Backstreet Garages

[vox]

TWIGG BROTHERS.

Toyne, Street Crookes.

I took my van into Twiggy's today. I thought I'd better get some photos while the garage is still there.

I'm not saying there are any plans to get rid of it at the moment that I know of, but it is standing on a lot of moneys-worth of building land.

I remember there being lots of local garages in every area at one time but it's all geared up to main agents nowadays.

[vox]

More Photo's of Twigg Bros.

There are a couple of 60's photos on their office wall. I'll try to get them as well.

[DaveH]

TWIGG BROTHERS.

Toyne, Street Crookes.

I took my van into Twiggy's today. I thought I'd better get some photos while the garage is still there.

I'm not saying there are any plans to get rid of it at the moment that I know of, but it is standing on a lot of moneys-worth of building land.

I remember there being lots of local garages in every area at one time but it's all geared up to main agents nowadays.

At one time, with a little bit of knowledge and common sense, you could easily service and repair your own car without much trouble.

You could even half dismantle your car at the kerbside and put it back together again to fix what ciould be classed as a fairly major problem.

If you didn't want the hassle of doing this yourself there were these "backstreet garages" which vox refers to that would do the job for you at a very reasonable price.

Do not confuse vox's term "backstreet garages" with the con men, cowboys and wide boys of the trade, - he clearly DOESN'T mean them!

Unfortunately modern cars seem to need special computer diagnostic equipment, special bespoke tools and a degree in automotive engineering, - and that's just to be able to lift the bonnet up!

Because of this many of these "backstreet garages" have gone and the main dealers now do all the work at their own often extortionate rates.

On the bright side though modern cars seem a lot more reliable and don't seem to need work doing as often. Its a bit like televisions, - when was the last time you had to call out a TV repair man and the bloke that turned up was a one man self employed outfit?

[DaveH]

Stuart0742 suggested I repost this shot of Cooks on City Road. They do bodywork repair to crash damage and all the sort of stuff vox mentions about Twiggs.

[hilldweller]

There used to be a little back-street garage on Taplin Road near to the junction with Middlewood Road. I haven't been around those parts for some time 'so I don't know if it still exists.

It used to be owned by a bloke called Illingworth 40 years ago. If you wanted petrol you drove into the narrow yard and he used to have to back you out into Taplin Road.

He generally did a good job except for one occasion when the clutch went on my VW beetle. He fixed it and I was delighted with the feel of the new lightweight clutch until a few weeks later when it went again. Being a distance from home I had to get it replaced at the nearest garage. When I went to pick it up they showed me the 3 temporary clips intended to hold the assembly together until it had been clamped to the flywheel. He'd forgotten to remove them.

To give him his due he did recompense most of the cost. I should have gone to Gilders !

[Waterside Echo]

There used to be a little back-street garage on Taplin Road near to the junction with Middlewood Road. I haven't been around those parts for some time 'so I don't know if it still exists.

It used to be owned by a bloke called Illingworth 40 years ago. If you wanted petrol you drove into the narrow yard and he used to have to back you out into Taplin Road.

He generally did a good job except for one occasion when the clutch went on my VW beetle. He fixed it and I was delighted with the feel of the new lightweight clutch until a few weeks later when it went again. Being a distance from home I had to get it replaced at the nearest garage. When I went to pick it up they showed me the 3 temporary clips intended to hold the assembly together until it had been clamped to the flywheel. He'd forgotten to remove them.

To give him his due he did recompense most of the cost. I should have gone to Gilders !

If you had gone to Gilders you may have had the job done right first time, but it would have been expensive. I did a lot of work on Beetles in the 70s and when buying parts from their stores dept at Banner Cross the first thing the store keeper asked [with a smile on his face] was have you brought enough money with you. It was only when Tri-ax opened, and later on Volks Spares on Spital Hill that the smile disappeared and they had to bring VW spare parts prices down accordingly.

[vox]

If you had gone to Gilders you may have had the job done right first time, but it would have been expensive. I did a lot of work on Beetles in the 70s and when buying parts from their stores dept at Banner Cross the first thing the store keeper asked [with a smile on his face] was have you brought enough money with you. It was only when Tri-ax opened, and later on Volks Spares on Spital Hill that the smile disappeared and they had to bring VW spare parts prices down accordingly.

1985 on hols in Snowdonia.

Very rare 1959/60 Split screen, Samba Safari body. 24 windows if I remember rightly.

A good one can fetch over £20,000 nowadays.

Still on the road and back in Ireland I believe.

Note the very basic tool kit needed for roadside repairs.

Hammer, pliers, screwdrivers a couple of spanners and some wire.

Try repairing any modern car with that little lot. - No chance.

.

[DaveH]

There used to be a little back-street garage on Taplin Road near to the junction with Middlewood Road. I haven't been around those parts for some time 'so I don't know if it still exists.

It used to be owned by a bloke called Illingworth 40 years ago. If you wanted petrol you drove into the narrow yard and he used to have to back you out into Taplin Road.

He generally did a good job except for one occasion when the clutch went on my VW beetle. He fixed it and I was delighted with the feel of the new lightweight clutch until a few weeks later when it went again. Being a distance from home I had to get it replaced at the nearest garage. When I went to pick it up they showed me the 3 temporary clips intended to hold the assembly together until it had been clamped to the flywheel. He'd forgotten to remove them.

To give him his due he did recompense most of the cost. I should have gone to Gilders !

Taplin Road.

There used to be a very good little backstreet garage on Roselle Street, the next road up Middlewood Road from Taplin Road which was only a short cul-de-sac.

Forgot the blokes name as everyone just knew him as "Brian". He specialised in the Reliant 3 wheel vehicles and was very good. Did some excellent repairs on my clapped out 1975 Reliant Robin van.

[DaveH]

If you had gone to Gilders you may have had the job done right first time, but it would have been expensive. I did a lot of work on Beetles in the 70s and when buying parts from their stores dept at Banner Cross the first thing the store keeper asked [with a smile on his face] was have you brought enough money with you. It was only when Tri-ax opened, and later on Volks Spares on Spital Hill that the smile disappeared and they had to bring VW spare parts prices down accordingly.

Good job you didn't have a Porche then!

Porche seem to share many parts in common with VW, especially the ubiquitous Bosche electrics.

For an identical part there used to be a mark up in cost if that part was for a Porche.

If you had a Porche and wanted to buy the part and fit it yourself you would have got it cheaper by saying it was for a volkswagon.

[hilldweller]

If you had gone to Gilders you may have had the job done right first time, but it would have been expensive. I did a lot of work on Beetles in the 70s and when buying parts from their stores dept at Banner Cross the first thing the store keeper asked [with a smile on his face] was have you brought enough money with you. It was only when Tri-ax opened, and later on Volks Spares on Spital Hill that the smile disappeared and they had to bring VW spare parts prices down accordingly.

When my exhaust system fell to bits I was advised by a long-time beetle owner that I shouldn't even think about buying a non VW part as the 10 or so connections would never line up otherwise. I checked the Gilders price and decided it might be cheaper to replace the car.

I bought an exhaust from Tri-ax and fitted it myself in about 30 minutes, it fitted perfectly. A few months later the other bloke needed a new exhaust, he bought it from Gilders and it took him 3 days to fit it !

[vox]

This used to be a tiny, and I do mean tiny garage workshop.

Bottom of Broomspring Lane.

I can't remember exactly when it was demolished (Possibly 90's) but I do know there was a campaign by some locals who wanted it to be kept open.

Google street view

Looking for some info on it I found this: GILDERS HISTORY

Gilders - one of the first motor retailers in the UK opened his first place in Broomhall Street in 1912.

I doubt if it was the same building, way too small.

I'd be pretty certain that this is where it was. Marked red.

[hougomont]

My cousins late husband had a garage on Hallcarr St, and he did a good job for a very reasonable price, never wanted for work, and guaranteed the work he did.

My late father,my sister and myself all had our cars serviced there, and he did me a lot of favours, and when he quoted anyone for a job and they jibbed at the price he used to tell them to go down the hill to Bentley Brothers and see what they would charge.

I treasure his memory as has been said a dying breed.

[Waterside Echo]

My cousins late husband had a garage on Hallcarr St, and he did a good job for a very reasonable price, never wanted for work, and guaranteed the work he did.

My late father,my sister and myself all had our cars serviced there, and he did me a lot of favours, and when he quoted anyone for a job and they jibbed at the price he used to tell them to go down the hill to Bentley Brothers and see what they would charge.

I treasure his memory as has been said a dying breed.

In the 60s I worked at the bottom of that hill for Bentley Brothers. My first couple of years were spent in the engine shop which also did general machining work. A lot of our work came in from small one man garages and I remember one garage owner in particular. He was a friend of our forman and his premises were in the Carlisle Street area, the work he brought in he usually waited for, from memory he was a very quiet well spoken man, always wore a black beret, never had a bad word for anyone and had interesting tales to tell. Hard to put an age to as to us teenagers then everyone over thirty was old. A gentleman indeed. W/E.

[hougomont]

In the 60s I worked at the bottom of that hill for Bentley Brothers. My first couple of years were spent in the engine shop which also did general machining work. A lot of our work came in from small one man garages and I remember one garage owner in particular. He was a friend of our forman and his premises were in the Carlisle Street area, the work he brought in he usually waited for, from memory he was a very quiet well spoken man, always wore a black beret, never had a bad word for anyone and had interesting tales to tell. Hard to put an age to as to us teenagers then everyone over thirty was old. A gentleman indeed. W/E.

The man I refer to was tall,well over six feet,wore glasses, and was a staff sergeant in the Territorials.

[vox]

Marston Garage

Marston Road, Crookes

[Waterside Echo]

The man I refer to was tall,well over six feet,wore glasses, and was a staff sergeant in the Territorials.

I keep forgeting that the early 60s were nearly fifty years ago, he did wear glasses but was under 6 feet tall. I seem to think he started his business with his de-mob money in the late 40s.

[hougomont]

A little story from those days, the garage I refer to at that time was very close and handy for those who worked in around the works,shops,and business's in the area,and often people used to come into the garage particularly in the winter in bad weather,"I can't get my car started, can you have a look at it?", so one of his lads was detailed to go and "Have a look at it", and come back saying he had fixed it in about ten or fifteen minutes and got the car going, and when the grateful motorist would as "Do I owe thee owt?"my cousins husband used to answer, "Aye tha does I dunt run a charity"

[DaveH]

A little story from those days, the garage I refer to at that time was very close and handy for those who worked in around the works,shops,and business's in the area,and often people used to come into the garage particularly in the winter in bad weather,"I can't get my car started, can you have a look at it?", so one of his lads was detailed to go and "Have a look at it", and come back saying he had fixed it in about ten or fifteen minutes and got the car going, and when the grateful motorist would as "Do I owe thee owt?"my cousins husband used to answer, "Aye tha does I dunt run a charity"

Nice little story hougomont. I love that bit of conversation at the end, - exactly as I would have had said it myself with the added humour from your cousins husbands sarcasm.

I can see now why you started this thread at the end of last year

Sheffield Dialect

To my dad a car was always a caar (emphasis on the a sound) and in a similar situation he would have said

Mi caar waint staart, can tha do owt wi it?

[vox]

Saccomando's - Howard Road Walkley.

Would you believe this tiny place regularly had coaches in there for repair.

They used to stick out into the roadway, I was always amazed they got away with it.

Wish I'd taken photos of them then. Not seen one in (and out of) there for ages.

.

Google Streetviews

[Guest Jeremy]

Crescent Road in Nether Edge. The entrance to the right of A & S motors used to be a garage run by a 'Mr Crossy', he used to let us use his compressor to inflate our bicycle tyres, he also once helped my mum (and me) by breaking into our house after I had locked everyone out, but me inside (an incident that I can barely remember).

Jeremy

[vox]

A couple of friends run Hughes & Briddock on Burton Street.

I took some photos while I was waiting for my van to be tested.

There were 3 houses on the front 51, 3 & 5, with an archway leading to a yard with workshops.

The workshops were used at one time for making rasps or files. There is still evidence (on what once was the outer workshop wall) of the separate "little mesters type" shop doorways.

Do we know anything about who was in the workshops and/or houses.

Van failed by the way.

But not drastically.

[vox]

These old photos are on the office wall at Twiggs.

I've wanted copies for years.

Have to make do with photos.

[Mark House]

I remember taking my Herald to the Snuff Mills garage on Ecclesall Road, down the little road opposite Yankees. They were very good but I had to get the welding done at Tissington and Blake on one of the back streets just a bit further along heading to the Porter Cottage.They were also very good. Had to get the welding redone by them after an outrigger came loose and allowed the rear axle to go walkabout, it was like driving a waltzer. The first welding was done by some old git up Aston way at some remote smallholding, Dingle-type place who didn't have a clue. His welds failed after a couple of days.

[Waterside Echo]

1985 on hols in Snowdonia.

Very rare 1959/60 Split screen, Samba Safari body. 24 windows if I remember rightly.

A good one can fetch over £20,000 nowadays.

Still on the road and back in Ireland I believe.

Note the very basic tool kit needed for roadside repairs.

Hammer, pliers, screwdrivers a couple of spanners and some wire.

Try repairing any modern car with that little lot. - No chance.

.

In the 1960s VWs came into England via Ramsgate. Volkswagen established their main transit depot covering over eleven acres there. W/E.

[Bayleaf]

Greystones Road. I've lived around here nearly 40 years and the garage was there when I came. Sadly now no longer a garage, it's been converted into a studio space for rent, with the front now a glass wall.