Lisle Street and beyond.

[Doodlebug]

For those old enough to know the pleasures of Lisle St.
wireless shops and beyond.
http://www.retinascope.co.uk/lislestreet.html

[peter scott]

Hi Alan,

Great website! Lots of fascinating stuff there.

Thanks,

Peter

[pwdrive]

Being a Northener no Lisle Street for me, 'twas Great Ancoats , Shude Hill and Mazell's on London Road, all in Manchester.

Lawrence.

[Terry]

When I was at school, Duke & Co in Manor Park was a short trolleybus diversion away from my normal route home.

I remember buying a 3-band coil pack for 2/9 - complete with dial (which turned out to be paper, produced on a duplicator!)

I think he made a killing in 1958 when the law requiring cars to be equipped with two rear lights was introduced. He must have had a massive stock of government surplus lamps which not only appeared in the regular adverts in PW, etc., but were also advertised in the national press!

A bit further down the roaf was BENSALMON RADIO. I don't know if the missing space was accident or design but it was usually referred to as Bensa'mens.

Some wit there came up with the most extraordinary descriptions for items displayed in the windows and you could have a good laugh even if the shop was closed!

One I particularly remember was a B & L Coax plug - rated at 10,000A! Unfortunately, the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968 meant that descriptions returned to normal and, even after someone stumbled on get-out-of-jail word "allegedly", never put in a return appearance ...

[peter scott]

One I particularly remember was a B & L Coax plug - rated at 10,000A! Unfortunately, the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968 meant that descriptions returned to normal and, even after someone stumbled on get-out-of-jail word "allegedly", never put in a return appearance ...

Still in some quarters of the world...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-3v-6v-to-40...SwA4dWF0Gh

[Raditechman]

That was a nice article to read.
I always looked forward to a trip to the radio surplus shops. I would start at Lisle Street, then walk to Tottenham Court Road. Afterwads take a tube to Edgware Road for the shops there and lunch in the Metropolitan Cafe, - named after the Metropolitan theatre which used to be opposite.
Health and safety today would not be happy with some of those shops as they had gear stacked from floor to ceiling and you walked along aisles  among the stuff!.
I remember one shop in Edgware Road used to have a coal fire burning during the winter.

Apart from John Gilbert in Shepherds Bush market there was also a couple of war surplus shops on the Uxbridge Road opposite Shepherds Bush Green.

Pity it has all gone.

John

[Doodlebug]

Apart from John Gilbert in Shepherds Bush market there was also a couple of war surplus shops on the Uxbridge Road opposite Shepherds Bush Green.

Pity it has all gone.

John

I lived at Shepherds Bush during that time.  You seem to know the Bush too, John.
Did you ever go to John Gilbert's shop I wonder, in the market?
As you say, pity it has all gone.  Great days they were.

[Raditechman]

Doodlebug,
I seem to remember that John Gilberts shop was not very big. Not so much a surplus shop but components and amplifier gear.
To update you on the area.
The market is still there but has changed a lot and if you remember the  pie and mash shop on the Goldhark Road (near the market entrance) that closed last year. There had been a pie shop there since 1891. Cookes were the last owners.
The two small watch/clock spares and repair shops at the market entrance (Goldhawk Road end) I think are still there.
Shepherds Bush Empire still open but part of the ceiling fell down last year and it closed temporarily for repairs. It was for many years the BBC TV theatre.
The small cinema next door became a pub. but has since closed and is threatened with demolition.
The large Odeon next door to that has been gutted and is now an expensive hotel.
The area is going upmarket since Westfields Mall opened (that is being made even bigger) and the White City TV centre is being converted into luxury flats. I understand a couple of the studios will be brought back into use.
Along the Goldhawk Road there used to be a valve shop, I think it was Colomor valves.  I often went there for valves as they were a cheap brand. I wonder if you remember them.
I guess the internet had taken over, but it was nice when we had all these little special shops.
John

[AlanBeckett]

Along the Goldhawk Road there used to be a valve shop, I think it was Colomor valves.  I often went there for valves as they were a cheap brand. I wonder if you remember them.

Colomor are still a goer. I bought a couple of Valves from them last year and I asked if they were the same Business that I'd bought stuff off 60 years ago. Apparently so although they've moved - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COLOMOR-VALVES-...COMPONENTS

They seem to be just down the the Road from Langrex, another name from the past - http://www.langrex.co.uk/

Alan

[Brianc]

We used to go to Colmor's from Lime Grove Studios. The guy that ran it was called Jim, a very calm, polite chap. He also had the odd bit of surplus kit, headphones and the like. A bit further up Sheperds Bush Road towards the Green, there was a small shop selling ex-rental TVs (black & white in my day) which I used to buy and do up for sale. A nice little sideline!
A pie shop was metioned but does anyone remember The Metro Cafe? This was in the entrance to the Met line tube station and was run by a Greek family. The food was better than the BBC canteen and not as expensive! We often ate there.