Old Shops on Boar Lane.

[Si]

Hi Blakey,Yes, the S7 was a looker, but unfortunately it suffered from the British motorcycle industry's desease of the time, in trying to save costs in the wrong areas! Instead of copying BMW's innovative shaft drive (bevel gears) they used cheaper-to-manufacture worm gears. This created horrendous vibration (as well as being much less efficient in turning power/motion through 90 degrees) so, instead of redesigning it, they just reduced the power of the engine! The bike was already overweight, but now became a complete dog. I also had a Bantam, a gift from my uncle. It was also impossible to start! It's design was aquired by BSA from the German firm DKW as war reparations. As the British biking public weren't ready for a left foot gearchange, BSA simply turned the blueprints back to front!My brother and I shared a 1960s 50cc Suzuki, which was much more fun, before moving on to Spanish trials bikes.I can't remember exactly where Greenwood's was, but I think it was around there somewhere. Perhaps an SLer knows?

[Tasa]

Greenwoods was possibly on Duncan Street rather than Boar Lane but there was a branch of Dunn & Co gents outfitters on Boar Lane. It was on a corner site which now goes into The Bourse, and along the top of the windows it had a frieze of stained glass coats of arms of all the towns which had a branch of Dunn's. It later moved to Briggate on the corner of King Edward Street, I think.I can also remember, in the mid-1960s, a branch of MacFisheries (wet fish shop, not a fishy MacDonalds!) on Boar Lane where the Marriott Hotel is now.

[Barwicker]

There seems to be something wrong with the definition of BOAR LANE. According to my map and my memory BOAR LANE runs from City Square to Briggate only. From Briggate eastwards to the Call Lane/New Market Street junction it is Duncan Street. It follows that Rawcliffe's was on Duncan Street.

[BLAKEY]

Barwicker wrote: There seems to be something wrong with the definition of BOAR LANE. According to my map and my memory BOAR LANE runs from City Square to Briggate only. From Briggate eastwards to the Call Lane/New Market Street junction it is Duncan Street. It follows that Rawcliffe's was on Duncan Street. Quite right Barwicker, and its amazing how many folks are totally unaware of New Market Street, which is only very short indeed and runs from the Call Lane junction to the Kirkgate intersection and is commonly "included" in Vicar Lane.

[BLAKEY]

Si wrote: Hi Blakey,Yes, the S7 was a looker, but unfortunately it suffered from the British motorcycle industry's desease of the time, in trying to save costs in the wrong areas! Instead of copying BMW's innovative shaft drive (bevel gears) they used cheaper-to-manufacture worm gears. This created horrendous vibration (as well as being much less efficient in turning power/motion through 90 degrees) so, instead of redesigning it, they just reduced the power of the engine! The bike was already overweight, but now became a complete dog. I feel better than ever Si every time I read your engineering account of the S7 - a narrow escape springs to mind - and I love your final summing up of the machine in canine terms.    LOLAnother mistake I nearly made in my youth was to almost buy a sumptuous Standard Vanguard Mk 1 from a dealer, Peter ????, who had a plot at the corner of Charles Street just where the new library is now. At the time the insurance premium would have seen me in starvation mode, and at around 18 mpg I doubt if I could have put enough petrol in to impress anyone - thank goodness common sense, or lack of courage, prevailed LOL

[Si]

I don't remember a garage being on that corner, Blakey. Just a car park (before the Titanic - sorry - library was built.)Here's a Standard Vanguard Phase I to bring back memories of what might have been (an empty wallet!)    

[Si]

...and here's a Sunbeam S7, in case anyone's wondering what the hell we're on about!!!

[cnosni]

Trojan wrote: Reginal Perrin wrote: I can remember a few, in particular Combat Sports, Car Stuff, The Spastics Shop, some dodgy Curry House near C&A, The Koh i Noor. Not a bad place, we used to go there quite a lot in the seventies.In the sixties there seemed to be a branch of a tailor's shop on every corner in the centre of Leeds - Weaver to Wearer, John Colllier, Burtons. I remember a shop called Zuckers - I think they sold dress material - may be wrong there - on the part of Boar Lane between the bottom of Briggate and Duncan Street. The Kohinoor,bloddy hell Trojan,thats where i had my first curry.Keema Madras every time!!Big hard teenager wanted as hot as he could (barely) manage.There was a rumour that they used to reuse any uneaten chappatis ,so to get our own back we would blow our noses on any we left,and because they were such hot currys which make your eyes and nose water then we were never short of snot.Great days!

[Si]

That's the last time I eat a chapati. And I always thought it was raita!Yuck!!!    

[cnosni]

Si wrote: That's the last time I eat a chapati. And I always thought it was raita!Yuck!!!     It was Raita,just recycled.You see, iwas GREEN even back then.See what i did there? eh eh?