Vanishing local shop outlets.

The list of closed tool and material shops reads like a commentary on my workshop life. Although there is nothing like browsing boxes of bits and stuff face to face the WEB does provide a different and potentially wider source of items.

Advice would be don't be in an out let when it disappears - you might go with it!

JOHN

I had one of the British attempts to compete with the Japanese motorcycle industry, a Norton Commando MK3 Interstate. Recently I saw one offered at close to 5 grand in original condition, that made me laugh. I paid £1100 for one straight from the factory back in the eighties. Original condition included, porous front forks, chromium plated disks that soon lost the plating, exhaust pipes that kept coming loose, throttle cable physically so short the bike accelerated when turned left, rev cable that pulled on the bouncing engine casing and showered my right leg with oil, a prestolite starter that couldn't turn the engine over without help from the kick start and finally valve springs that lost their spring after 6 months. A Honda four cured those woes.

The demise of British industry has to be laid fairly and squarely with the bloody mindedness of both employees and employers aided by unions and politician, all greedy for money and power.

That the Japanese could produce a motorcycle that could travel at 110mph hour after hour without oil leaks or bits falling off and tick over the next day as sweetly as when new should have given British workers a hint of things to come, but no it was head in sand and 'buy British'

Even the 'new' British Triumph when it appeared looked more like a Japanese clone than some of the Japanese twin clones of British bikes that we used to see early on.

Here in Scotland in my two local towns, individual shops are fast disappearing, one has thirteen charity shops in its high street. The out of town shopping centres 70 and 90 miles away beckon.

At he end of the day it us the consumer that sent these shops into history, only now when they have gone do we bemoan the good old days, Bit like building small steam engines, all huff and puff about the past.

The other thing I miss is the old Army Disposal shops. In the '70s they were a treasure trove for boys (young and old), packed with everything from old uniforms and great coats to aircraft radio sets, bayonets, obscure gauges and dials and unidentifiable widgets that were always an adventure to trawl through and a great source of hobby materials.

Somebody mentioned the "Tool Shop" in Colyton. I often visit the shop as David, the proprietor, offers absolutely first class service and help. For instance I recently bought a second hand Jacobs drill chuck for about the same price as a new Chinese/Indian jobbie. There is no comparison as to the quality and sheer "feel" of a decent tool.

Unfortunately the Tool Shop is up for sale which will possibly deprive me of a first class supplier. Maybe someone out here will have the inclination to take it over and carry on with the good work - Shaun