I once worked in the spares department at George Clarke's. We dealt in Panther spares, we used to have people come in with all manner of strange things for other makes. They looked surprised when you told them that we only sold Panther parts and yes many of them spoke in a South London accent much like wot I do, even though I left the smoke nearly 50 years ago.
Old shops I visited at different times in the Smoke were Russell Motors, Gander and Gray, Elite Motors, Owen Brothers and the original Lewis Leathers in Great Portland Street...
I usually made time when I went to London to the Motorcycle Show, when it took place at the Royal Horticultural Halls...It all seems a long time ago now!!...Sadly I didn't hang on to my Lewis Leathers 'made to measure 'Lightning Jacket' and sheepskin lined 'Motorway Boots'...:laughing: ...Ian
I still have my dark blue 'Super Monza' jacket - my preferred boots were Godfrey's 'Gold-Top' I still have a couple of pairs. The jacket seems to have shrunk around the waist though. :thinking_face:
referring to the above spares conversations; you lot are lucky I am not about to relate my experiences selling spares for brit bikes in the 1970s/80s.
Some of the types I used to deal with drove me to the very edge of my tolerance and sanity to the extent one day I shut up shop and flogged the lot off.
I'd believe you...I worked in a bike shop as well running my own thing for 17 years...You meet all sorts and much as I'm a fan of variety and eccentricity it can be 'challenging' sometimes!...Ian
