THE DEPARTMENT STORE

Grace Brothers Department Store
became possibly the most famous store in the world for a while thanks to
the BBC-Television Series, Are You Being Served?

Are You being Served Theme Music

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OTHER DEPARTMENT STORES

OF MY YOUTH – 2

Barker’s of Kensington was founded in 1870, acquired by the House of Fraser in 1957 and vacated in 2006

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GAMAGES

THE GREATEST TOY DEPARTMENT

IN THE WORLD

Gamages in 1907 – opened in 1878 and closed in 1972; this photograph appears with permission of Historic England

I think that the first store I actually enjoyed visiting was the wonderful Gamages at 116-128 Holborn in the Borough of Holborn. This store was a must for children of all ages at Christmas time, as the toy department was a virtual Aladdin’s Cave and a joy for all visitors especially fathers who seemed to enjoy the toy-train display in particular. The model railway display was provided each year by Mr. Bertram Otto.

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This photograph was provided by Mr. Paul Bland

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I have read that Gamages had many departments, and in general, more than other large stores. This may well have been true, but I cannot recall ever visiting any beside the Toy Department. These Departments included Carpet, Furniture and Fashion. Seemingly Gamages was also famous for selling camping equipment including tents.

Gamage’s Department Store during the early 1950s
Top Left: Mr. Gamage

Gamages offered affordable, high quality domestic goods and produced catalogues for customers to order items for home delivery. The store also offered an international shipping service, whereby it could send its products throughout the British Empire. A number of the Store catalogues specialised in particular types of products such as picnic baskets, bee keeping appliances, magic tricks, motoring accessories etc.

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During the First World War, Gamages produced the Leach Trench Catapult for the British Army. This was a bomb-throwing Catapult and was designed to throw a two-pound (0.91 Kilogramme) projectile into enemy trenches. Although called a Calapault, it was in fact a combination Crossbow and Slingshot.

The Leach Tench Catapult (reproduced from The Slingshot Forum)

Click here to see the Leach Trench Catapult being tested during the First World War

Click here to see a replica of the Leach Trench Catapult in action

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This photograph was provided by Mr. Paul Bland

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A visit to meet Father Christmas was de rigueur for all children who were lucky enough to be taken to Gamages. I always enjoyed my visits and was pleased with the present that I received from him. I recall being quite upset when my mother eventually told me that I was too old to make such a visit. Of course she was correct but …….!

It wasn’t that I still believed that the jolly old man crept down our chimney each 24th December, it was that I enjoyed the visit to the store. I liked the excitement and energy that filled the department. I always experienced a sense of expectation just from being there.

Anyway, I have good memories of meeting The Great Man. Somewhat amusingly, I still go to a Toy Department each Christmas Season and look around and always wander over to the Grotto or whatever the area is called and try to catch a glimpse of him.

Christmas at Gamages in the 1950s
The Photograph at the Right appears with permission of Ms Susan Crawford and it show her and her sister, Linda, at the rear.

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This photograph was provided by Mr. Paul Bland

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Over the years, I have visited a great many Toy Shops and Departments and always have to smile when I hear that such-and-such-a-shop or such-and-such-a-store was the best for toys. I have examined in depth, and was impressed with F.A.O. Schwartz in New York City, and am even more impressed with Hamleys, which is recognised, and deservedly so, as the best Toy Shop in the world. My first chess set was a Christmas present purchased from Hamleys. It was made of wood and of a traditional design. I was ten-years old at the time and I am happy to say that I still have it!

Despite my sentimental association with Hamleys, and my belief that it is now the best Toy Shop in the world, my memory tells me otherwise. For those of us that were lucky enough to have visited Gamages know where the very best Toy Department once could be found!

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WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THIS OCCURRING?

Some time ago I was contacted by a Mr. Paul Davis. Imagine my surprise when I learned that he believed himself to be the baby in the picture of the observers of the model train at Gamages. I thought that this picture was taken close to Christmas 1954, and since Mr. Davis was born in 1953, he was without doubt of an appropriate age at the time to be that child. I set about trying to find out exactly or thereabouts when the picture was taken and learned that it had been taken just before Christmas in 1954. In the meantime, Mr. Davis sent me a copy of a picture that his parents had had taken at that time of him in the same outfit as seen in the Gamages picture.

Mr. Davis has also given some information as to other members of the Gamages picture: Mr. Davis’ mother is seen to the left of him; his father is at the back of the picture – he is the tall man with a hat; behind Mr. Davis’ mother, one is just able to see his uncle (wearing glasses) and his aunt on his right – he believes that this is of his Uncle Harry who was his mother’s elder brother.

I wonder what odds would be given by a bookie on the baby of the picture seeing this website and then turning to this story and then recognizing himself? The mind boggles!

Mr. Paul Davis and his wife Marietjie – 2010