Kings Cross Model Shop

[Brian Kirby]

Although i worked for the King's Cross shop full-time until 1986, i was sometimes sent down to the Reading shop, usually to do with preparation and packing for the Easter show at Westminster. Compared with the then mean streets of KX, with it's drunks, druggies and prostitutes, working in a provincial shop was bliss. The Reading shop was a rabbit warren, as mentioned above with certain rooms dedicated for various activities, the whole building was rather like "the house that Jack built", with two (or three?) staircases, of which the easternmost was terribly steep, more like a ladder! I already knew some of the staff via regular phone calls between shops, so the ice was already broken, although as stated before, all the staff and bosses were cheerful and pleasant. Everybody was on first name terms, although i and a few others, could never bring ourselves to address the top man as "Ted", always "Mr.Morris" out of respect, although he would not of minded. Second-in-command was John Gauld, who i initially and wrongly thought rather stern, he was actually a very kind and friendly chap. By the 1980s Dave Morris spent more time running KX and Dave Pearson of Craftsman Kits fame had taken over the Reading workshop, producing both Eames and his own products, for some reason we all called him "Daphne"? When you were in the upstairs rooms at the back, there was a splendid view of the WR main line right outside, so you could watch the comings and goings at the west end of the station, whilst working. Alas, the building was condemned when the council wanted to make road improvements or a roundabout, so it is no more. Today Reading is a much bigger and busier place, even the station is unrecognizable, and no longer can you smell the biscuits being made. Yes happy days.

 

                                                                                     Cheers, Brian.

[CUTLER2579]

Brian,

its called progress,but for the life of me i don't know in which direction progress takes us.

Regards.

[Donw]

I think the Eames building went when Wallis Sons and Wells the corn merchants next door closed their two depots and moved to Devizes. I think it was the prudential that obtained the site. Possibly Eames only rented the premises or just sold up.

Don

Edited March 28, 2015 by Donw

[s_ellinson]

This is a fascinating thread - as a boy from "the provinces" (well, Bedfordshire), I only got to visit KX models once or twice in the eighties. It's lovely to read stories of all the people whose names I've read in magazines over the years. Sad to say all of the model shops i remember as a boy have gone (there were four in bedford, that i can think of) and even in Yorkshire where i am now there are only the odd one or two left.

[Fuesty1963]

I went to Chuffs once when waiting for a train from Marylebone as it wasn't to far away. I remember it being in a basement? Piles of stuff all jumbled up on tables? Met a guy from my cycling past who I hadn't seen for years! It took us a few minutes to realise that we knew each other. Also went to Kings Cross when train waiting. Seem to remember them being a bit 'off hand'.

[Fuesty1963]

Wow, great to see this conversation!

David Fuest was my dad, I just about grew up in the Broadley street shop at Lisson Grove. Used to always go into Doals House shop next door to see what piece I could have ☺️

We used to sit for hours wth a hairdryer heating up the wrappers of mum cigarette packets to get the silver and gold bit so dad could put them on the trains he was redoing.

Remember Terry well, he was always at our place.

I have an old Penthouse magazine with an article they did on the opening of the city shop, it was such a great day, still have a pic with myself and my brother sitting on one of the cars, it was quite spooky for us kids, very theatrical as I remember, dracular and all things scary

[CKPR]

My contribution to this thread is that I still have the models built from kits I bought from KX model shop in the mid-1980s when I was a very impecunious student at the LSE , namely a McGowan Models' Furness Rly L2 tank engine and the last 4-5 of the Eames' Stockton & Darlington caldron wagons.

[roythebus]

I may have mentioned this before, the model makers there during my brief time marked their models: SMK was Simon Kelly who built coaches and a few wagons; MJS was Mike Sheppard who made mostly locos, but did a lot of pattern making for me and Sutherland Models. there was also a Geoff Packham who would probably mark his stuff GP underneath.

 

Didn't Chuffs become Puffers? ISTR doing s christmas "disco" outside the Broadley Street shop in 1969 from my GS bus!

[river ewayon]

Railmail of Watford, Guy Norris of Neil Street? Not "Model" shops but enabled younger enthusiasts to expand their collections and what about Buffer Stops Nr Goodge Street? Owner seemed to open up when he felt the urge!

[railroadbill]

Railmail of Watford, Guy Norris of Neil Street? Not "Model" shops but enabled younger enthusiasts to expand their collections and what about Buffer Stops Nr Goodge Street? Owner seemed to open up when he felt the urge!

Still have some mainline coach boxes with Guy Norris price stickers on them (£2.99 for a 57' lms one) plus a j72. Went to kings cross shop quite a lot when I worked near there, many of the name and number plates I used came from there. You had to cut them off the brass sheet. I also went to the reading shop once and while I was there ordered a smokebox plate for a 3f that wasnt in their catalogue and had to be custom made. Still have loco it went on that I'm just refurbishing to get back on the track.

Also still running a v2 I made from a Jameson kit. Still have a 2p to finish. They had quite a good range then.

[roythebus]

the nameplate range was quite extensive. One of my jobs there was to spray the nameplate sheets using car spray of the appropriate colour. these then used to get posted to Alan Pickering in Wemyss Bay for his eagle eye inspection for approval. any blemishes and they were rejected. What he didn't realise was that the paint would invariably peel off when the buyer cut them out of the backing sheet!

[sagaguy]

I Remember Mckenzies models in Mackenzie rd,Holloway in the 1970`s,It used to be the ideal place for S/H Hornby Dublo locomotives.

 

                         Ray.

[St Enodoc]

I Remember Mckenzies models in Mackenzie rd,Holloway in the 1970`s,It used to be the ideal place for S/H Hornby Dublo locomotives.

 

                         Ray.

Crikey! My maternal grandfather lived at 10 Mackenzie Road before the war. What number was Mackenzie Models, if you can remember?

[TheSignalEngineer]

Railmail of Watford, Guy Norris of Neil Street? Not "Model" shops but enabled younger enthusiasts to expand their collections and what about Buffer Stops Nr Goodge Street? Owner seemed to open up when he felt the urge!

Nearly 40 years ago I had a regular monthly meeting at Euston House. Always finished early afternoon. It was usually followed by a trip to Kings Cross for a photo or two and a call in the model shop and sometimes a diversion to Guy Norris or Cavendish.

[sagaguy]

Crikey! My maternal grandfather lived at 10 Mackenzie Road before the war. What number was Mackenzie Models, if you can remember?

I can`t remember i`m afraid,it was over 40 years ago.The shop was about midway along the road on the left hand side from Holloway rd.I think there are blocks of flats on the site now.

 

Ray.

[60112]

Hello, is there anybody still there??

I am the Simon Kelly mentioned by Roythebus.

I have recently been thinking back over my life and trying to recall the names from the early days of the Shop.

I started working there October 1964 and left in 1970 or 71 at about the time EAMES took over.
(have not yet explored my archives to pinpoint the date, will do so in due course)

I still have the 4mm LNER BCK in teak finish that I made for the proposed showcase to go with the Flying Scotsman on its trip to the USA. Happy days.

Names that were there John Edgson, Les Wood, Bob Essery and David Jenkinson. Aslo an American Serviceman called Richard E Bedford who got me into Square Dance which another completely different story.

(1972 to 1989 computer programmer then software specialist (Univac/Unisys machins for Wates and the UCC) 1980 to 2005 Operating System support at Abbey National. 2005 on retired - no time for anything!!!)

 

[roythebus]

I remember the name John Edgson, but can't picture him. Richard E.Bedford, I remember him too, a rather loud American.

Edited March 12, 2019 by roythebus

[60112]

On 12/03/2019 at 22:32, roythebus said:

I remember the name John Edgson, but can't picture him. Richard E.Bedford, I remember him too, a rather loud American.

John Edgson was Isinglass drawings, his son continues the business as Isinglass Models.

I was part of the group that met on Wednesday evenings at Sutherland Avenue - Pete Elmslie's basement flat.

There was another gentleman connected with some of that lot who was a special constable, his name eludes me completely.

R E Bedford was around until late '67. He was stationed at RAF Alconbury, just up (technically down!) the line from Kings Cross. He and I visited the drawing office at Doncaster and I purchased two carriage underframe drawings - 60ft welded angle truss and 51ft riveted for vestibule stock both 1-1/2 inch to 1 foot scale. The Drawing  Office stamp is dated 19 Apr 1967.

[samc75]

This is what its like at the moment. See image below.

I actually ended up in this chat as a result of reading an article about Rod Stewart (musician) in a recent model railway mag, visiting this model railway shop in his youth. 

I currently live round the corner on Pentonville Road and know the building/ shop well, as I was the architect who was involved in converting the empty / derelict shops along Yorkway and the theatre behind into the current restaurant with Studios above and Office behind. That was around 2007-2008. A particular street view you can see the construction work happening.

During Strip Out/ Demolition there were no clues that the previous use was a model shop.

[08221]

Used to be a regular visitor to the Kings Cross shop on my way home from Holborn to Bletchley - was talking to my Dad about this thread the other week and he produced this bag from his modelling room - happy memories!

 

 

[Denbridge]

On 16/12/2012 at 23:36, sagaguy said:

 

I remember it was called Howell Dimmock,Dudley Dimmock was the co owner of the shop,he came from Graham Farish i believe & the next time i saw him after the shop closed ,he was the manager of Basset Lowkes shop in Holborn.

I have a king Arthur built by Howell Dimmocks and painted by Brack.

[BernardTPM]

1 hour ago, 08221 said:

Used to be a regular visitor to the Kings Cross shop on my way home from Holborn to Bletchley - was talking to my Dad about this thread the other week and he produced this bag from his modelling room - happy memories!

 

I'm pretty sure I've got one of those bags around somewhere.

[PMP]

4 hours ago, samc75 said:

 

I currently live round the corner on Pentonville Road and know the building/ shop well, as I was the architect who was involved in converting the empty / derelict shops along Yorkway and the theatre behind into the current restaurant with Studios above and Office behind. That was around 2007-2008. A particular street view you can see the construction work happening.

During Strip Out/ Demolition there were no clues that the previous use was a model shop.

 

 
On the 30th myself and two other ex staffers met in central London. It was quite sobering realising we met as employees about 37 years ago....

After the shop closed it reopened for a short while as a furniture shop, which must have been challenging getting getting the stock in and out! Once that closed it was empty I think until the redevelopment. In the mid 90’s I think the whole block had potentially been scheduled for demolition for an earlier kings cross development. I too have one of those bags in stock!

[RANGERS]

6 hours ago, BernardTPM said:

 

I'm pretty sure I've got one of those bags around somewhere.

My plasticard stock still lives in one that came home with a copy of Alan Townsin’s book about AEC, it’s been there for nearly 40 years ago now.

[roythebus]

According to some, before it was a model shop it was a shop for "models" nudge nudge say no more. It may have been used as "both sorts" of model shop with the upper floors being "private by appointment only" for a while until the Keith Dann emporium took it all over.

 

I heard a lot about the Peter Elmslie meetings at Sutherland Avenue. Being a new young member of the MRC at the time I didn't get invited there, but heard a lot about his layout "Uckett Junction". Sadly Peter passed away about 5 years ago, and considering his lifestyle of smoking about 50 a day and having a succession of lady friends didn't do too bad.  Known affectionately to those on the Tallylyn as Ben, bloody Elmslie nuisance, at the MRC he would always tell us to "go to Towyn BOY".

 

On of his lasting memories was naming the through station on the MRC's New Annington layout as Sandalmouth, as Peter always wore sandals and was quite vocal. Happy days.