funny but I can't remember the fag smoke as I have always hated it so much. Jean.
 
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Hi Jean, what a coincidence! After Dad died, my sister made a collage using all Dad's old watch-parts too. Which now proves to be a BIG mistake as you can get a fortune on ebay for old watch&clock parts! Watch-repairing tools are very much sought after too.

Yes, the lists! Balance-staffs, bezels, verge-escapements, wheels, pinions, springs, jewels and two dozen different types of watch glass! It was like another language ... everything had to be so exact.

Do you remember the old (well, I thought she was) Jewish lady with the died red hair? She was very bossy and was forever telling the men to get out of her way. She always used to call me 'bubeleh' which I think (?) is a jewish term of endearment; but I might well be wrong!

Jean, if you didn't notice the 'smoke' you must have been wearing a gass-mask! It wasn't during the 1940's surely??? :D All the customers seemed to smoke too, in those days.

I've since visited the famous Craster-Kipper Smoking-House, and it was nothing in comparison to Fischers!
 
John I was very young when mom took me and I can distinctly remember sitting on the glass counter and I thought I was going to fall through even though mom held on to me. I was born in 46 so it would have been about 1950 onwards if my memory serves me well. It was the gentleman I remember as he always tried to make me laugh. I will ask my brother to take a photo of the collage and post it. My dad used to say "Never buy a Timex as they were named Skelton before and were rubbish". Or their movement was rubbish. Was the Dolls Hospital next door do you remember John?. Jean.
 
Yes! Dad used to refuse point-blank to repair Timex. They just got returned to the factory and had an entirely new movement fitted. He hated them with a passion and regarded them as an insult to the art of watch-making! He only repaired 'interesting' pieces ... unless pressed, and then he doubled, or trebled the price, if he thought he wouldn't enjoy doing the repair. He was always honest about it; but still people insisted on paying. It was his hobby, but it paid his beer-money and more besides. He often said he could earn more money repairing clocks and watches than with his proper job; but then he would lose his interest in a good hobby. I still have an image in my minds-eye, of Dad bent-over his massive roll-top desk, lit by an anglepoise lamp in the darkness, with a jewlers glass stuck in his eye ... tobacco-smoke swirling ... as he peered over some watch-movement. He had dozens of little boxes and pots ... little white screw-top ceramic pots with wooden lids, containing different grades of watch-oil, or cleaning fluids. He also had a strange wooden box containing an electrical coil through which he passed all the watch-parts to demagnitise them. I loved to stand next to him as he worked; but I had to be absolutely silent and not shuffle-about; so I could only last for about ten minutes before I did something to distract him ... and then it would be ''Out!'' Mind you, it was good practice, these days I can manage not to move for hours at a time! :D

My visits to Fischers were during the 50's to the late 60's; so perhaps the staff had changed a bit by then ... when I was there they used to tell you NOT to lean on the glass-counter; so perhaps some child had sat on it once to often?!?!?

I have only vague memories of the 'Dolls Hospital' ... I can remember seeing the sign somewhere, but nowt else. Was there not a 'Pipe Hospital' too; or am I imagining that? Tobacco-pipes, that is. I'm sure Dad once had his favourite pipe mended there.
 
John I too remember the little pots that dad dipped his watch parts into. He also developed his own photo's in the workshop and I remember a littl line with all the negatives hanging up. He had a little stove where he kept warm in the winter and cooked potato's and chestnuts on on bonfire night. He had little tags on string that he would put the price on and sometimes let me write them out for him. I still have a couple of the tiny watch screwdrivers. I can remember something about pipes but it is not very clear like the dolls hospital is. My dad used to have the Horological Magazine and he also said the Swiss movements were the best. I used to take him cups of tea down to the shed and a sandwich. I still can't keep still and my parents said I had St Vitas's dance. Jean.
 
You keep raising memories Jean! I remember the Horology Magazine well ... it was all very sombre; all in shades of grey. Did it not have a picture of 'Big Ben' on the cover? Shiny paper if I remember correctly?

Yes, Dad had a small parafin-heater ... he smell added to the general atmosphere; I'd quite forgotten. I still find the smell of warm parafin quite comforting. I never got any baked-potatoes though!

The price-tag thingies ... I could never tie the ends together with my clumsy fingers!
 
My dads fire was cast iron with a chimney through the shed roof. Wonder it never caught fire. He burned logs and coke I think. He also had a parafin heater and fitted a rack on that too to keep his tea warm. It was Big Ben on the cover I think or a very big clock. You are right about the tags but I used to thread the tag through the loop without tying them. I am sure I have some in a box somewhere. I still have the Oxo tin they were kept in. Jean.
 
HI GUYS
Did any of you ever buy the old moores magines to learn of the dooms day book and its predictions
it was a very popular magg; in the thirtyies and fortys some even bought it in the fiftys
that i do know ; one prediction ; it did rain for forty days and nights
do you ever recall the man withthe sandwich board
walking around shouting the end is nigh or do you ever remember the organ player with its little monkey on topp he was a little cheecky monkey my grand mother kept a monkey in a cage and she took it every where
do people repair watches any more are these watch menders still around its a dying proffession if not its already dead, personaly i think time as been called on these old guys whom done it for a living
there used to be one on bristol rd by selly oak and pershore rd and last of alum rock rd
best wishes astonion ;;
 
Hi Alan Pete's friend repairs watches and his hobby is picking them up at car boot and charity shops and spends hours fixing them. He is self taught like my dad. I think people are too lazy to wind watches up these days and prefer the do it yourself battery operated ones. Jean.
 
HI JEAN

I Tend to agree with yu on that one ; do you know i have a big collection of them in my
cubbard draws and i have searched for a whatch mender for years i have also one with a M;B
Brewery one amongest my collection i have got some old watches worth hundreds of pounds
but for the love nor money i cannot find a dammed mender
i prefere these wind up ones than these dammed battery ones myself they either game time or they pack up
well jean as time is ticking bye i will clock off for now give my egards to pete
and i may just catch up with one day and bring them to him to work on
take care alan ;;
 
Pete has quite a collection too and his favourite one is a Citizens. Pete's friend does them up but just as a challenge I think. He is also a mechanic bit of a difference between a car and a watch eh Alan?. Jean.
 
Hello All, you Fischers, Customers!

my Father was in Business in Walsall as a watchmaker, 1919, to 1945, then West Bromwich, till 1950.

I used to have to go to Fischers, but also, Bannister Brothers, a few doors along on the same side, but nearer to Hockley Brook, Odd none of you ever went there? Cleaner shop, and slightly cheaper, so Dad used to say. Along opposite Lucas's factory. But I also had to go up Vyse st., and into Warstone Lane, to number 7, taking old Gold, and coming away with a new wedding ring, sometimes. Happy Days, - No chance of a mugging then! dontheturner (80)
 
When would that have been Don only I used to go with mom in the late forties early fifties?. I do remember mom going to the other shop when Iwas a bit older but don't remember going with her. Jean.
 
Hello Jean - I am 80, and soon to be 81 - SO - It was during the war, and with a mate, from 1943 onwards. - As inquisitive 13/14 year olds, my mate Jack, always insisted on us going upstairs, on the bus, so we could look into bedroom windows on the journey! Still dream of Lewis's - and can still smell Grey's. Any idea, what the rag market is like now?- Have to take My Thai Wife there! love Don
 
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