Electronic Services - the shop and related hobbies

That was Electronic Services which in the mid 60's when I worked in the City Arcade was owned by two brothers. I seem to recall they sold up in the late 70's or early 80's. It finally closed some years ago.

The one I used a lot in the early 1960s was Electronic Services, not far from the old Morris Works. Bought a lot of stuff, mostly components from them. Found this leaflet in my files which has their stamp - probably not worth contacting them now. When they started knocking the area down, the shop moved to the Queen Victoria Road end of the City Arcade. They were definitely there by 1967 because I remember buying a load of stuff from them to build a tape recorder. Incidently I bought the tape deck through GEC Spon Street while working there that summer, at trade price. Nice one. Thinking of the City Arcade, it was quite a snazzy place in the 1960s, rather different from how it is today. At the other end of the Arcade near Shelton Square there was a Hi-Fi shop (can't remember the name) but I bought a Leak FM Tuner and Quad Preamp from them in the mid 1960s and later a Leak speaker in the sale. Still have all three, working. Cheers, Hugh

Wasn't Electronic Services run by the Barton brothers. I spent many a happy hour with them while they found me equivalents for odd transistors and just chatting generally about electrionics. When they retired and sold the shop it carried on for a while but it was never quite the same and also the market had moved from building your own to buing ready built. I seem to also remember another small electronics shop in the High Street. It probably closed mid-70s and I think it was what later became the Wedge.

Thanks for all those responses about Electronic Services. Stirred a few memories, particularly the photo of the old shop in Gosford Street from dutchman, as I would have a good look in the window before going in. I'd forgotten it was run by the Barton brothers, but now remember we referred to the shop as "Bartons". I do remember them wearing brown coats or jackets as an overall. They were helpful and I sometimes asked for advice when a circuit didn't work. Also went to REP in Much Park Street. They sold quite a lot of cheap surplus stuff, whereas Barton's stocked Radiospares of better quality and Mullard valves. Responding to Tony of RES, it is quite possible I bought the kit from you. I was usually served by a young man (probably in his twenties, though older than me as I was about 18) smartly dressed in a dark suit with drainpipe trousers (a la mode). I bought the stuff in 1966, and I recall being in the upper demonstration room viewing the loudspeakers on sale. You (I assume) asked if I would like to take a couple home (a Leak Sandwich and a Lowther unit) to try out over the weekend. I chose the Leak and you sold it to me for £30 in the sale, normal price about £40. Here's a photo of the Quad 22 preamp and the Leak Tuner, both still operational 46 years later. Have changed one or two valves over the years. Thanks for a fascinating trip down memory lane! Hugh

I recall there being two such radio component shops. There was Electronic Services down Gosford Street; when it was demolished to make way for the ring road, it moved to City Arcade. It was run by two brothers named Barton, one of whom had a son at KHVIII. The other shop was in Much Park Street. It was called REP (Radio Experimental Products). I guess it just went out of business.

Hi all, I am sure that it was REP who moved to the bottom of the Arcade, but closed about six years ago. I bought lots of stuff from there, including the piggy-back jack plugs that you can see on some of my railway photos.

It was definitely Electronic Services for many years, at the Queen Victoria Road end opposite a pub called the Thistle. Or certainly, whilst I was at KHVIII and for at least several years after that. I was a regular customer for many years, and knew the brothers and the son, who was a few years older than I. They also had a second shop in Sheffield. But I haven't been near the place since the 1980s, so things may have changed during that time.

It was definitely Electronic Services which moved to the arcade in 1967. I had lived next door to them in Gosford Street the previous seven years. We were both evicted in order that the Gosford Street flyover could be built. I only ever visited them very occasionally after that.

Are you sure it was '67? I worked in the City Arcade in 1965 and could have swore that I'd shopped there then.

I can't say for certain when they opened in the City Arcade but I can say for certain when they closed in Gosford Street and that was 1967.

The missing years! So far in the telephone directories, I have found... Electronic Services, Radio, 110 Gosford Street, 1963 Electronic Services, Radio, 33 City Arcade, 1968

I remember being taken by Dad in the 1960's to an electronics shop in the bank of shops next to the Elastic Inn in Ford Street - he called it Barton Brothers (or it may indeed have been one of the brothers or is my memory playing tricks too?) - I paid no attention, it was like Aladdins cave to an 8 year old. I remember being taken in later years to their shop in Paynes Lane in the bank of shops next to what became Unit Sales - often trips to this shop began or ended with a visit over the road to Riddy's! I get the feeling Dad knew the Barton Brothers as apprentices (he is/was an apprenticed TV/Radio Engineer before the war) and we followed them to the High Street and from there to the end of City Arcade - always they seemed to be in their cow gowns! It's possible the brothers bought the name and stock of Electronic Services if it wasnt them - I know I certainly remember them being Electronic Services in City Arcade. Dad worked at RES after the war - I believe when it was in Primrose Hill Street in the shops that got demolished to build Sydney Stringer (dad was working at Hawker Siddely in Whitley by then) - the folks have a photo of their wedding day (at St Peters - mum was a Hillfields girl) with an arch of TV aerials outside the church door held by the folks they worked with. It's possible RES then moved to City Arcade... I'll pick Dad's brains when I next see him - he won't look here - this computer lark doesn't interest him (he says it's too much knowing how the insides work :P)

Another memory to add, AC/BC, germanium or silicone npn/pnp, not forgetting the good old 2N3055 power transistor and good old Electronic Services in the Arcade..... Back in those days Choirboy, we were encouraged to be practical and hands on, not today. Oh, and theThistle PH

Oh blimey, BC547 (& 548, 549.... and BC107, 108, 109 - the old metal can equivalents), AC128, 2N3055.... I think I still have a few of all of these in my little drawers in the garage! Been a while since I used them for anything, though. The germanium AC128s etc. are still useful for recreating the old "60s" sound when making guitar effects pedals.