Older readers here,will surely remember those wonderful shops created with the surplus requirements of our armed forces,called the Army,Navy,Air force stores ? these were a far cry away from shops today that sell facsimile goods created specially for the public,the original shops sold exactly what had been over-ordered by the Ministry of supply for our armed forces,you could get anything from a pair of good quality leather boots that would easily walk mount Everest to a salt activated battery that would run for hours,even large box kites that acted as radio aerials at sea could be purchased,and above all everything was so cheap.Many of the items were still fully wrapped in grease wrapping paper such as the tool kits which featured chrome vanadium spanners in every BA size that you could think of,these shops were emporiums of quality goods and a goldmine for model builders,most large towns had at least one of these shops which alas seem to have vanished from the scene today.
I have fond memories of visiting these type of shops with a half crown clucthed in my palm to buy useful goodies,and it went a long way too.
I have fond memories of visiting these type of shops with a half crown clucthed in my palm to buy useful goodies,and it went a long way too.
although it's been many years since I've been in but I don't think it's the same as it used to be it's more manufactured stuff, I used to go in as a kid always wanted some putties don't know why but I ended getting them wore them till they wore out 
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