OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

Anyone remember Major Nicholls and Bert Shintons the Bikeshops

Not a million miles way from eachother

The Major moved to Smethwick and we still used to service his Escort estate at Guests till the place closed in 1999. I used to collect it from his new premises down by Cape Hill brewery and he was still full of stories about the old days when I told him I knew him as when I was a kid from his shop by the park.

Don`t know what happened to Shintons.

Don't know what happened to Bert but Major Nicholls died in 2005

http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/nicholls.htm

Paul

I used to work at Bert Shintons on A saturday................

Which one Von, the one in Bull St or the one in the High St

Hi

I went to school with Gill, Bert Shinton's daughter. They lived near The Spinney pub in the 70's.

My grandmother's brother William Charles Holland had a bike shop on Old Meeting Street from the early 20th C. It passed down to his son 'Jack' in the late 40's or 50's.

William Charles (Bill) was also heavily involved in the local cycling club in the 20's and 30's. I have several photos and more info can be found here ... http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/328N48col.htm

Hope that's of interest.

Paul

my aunty rose and uncle arther had a bike shop in spon lane they used to build bikes from bottom up also spike all the wheels them selves can anyone remember this shop

I dont know if you are aware Paul but Jack  Holland was great at photography  I used to get all my photos processed by him. He always printed a contact strip { the same size and length as a 35mm film} you could then choose which photos or enlargements you wanted.  A  great mate and a bike craftsman, His shop was almost on the corner of Chapel St.

                         regards John Mason

My wife Sheila worked at Shintons from 1963-67.She worked at both shops in her time there.At the High St. shop the Tv/radio engineers were Bill George,Cliff ? and Colin Gadd, the manager was Cyril ?.

  At the Bull St. shop was a guy named Bill ?,  and my great uncle Harold Barratt, who repaired and built the bikes and also looked after the customers coming into the shop.

  The behind the scenes office work for both shops was done by  a lady named Miss Grant, who also lived above the Bull St. shop.When she retired my wife (who was my girlfriend then) took over her role for a time.

  Sorry for the missing surnames but they are lost in the mists of time,but would appreciate it if anybody out there can fill in the blanks.

  Just as a after thought I was at senior school(Cronehills) with Jack ( i presume) holland`s son,but can`t for the life of me remember his name. 

My wife has just remembered the managers name at the high st shop,it was Cyril Walker.

I know it's changing the subject slightly, but I have learnt someting today, on the "West Bromwich Documents page" that record sleeve, I never knew Bert Shinton was into Gramaphones, I thought it was just bikes ?

A blast from the past I had my first brand new grown up bike from Bert Shintons a BSA black & cream ,my pride & joy, I bunked off school and rode all the way to Stourport and Bewdley  with three others school mates .

joan collins at September 24, 2010 at 5:04 AM

my aunty rose and uncle arther had a bike shop in spon lane they used to build bikes from bottom up also spike all the wheels them selves can anyone remember this shop

Hi John

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't know that Jack was into photography, I never knew him personally. I do have some of his father's photos etc and much of my family history from 1900-1960 is centred around Chapel Street/Old Meeting Street. You can contact me via my website if you'd like to know more or have anything to share... http://www.digdeeper.org.uk/

Best regards

Paul

Quote J.E.M. "I dont know if you are aware Paul but Jack  Holland was great at photography  I used to get all my photos processed by him. He always printed a contact strip { the same size and length as a 35mm film} you could then choose which photos or enlargements you wanted.  A  great mate and a bike craftsman, His shop was almost on the corner of Chapel St."

My first two wheeler bike when I was 11 came from Bert Shinton's - it was black and was called 'The Bull' and had Sturmey Archer twist grip gears which I think were fairly new then.

I also remember Cliff who was a TV engineer and I remember renting a TV directly from him with a coin box on the back which he used to come and empty once a month.

Anyone remember the small cycle shop in Hallam Street, top end towards Seager St. and the park?  I can't remember what it was called.  My dad bought a Phillips bike from Shintons, heavy one with a chaincase, three speed Sturmey Archer hub gears... He passed it on to me but I wrecked it by removing the chaincase and dismantling the hub gears,never to go back together again !

Von at August 4, 2010 at 2:58 PM

I used to work at Bert Shintons on A saturday................

my brother in law,bill george,was at shintons,probably in your time,he died a few years ago but we,re in constant touch with his wife mary,my wife,s sister,hope the cyclone didnt get you von..

Chris Hill at January 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM

Anyone remember Major Nicholls and Bert Shintons the Bikeshops

 

Not a million miles way from eachother

 

The Major moved to Smethwick and we still used to service his Escort estate at Guests till the place closed in 1999. I used to collect it from his new premises down by Cape Hill brewery and he was still full of stories about the old days when I told him I knew him as when I was a kid from his shop by the park.

 

Don`t know what happened to Shintons.

Got my first bike from Major Nicholls shop in 1965. It had a racing frame but the gears, saddle, wheels were regular ones. Used it to cycle from home at 7, Elford Rd, Stone Cross to West Brom Grammar School and back each day.  

On the subject of bikes my first  "big" bike was a Centric with fixed steel  front brake and a back pedalling rear brake. This was upgraded later with a Hercules Kestrel puchased from Kendricks on the green. I always dreamed of one day owning a Jackie Holland bike but it was never tp be.

 regards J.E.M.

Not too much into New bikes - as we used to make up our own - but I used Bert Shintons for parts etc, It was exciting to choose which transfers to put on, My parents eventually bought me a new bike - I was 14 (1964) - my Dad worked at the Birmid in smethwick and his wages were aprox £25 per week (good money in those days)  the bike cost £27. 10 shillings it was like that for many years later that a good bike cost an average weeks wage. (not sure about today)