Another one bites the dust

Hi all.

Having a little free time, I took a trip out yesterday over to North London where I used to live and work, just to see what had changed.

What I found was NOT good.

At the top of Holloway Road , in Archway, there is (was) what I always considered to be a great institution and part of my introduction to machine tools (Wood working at the time) When I were a lad of 16 just starting out on a five year wood machinist apprenticeship.

Thomas Brothers has been trading since the 1920's and never, more than two or three times have I ever been in there in the last 40 years and had them say "We don't stock that" They HAVE said "We don't have any right now, but come back tomorrow and we'll have one for you)

Sadly, all this is to change, as in three or four weeks they are closing down for good. No longer able to compete with flog 'em cheap Charlies on the internet

They are currently having a 50% sale trying to shift what they have left.

Most of the power tools are gone, save for a few 110V ones, and the entire place is now looking decidedly empty

I spent over an hour in there yesterday, chatting with the staff, most of whom have been there for as long as I can remember, and will be going back on Saturday, even though I felt like a vulture picking over the bones.

Thomas Brothers is now another on the list of "Ohhh yes, I remember those, along with Cooke's of Chadwell Heath and Turtles of Croydon.

A sad sign of the times and they will at least, be missed by me.

Hi Bill

"A sad sign of the times" - agreed 100%...

'Progress' is what this generation usually calls this kind of thing I think...

Regards.

Allan.

Sad for you Bill, but not for me 70 miles and the other side of London. The "Charlies" supply my needs. Having said that Axminster are spreading out from Devon with a scattering of new shops (including one close to me in Basingstoke). So perhaps it's not the internet competition that's the problem but the management being unimaginative enough to keep up with changing trading conditions.

I know how you feel though, Sarjents in Reading closed down decades ago. I could go in there and twiddle the handle of a Myford lathe long before I ever got one.

Rod

Hi Rod and Allen.

A sign of the times indeed.

Don't get me wrong. I have no issue with the internet retailers. Most have limited overheads and can afford to easily undercut the High Street retailers. I am as guilty as the next man for using them too.

I just feel it's sad when somewhere like that goes and highlights even further how much of a throw away society we have become.

That combined with every High Street looking identical to every other High Street with Estate Agents, Betting Shops, Hairdressers and Nail Bars.

Doubtless the old, double fronted Thomas Brothers will be a Solicitors on one side and a coffee shop on the other.

Shakes head in despair and heads back to the shed.

I would never have been able to get involved if it wasn't for the netty. Not just from a cost perspective but the incredible availability of tooling and equipment

There must be others in the same situation

So there are a bunch of new customers who would never have existed without the net

Edited By Ady1 on 11/04/2014 13:45:00

Hi Bill,

The Myford you twiddled in Sarjents might have been mine.

Sarjents were an excellent business, but once they moved down to the river they seemed to fall apart very speedily.

I still have most of the tools I bought there still being used, I always look at the boxed set of Dormer drills I acquired, the box was much better than those used today. Although the smaller sizes are not original (1967) the larger ones 6mm and above have been sharpened several times.

There was nothing like seeing the item you were investing in, but the concept of investing in tools has long gone.

Where I live now in the North Midlans there is a small tool dealer who stocks most things, has knowledgeable staff and will order in anything he has not got. No lathes tho'

Jerry

Where I live it's a 15 mile round trip to get a bolt, may-be another 15miles for a nut to suit if I'm unlucky. This is why I keep lots of junk (not my word).

Anyone remember Messengers in Guildford? That was a "real" tool shop, I remember as a lad drooling over all the tools in there. They also helped kit out my first toolkit post apprenticehip, many of which are still in toolbox.

I remember going to skilmans in Woolwich for materials another casualty

Best Wishes Martin