Bygone radio traders - Page 29 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

John M0GLN · 9th Apr 2021, 1:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave757

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowman_al

Glad this thread is still going. I've been clearing some old documentation and found items from here.

Anyone remember ''Centre Electronics'', 345 Stockfield Road , Yardley in Birmingham.
A real Aladdin's cave and many a lunch hour spent there in the 90s when I worked at the NEC. Just cannot remember the guy's name, might have been Howard?

Alan

Hi Alan,

His name is Howard Turner, and he still lives locally to where his shop was.
A very old friend of mine, and I was one of his regulars. I don't live in Birmingham now,
but I recently had a long telephone conversation with him,
and he still has one or two radios! It only seems like yesterday that the
shop closed, but it must be the best part of 20 years. How time flies!

Kind regards
Dave G0ELJ

Would he be the gentleman that had some Eddystone spares? I bought a new scale plate for a model 830/3 many years ago from a shop in Birmingham and the name 'Centre Electronics' sounds familiar.

John

snowman_al · 9th Apr 2021, 2:00 pm

@ Dave757, that is good news, Yes Howard Turner. A great character nice to have a 'banter' with in the shop or at the local rallies. (And I cannot mention his Jaguar.)

@ John M0GLN, yes he did have Eddystone spares, I had a few dial drive pulley gears off him for various models. And an extensive stock of manuals.

Alan

g4wim_tim · 9th Apr 2021, 8:24 pm

For those of us on the Fylde coast (Blackpool area etc) there was Stewarts Radio on Alfred Street Blackpool run by Stan Stewart and later his son. Always had a good collection of interesting stuff.
Then there was Billy Smiths scrap yard again in Blackpool which always had an assortment of ex gov. items.
Finally in St Annes there was 'old man Bowden's TV repair shop' who was more than willing to sell r's and c's etc for a few pennies to the local impoverished school kids like me ! Later he let me repair radios with these new fangled transistors in them. He must have been in his 70's in the mid 60's and always had a good tale to tell about the early days - charging accumulators etc.

SteveCG · 10th Apr 2021, 6:46 am

g4wim_tim,

... you took me down memory lane with those three places...

Yes, Ad Bowden would sell components - and not many TV places would. Smith's scrap yard was opposite a Builder's Merchant if I remember correctly. And Stewarts Radio was painted Yellow.

The only other 'bits-and-pieces-and-surplus' place I can recollect was in Manchester on Shude Hill, but its name eludes me.

ms660 · 10th Apr 2021, 9:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCG

The only other 'bits-and-pieces-and-surplus' place I can recollect was in Manchester on Shude Hill, but its name eludes me.

Globe Radio was on Shude Hill, on the left going up.

Lawrence.

John M0GLN · 10th Apr 2021, 12:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowman_al

@ John M0GLN, yes he did have Eddystone spares, I had a few dial drive pulley gears off him for various models. And an extensive stock of manuals.
Alan

That's stirred up another bit of my memory, I'm sure I called in for it but cannot think what else I was doing down there, it's about 110 miles away from me.
Thanks
John

William78 · 11th Apr 2021, 2:09 pm

My encounter with Howard Turner from Centre electronics was as follows:

Sometime in 1982 my father asked me to think of a 21st birthday present that would be worthwile. I suggested a Trio R1000 receiver but at a price of around £300 I would have had to contribute towards the cost.

I then spotted B40d Admiralty receivers being advertised in Practical wireless, price £65 with delivery possible and no contribution required from me. The seller of course was Howard Turner of Centre electronics.

My father arranged the purchase and delivery. Sometime later Howard delivered a B40d to my bedsit in Eccles, Manchester. He powered it up with a power lead that was not included in the sale, to demonstrate that the set worked. He also said the clutch behind the main tuning knob needed adusting. I pointed to my metre square MW loop in the corner and said I use that for MW dxing and I can use it with the B40. He had another delivery in the Manchester area so we said our goodbyes.

The B40 was soon up and running and I still have it today.

William.

cruisinradio · 12th Apr 2021, 6:49 pm

My memories
Deptford: Garlands, Bi Pak next door I think, RF industrial down the road towards New Cross same side, Opposite there was Greenwelds (who later went to Southampton, but I never got there-sadly).. anyone remember the massive old Mill that was near Greenweld's and the old cinema I think it once was?
Tott Ct. Road: Z and I (Millions of 10X crystals) and Proops
Chapel St, Ralphs (mostly transformers)
Edgware Road: H.L Smiths who made excellent aluminum custom and pre-made boxes and always had that big old black and white TV blasting away (I loved that place), also Henry's,
Lisle St: G.W. Smith (always moaning about the rats in the cellar)
Kingston: Southern Surplus (old Steptoe always had loads of 19 and 62 sets),
Crystal Palace/ Croydon - Anerley?: Huggets- always had endless goodies at great prices
Acton: Bonex had a crackin' shop near the station- most helpful indeed,
Croydon: A.J Bull (later in Hove),
Bromley: Richardson's components, really crackin'shop,
Lincoln: Birketts (still going I believe),
Worthing: GWM Radio in Portland Road.

I am sure I have missed some, but, all great times.

9th Apr 2021, 2:00 pm	#562
snowman_al Heptode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK. Posts: 731	Re: Bygone radio traders @ Dave757, that is good news, Yes Howard Turner. A great character nice to have a 'banter' with in the shop or at the local rallies. (And I cannot mention his Jaguar.) @ John M0GLN, yes he did have Eddystone spares, I had a few dial drive pulley gears off him for various models. And an extensive stock of manuals. Alan __________________ Never Leave Well Enough Alone...

9th Apr 2021, 8:24 pm	#563
g4wim_tim Pentode Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Freckleton, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 148	Re: Bygone radio traders For those of us on the Fylde coast (Blackpool area etc) there was Stewarts Radio on Alfred Street Blackpool run by Stan Stewart and later his son. Always had a good collection of interesting stuff. Then there was Billy Smiths scrap yard again in Blackpool which always had an assortment of ex gov. items. Finally in St Annes there was 'old man Bowden's TV repair shop' who was more than willing to sell r's and c's etc for a few pennies to the local impoverished school kids like me ! Later he let me repair radios with these new fangled transistors in them. He must have been in his 70's in the mid 60's and always had a good tale to tell about the early days - charging accumulators etc. __________________ Building and tinkering for over 50 years, from 807's to digital amateur TV.

10th Apr 2021, 6:46 am	#564
SteveCG Nonode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 2,334	Re: Bygone radio traders g4wim_tim, ... you took me down memory lane with those three places... Yes, Ad Bowden would sell components - and not many TV places would. Smith's scrap yard was opposite a Builder's Merchant if I remember correctly. And Stewarts Radio was painted Yellow. The only other 'bits-and-pieces-and-surplus' place I can recollect was in Manchester on Shude Hill, but its name eludes me.

11th Apr 2021, 2:09 pm	#567
William78 Triode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bygone radio traders My encounter with Howard Turner from Centre electronics was as follows: Sometime in 1982 my father asked me to think of a 21st birthday present that would be worthwile. I suggested a Trio R1000 receiver but at a price of around £300 I would have had to contribute towards the cost. I then spotted B40d Admiralty receivers being advertised in Practical wireless, price £65 with delivery possible and no contribution required from me. The seller of course was Howard Turner of Centre electronics. My father arranged the purchase and delivery. Sometime later Howard delivered a B40d to my bedsit in Eccles, Manchester. He powered it up with a power lead that was not included in the sale, to demonstrate that the set worked. He also said the clutch behind the main tuning knob needed adusting. I pointed to my metre square MW loop in the corner and said I use that for MW dxing and I can use it with the B40. He had another delivery in the Manchester area so we said our goodbyes. The B40 was soon up and running and I still have it today. William.

12th Apr 2021, 6:49 pm	#568
cruisinradio Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: London, UK Posts: 62	Re: Bygone radio traders My memories Deptford: Garlands, Bi Pak next door I think, RF industrial down the road towards New Cross same side, Opposite there was Greenwelds (who later went to Southampton, but I never got there-sadly).. anyone remember the massive old Mill that was near Greenweld's and the old cinema I think it once was? Tott Ct. Road: Z and I (Millions of 10X crystals) and Proops Chapel St, Ralphs (mostly transformers) Edgware Road: H.L Smiths who made excellent aluminum custom and pre-made boxes and always had that big old black and white TV blasting away (I loved that place), also Henry's, Lisle St: G.W. Smith (always moaning about the rats in the cellar) Kingston: Southern Surplus (old Steptoe always had loads of 19 and 62 sets), Crystal Palace/ Croydon - Anerley?: Huggets- always had endless goodies at great prices Acton: Bonex had a crackin' shop near the station- most helpful indeed, Croydon: A.J Bull (later in Hove), Bromley: Richardson's components, really crackin'shop, Lincoln: Birketts (still going I believe), Worthing: GWM Radio in Portland Road. I am sure I have missed some, but, all great times.