Old Leeds Firms

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 08 Sep, 2011 9:14 am

Patexpat wrote: Brunel wrote: From the YEP, even then they had abysmal proof reading.https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H ... directlink Now I thought Vallence's was next to Lewis's on The Headrow? Or did they have two stores? Or am I thinking of another electrical shop? You've got me wondering now - but I think you're right - I believe they were in the Headrow first, and then moved to Market Street - but I may be wrong too.

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Thu 08 Sep, 2011 9:49 am

BLAKEY wrote: Patexpat wrote: Brunel wrote: From the YEP, even then they had abysmal proof reading.https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H ... directlink Now I thought Vallence's was next to Lewis's on The Headrow? Or did they have two stores? Or am I thinking of another electrical shop? You've got me wondering now - but I think you're right - I believe they were in the Headrow first, and then moved to Market Street - but I may be wrong too. They had two stores at the same time,one in New Market Street and one at Headrow House

Patexpat · Post by **Patexpat** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 10:21 am

That's far too logical an explanation!

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 11:01 am

And..... The Headrow branch.https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S ... ctlinkThis was the "Flagship" store, now a rather tatty cash converter style shop.

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Wed 21 Sep, 2011 9:19 pm

For a brief spell in 1966/67 I used to work at Waddington's printers. They had a small factory tucked away on Firth Road (Barkley Road/Old Lane area) at Beeston. New technology was knocking on the door but letterpress print was the preferred type (no pun intended). I remember we used to print the Meccano magazine, Freeman's (?) catalogue and the phone bill for the GPO.I can't recall when the site finally closed but its days were numbered even then.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 21 Sep, 2011 11:12 pm

Dunlop & Ranken was a Leeds firm but there seems to be little information about it (or at least that I can find) such as when it closed. I wondered about the firm when a metal beam was exposed during the recent demolition of the old Alwoodley Motors Garage on King Lane. I took the photo on August 9 2011 during one of the many demolition days. The metal beam in the centre has "Dunlop and Ranken Leeds" on it. As the garage and its attached building appear in photos taken in 1938 in the Leodis website (I think the buildings may though be older than that, possibly the 1920's) then the beam will be old Dunlop & Ranken work.

porters · Post by **porters** » Thu 22 Sep, 2011 2:27 am

Hi everyoneI left school in 84 and my first job was for barrs soft drinks in armley.This was as a van lad fantastic job real good pay as well at the time £75 a week.Bit cold in the winter months though if heater was not working in the wagon when we had a trip up to catterick.Then again we would all be parked up on top tong road on a friday by midday waiting to get in and loaded up for monday.All the drivers would go of to pub more than not the star and me been only 16 at the time would be of home.Great memories.

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Fri 04 Nov, 2011 6:16 pm

Brunel wrote: "Think Vallences were previously called Vallance & Davison on the corner of Market Street Arcade and Briggate."Notice the MD was E. Glenn, could he be the owner of another well known LEEDS firm.Ted Glenns of Headingley.?? Not that long after this in 1960 Vallance's Briggate shop suffered a major fire.I'd have been 11 but can't recall the details. It might have hastened the closure of that shop. I have a photo that I'll try to share if I can figure out how to do it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/biglightson/

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 31 Jan, 2012 12:02 am

There is an advertisement on page 7 of today's YEP (Jan 30 2012) by a private clinic relating to compensation claims for hearing loss due to work. In the advert it names 64 companies, many of which (if not all) were Leeds based. The list may bring back memories of some already nearly forgotten companies.

EYRIE · Post by **EYRIE** » Fri 10 Feb, 2012 10:16 pm

That'll be because Leeds seemed embarrassed by its manufacturing in the late 80s and many firms went to the wall to make way for call centres and banks.Such a shame. I worked at Howson-Algraphy in Seacroft for 17 years and always thought it was great that its only UK rival in printing plates was across the city at Horsell Graphics (later bought by Kodak and closed down). Howson's went Amercan with DuPont and then Belgian with Agfa. Hardly makes anything now - just a processor of stuff made elsewhere.I now work in the back of beyond......that's Goole to those who don't know!