"IMM" wrote in message ...
"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...

Reminds me of an unusual business I once visited. From the outside it
looked as if the building was at risk of collapse. Half of it was
boarded up. Inside it was like walking 40 years into the past, they
stocked paraffin cookers, distemper, whiting, paraffin, and the sort
of household appliances I doubt anyone has bought in a very long time.
Tin baths were one example. Anyway, the distemper was 70p for 2.5l,
and most of the colours were sold out. It was nearly half a century
old. Not the best policy on stock rotation then.

The sales person was dressed in tattered and torn clothes, smelt of
paraffin, and seemed more interested in a long chat than anything.

Had these premises been closed for 40-50 years and then someone re-opened
the place to sell off the old stock?

The sad thing is no, theyd been open all the time. The people lived
like they were in the 40s, bills must have been minimal, maintance
spend was near zero, and I guess the lines they did sell kept them
going just about. Anyone in their right mind would have auctioned the
distempter off decades ago, and used the space for something that did
sell. Same with the tin baths. I think probably half their stock was
good to sell, the other half no sane person would buy. ISTR they still
had 1970s lino in stock, and this was in the 90s. It did not look
good.


I remember those sort of places here. Everything was loose and they put it
in brown paper bags for you. Self serve was unheard of. You had to know what
you wanted, or asked the man, or told him of your problem, and then he
leaned into a deep bin pulled it out and put it in a brown paper bag.

There still are a few like that about.


NT