Model shops in Manchester

[narrowman]

I'm off on one of my coach trips to Manchester next month. Are there any model railways shops/market stalls still trading in the city centre?

I won't have time to go further out, as I'll be spending as much time as I can in the Manchester science and industry museum...

Tony

[Jim Martin]

As far as I'm aware, that's it now. Modelzone on Deansgate closed down recently.

 

I travel to Manchester fairly often for work and used to visit MZ en route from Oxford Road station to my office there. The Manchester branch had more of a railway slant than the Liverpool shop. I'd be interested to know whether there were any more half decent model shops in the city centre that I'm not aware of.

 

Jim

[Arthur]

.............. whether there were any more half decent model shops in the city centre that I'm not aware of.

 

Jim

Do you mean in the past Jim? Two of the oldest were, a branch of the original Beatties on Corporation Street I think, near the Corn Exchange, and the sports shop Tyldesley and Holbrook, just off Piccadilly Gardens on London Road had a decent model department though they went over exclusively to sports equipment probably in the 70's.

 

There was The Model Shop on Bootle Street, just off Deansgate, mainly Plastic Kits, R/C Aircraft and RTR railways. The modern incarnation of Beatties was on Spring Gardens just off Market Street.

 

Finally, there was a shop on Moseley Street in the complex under Piccadilly Hotel. Might have been the Model Exchange, mainly RTR but you could get Romford wheels and a few more specialised bits there. Opened around 1980 and was there for a few years.

 

EDIT; oddly, I think that it might have been called The Bradford Model Exchange.

 

I don't know of any really specialist railway model shops in the city centre.

Edited October 12, 2013 by Arthur

[johnd]

All gone a desert for modellers of all kind .

[RJS1977]

EDIT; oddly, I think that it might have been called The Bradford Model Exchange.

 

I don't know of any really specialist railway model shops in the city centre.

I think it was Bradford Model Railway Centre - run by (IIRC) Mike Bradford, hence the rather confusing name!

[Arthur]

Ah! That explains it! Thanks for that, I remember the chap who ran it but didn't know his name.

[Coach bogie]

Not in the centre but an easy 25 minute journey from the central Manchester by tram (or BR service from Piccadilly station) is Waltons of Altrincham, just a few minutes walk from the tram terminus. Large stocks of UK and contintental and lots of bits not always stocked elsewhere. Be aware he closes at 1.00 pm on a Saturday.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[highpeak]

I can just about remember the old Beatties on Corporation Street, I bought a Peco Wonderful Wagon kit from them on a family Christmas Shopping expedition. The modern incarnation of it was a poor substitute, though they did carry Model Railroader magazine which was my introduction to North American railroads back in 1975.
I could never get my head around the Bradford Model Railway Centre being in Manchester, so the explanation is useful. It was a fairly decent shop as I recall.

[Poggy1165]

There is quite a good little model shop near Besses o' th' Barn tram station. Journey time approx. 20 mins from Piccadilly Gardens. It's just a few yards down Bury Old Road back towards the City Centre. Can also be reached by the 135 bus and (if further attractions are needed) there are two Holts pubs roughly opposite and several assorted takeaways in the area, including Armstrong's fish and chip shop 'Home of the Jumbo Cod' as it styles itself. I discovered this place quite recently - much to my surprise it was possible to buy Plastic Weld and other basic essentials. The owner seems an amiable bloke, and when I last visited (on a Saturday) there were three or four customers and quite a 'social' atmosphere.

 

On the subject of departed model shops, old **** like me can also remember Tyldesley and Holbrook on Deansgate, which although primarily a sports shop, always used to keep a tempting selection of 7mm scale stuff in the window. Sadly, being still in short trousers with an income of around 25p a week, I could only stand and drool.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Poggy1165

[DerekEm8]

Do you mean in the past Jim? Two of the oldest were, a branch of the original Beatties on Corporation Street I think, near the Corn Exchange, and the sports shop Tyldesley and Holbrook, just off Piccadilly Gardens on London Road had a decent model department though they went over exclusively to sports equipment probably in the 70's.

 

There was The Model Shop on Bootle Street, just off Deansgate, mainly Plastic Kits, R/C Aircraft and RTR railways. The modern incarnation of Beatties was on Spring Gardens just off Market Street.

Arthur

 

The one on Corporation Street was Bassett Lowke before being taken over by Beatties.

 

And strangely the original Tyldesley and Holbrooke  shop on Deansgate -was about 20 yds away (on the next block) to the now defunct Modelzone. Mr Holbrooke was a rather portly gentleman who presided over the model railway department on the first floor. 

[TheSignalEngineer]

There is quite a good little model shop near Besses o' th' Barn tram station. Journey time approx. 20 mins from Piccadilly Gardens. It's just a few yards down Bury Old Road back towards the City Centre. Can also be reached by the 135 bus and (if further attractions are needed) there are two Holts pubs roughly opposite and several assorted takeaways in the area, including Armstrong's fish and chip shop 'Home of the Jumbo Cod' as it styles itself. I discovered this place quite recently - much to my surprise it was possible to buy Plastic Weld and other basic essentials. The owner seems an amiable bloke, and when I last visited (on a Saturday) there were three or four customers and quite a 'social' atmosphere.

 

The Locoshed, 48 Bury Old Road, M45 6TL   http://www.thelocoshedmcr.co.uk/

 

[Red Devil]

I could never get my head around the Bradford Model Railway Centre being in Manchester, so the explanation is useful. It was a fairly decent shop as I recall.

 

I always assumed it came from Bradford, the area near Ancoats in M/cr, but you find out something new............

 

There was also a pretty decent s/h shop on Ashton Old Road where they've now built a Morrisons, can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

[Coach bogie]

I always assumed it came from Bradford, the area near Ancoats in M/cr, but you find out something new............

 

There was also a pretty decent s/h shop on Ashton Old Road where they've now built a Morrisons, can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

Not sure it actually had a name but I always new it as Michael's after the owner.

 

I frequented Stockport as there were two Model shops in walking distance of each other, the one on the lower level run by a chap called Steve who was more scale oreintated and was building locos most of the time, and another on the high level road that was always good for the more rtr base, though he always carried good stocks of Wills and K's. I had to visit both - one for the kit - the other for the Romfords and motors! There was a third on the way out to Cheadle run by a chap called Phill Carrier if my memory serves which was a total Alladin's cave. No more than four in the shop at a time due to the huge piles of boxes everywhere.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Arthur]

Yes, I'd wondered about the Bradford area link too, but now we know......

 

I remember the one in Stockport run by Steve. He had a small retail unit in a converted mill type building, just by the shopping area, shared with craft jewellers and the like. It was well stocked with stuff and had the atmosphere of a 'traditional' model shop in miniature. I seem to recall that he had a change of premises, either moving to, or from, that mill unit.

 

Edit; and we mustn't forget, way on the other side of the city, Norman Wissenden in Greenfield, an amazing shop.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Arthur

[DerekEm8]

Yes, I'd wondered about the Bradford area link too, but now we know......

 

I remember the one in Stockport run by Steve. He had a small retail unit in a converted mill type building, just by the shopping area, shared with craft jewellers and the like. It was well stocked with stuff and had the atmosphere of a 'traditional' model shop in miniature. I seem to recall that he had a change of premises, either moving to, or from, that mill unit.

 

Edit; and we mustn't forget, way on the other side of the city, Norman Wissenden in Greenfield, an amazing shop.

The estimable Phil Carrier - a real gentleman. . As stated above an Aladins cave of second hand and part built kits etc. used to visit regularly - buy a part (or badly) built kit - take it home - rebuild it - paint it - back to Phils - swap it for two kits (one for me and one to rebuild and swap it for two more. And so it went on until the shop closed and Phil  retired ? / disappeared.

 

Norman's Shop.

When he first moved from the Family Sports shop (which was next door) he knew little about 4mm having only dealt in 7mm previously. We helped him set up all the 4mm stock ABS, Kenline, K's Kits, Gibson kits etc and regularly did the re-ordering etc for him and Arnold made all the wooden trays that held  the stock. We looked after the shop when he was on holiday and helped him at exhibitions. Friday evenings and Sunday mornings were like a club meeting with regulars from all over the North appearing.  Unfortunately even the regulars had to pay the 'Greenfield Surcharge'  which ruined his reputation with a lot of modellers and the number of regulars dwindled.  Ironically the shop is now a Charity Shop.

[Red Devil]

The estimable Phil Carrier - a real gentleman. . As stated above an Aladins cave of second hand and part built kits etc. used to visit regularly - buy a part (or badly) built kit - take it home - rebuild it - paint it - back to Phils - swap it for two kits (one for me and one to rebuild and swap it for two more. And so it went on until the shop closed and Phil  retired ? / disappeared.

 

Norman's Shop.

When he first moved from the Family Sports shop (which was next door) he knew little about 4mm having only dealt in 7mm previously. We helped him set up all the 4mm stock ABS, Kenline, K's Kits, Gibson kits etc and regularly did the re-ordering etc for him and Arnold made all the wooden trays that held  the stock. We looked after the shop when he was on holiday and helped him at exhibitions. Friday evenings and Sunday mornings were like a club meeting with regulars from all over the North appearing.  Unfortunately even the regulars had to pay the 'Greenfield Surcharge'  which ruined his reputation with a lot of modellers and the number of regulars dwindled.  Ironically the shop is now a Charity Shop.

I eventually lived within walking distance of Norman's shop, turned out that his (Norman's father) knew my Grandfather from the days when they were both in the newsagents game, similarly my dad knew Norman from a good few years previous, suppose it was obvious that I'd eventually end up getting roped in to 'help out'  either at exhibitions or in  the shop.

 

Had a couple of stints, as a kid and then when a bit older after the birds/bikes/football/booze interlude.

 

Norman was a gent, but somewhat stuck in a timewarp, the copied lists and surcharge etc, if it had moved on somewhat it could have possibly survived, don't know always hard to guess at these things.

 

Driving past the charity shop now is a bit sad, when you think of what was in the upstairs showcases, oh and not forgetting the (in)famous black kettle.

[melmerby]

All gone a desert for modellers of all kind .

As are most places these days!

 

Keith

[DerekEm8]

Whilst not a Traditional model shop Arcadia in Shaw is a mecca for RTR in all scales and nationalities and at very competitive prices. Less than 5 minutes walk from Shaw & Crompton Metrolink station.

 

http://www.arcadiarail.co.uk/index.php

[Billystanier]

From my memories in the 1980s around the South Manchester and Stockport area .....

 

Bradford Model Exchange had a decent second hand window which was under cover in the ground floor of the Piccadilly Tower.

 

The shop on Ashton Old Road was a mecca for second hand stuff. Think the bloke running it was called Dave. He also did house clearances and half his shop was full of second hand furniture. I remember when he got a job lot of Jouef Class 40s from somewhere just as the final members of the class were being withdrawn from BR.... he had to keep them under lock and key in a secret drawer as he feared being burgled!  He was shifting them out for £30 to £35 each.  He eventually got stung with increased rent and rates and traded for a while from a garage round the back of the old shop.

 

The shops I remember in the Stockport area were:

 

The Railway Sidings on St Petersgate. Lots of RTR and lots of kits. Good all round stock, run by an old gentleman.

 

SRA Models in the craft centre and then in a shop near the Plaza. The guy did lots of repairs and kitbuilding and also later expanded in sci-fi models.

 

ABC Models in Hyde.  Half newsagent / half model shop. Right near the slaughterhouse / glue factory which gave off that awful Hyde pong which drifted across the town.

 

Model Exchange in Cheadle. Tiny thin shop with a good selection of second hand stuff in the window.

 

Phoenix Models had two shops on Reddish Road, but only one had model railways. Really good cheap new and secondhand, then all of a sudden it went to RRP. One shop shut, model railways moved and then the second shop shut a few years later. At their height, then wanted to move their two shops and combine into one 'mega model shop' in Gorton on the A57, opposite where the big Tesco is now. If anyone has old Railway Modellers from around 1984/85 then there is a bizarre cryptic advert saying that 'The Phoenix Is Rising'.... and nothing else. Very odd for those 'not in the know'.

 

More recently I have lived in Oldham, and I can safely say that Arcadia is one of the best model train shops I've been in. Others in the area were The Train Station in Royton (part of a photography shop and has recently shut) and the Handyman Hobby and DIY shop whch was recently advertised for sale. Norman Wisenden's shop may have shut, but I have seen a car recently with vinyl lettering on the back window suggesting that the business (or the name anyway) is still with us and is perhaps building kits from a spare room somewhere.

Edited October 15, 2013 by Billystanier

[Red Devil]

 Norman Wisenden's shop may have shut, but I have seen a car recently with vinyl lettering on the back window suggesting that the business (or the name anyway) is still with us and is perhaps building kits from a spare room somewhere.

 

Last I knew, it had relocated to a mill in Copley, Staleybridge. Never been in so can't comment but have seen 'Norman Wisenden's' at a couple of localish shows albeit 12 months ago or thereabouts.

[johnd]

But NOT One of the open shops is in Manchester as the poster asks.

 

Those that are open are out of Manchester, ie Shaw-Oldham, Bolton, Altrincham, Marple Bridge-Stockport, Besses oth Barn-Whitefield-Bury even the East Lancs Rly-Bury has a model shop.

[johnd]

 Norman Wisenden's shop may have shut, but I have seen a car recently with vinyl lettering on the back window suggesting that the business (or the name anyway) is still with us and is perhaps building kits from a spare room somewhere.

 

Last I knew, it had relocated to a mill in Copley, Staleybridge. Never been in so can't comment but have seen 'Norman Wisenden's' at a couple of localish shows albeit 12 months ago or thereabouts.

I think mainly it depends on mail order buisiness

Edited October 15, 2013 by johnd

[Poggy1165]

I suspect city centre rents and other overheads are just too high for the model railway business in this day and age. Norman Wisenden used to laugh at the very idea of having a shop in a more central location.

 

The good news is that many of the survivors are easily accessed via our glorious tramway system or our slightly less glorious local rail network.

[narrowman]

Looks like I'll have to have a trip in the car, then!

Tony

[TheSignalEngineer]

If you're in the car, Warren Kerfoot at Compstall Mill between Romiley and Marple Bridge usually has a few interesting things. A fair number of my wagons have come from rebuilds of his second hand stock.