Vagabond

A very interesting, informative thread, well done High Pit Wilma, and thank you for your time, all those hours spent at your keyboard, no easy task when you are tired - I know this only too well. Again, thank you!

Thankyou for your welcome Maggie Re, pelmets, they were all the rage back in the 60`s, we couldn`t make them fast enough; they didn`t `alf pick up the dust though; one reason they lost popularity. We also sold Formica, and, of all things - model planes, the type you `wound up` with elastic bands (Keil Kraft). I think we bought a job lot from a wholesaler. We sold whitewash too - or distemper (The Paragon Packing Company) as it was more commonly known. And glass, we sold glass too, to order. Everything was cut to size, customers would come in wanting 5` 4 inches of 2 x 1 and we`d cut it for them. If they wanted a piece of plywood 16" x 30" we`d cut it for them. Only exception were the rammon mouldings, these were generally sold in 6` lenghs. Some customers complained about this - why did they have to pay for 6` when they only wanted 4. They`d never had it so good, everything cut to order - was like having someone do half of the work for them - all they had to do was put it all together! It was all change though in the late 70`s when the big boys came on the scene, B&Q and the rest. No one cuts to size now, cep`t maybe your local glazier.

Thankyou Brian

Hi all, and thank you for the welcomes, I don`t want to give out the name of the business for reasons I`m sure you will understand (it was a family business). Suffice it to say, it was a tiny little shop, situated opposite the Lion Garage, Not directly opposite (as in across the road from) but a little way further down the road, It was in a line, or a terrace of shops, except that the line was broken at the side of our shop by a patch of waste ground, so it looked like our shop was at the end of the terrace, and where there should have been a shop (or some kind of building) there was nothing, just a space, overgrown with weeds. I should say that I`m going back 50 years or so, c 1961. I would have been 14 years of age then. We sold, timber, hardboard, plywood, pelmets (remember them) made to order), dowling, nails, screws, brackets, glues, etc - the usual stuff. But like I said, the premises were too small, and we gave it up after 3 -4 years. We had two other, more proffitable shops. The term DIY was in its infancy in the 1960`s. On a good day, eg on a Saturday we would clear 100 pounds, a considerable sum in those days. PS. My dentist is in Bedlington, must make an appointment, my check up is long overdue!

Hi, Just a brief introduction, I`m a Northumbrian, born and bred, a keen walker, with lot`s of other interests, ie local/ natural history, reading, writing, books etc... Back in the day (when Methusala was a lad) my family ran a small DIY shop on Bedlington High Street. I also recall, or seem to recall the miners picnics that were held anually, just a stones` throw from the village, down a rather steep hill. am I right, or is my mind playing tricks? I am of a certain age after all. That`s me then, looking forward to joining in on the discussions.