Music shop in Saltcoats

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bonzo
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by bonzo »

There was also a little record shop in the indoor market on Hamilton St where the 10 pin bowling is now. It was good for 2nd hand records.
Those wimin were in the nip.
Scott McCallum
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by Scott McCallum »

There was also Gregor Watson's electrical shop on the corner of Dockhead Street and Countess Street where you could buy and listen to music upstairs. If I remember a lovely girl called Margaret Longman worked there and would play some great music.

I went on a school cruise in the eatly sixties and either Colin Hay or (it was more likely to have been) his brother was in the same dorm for Ardrossan AcademScott McCallum
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down south
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by down south »

Joe McGrath was one of our teachers at Ardrossan Academy; he was also an old school pal of John Donnelly, as we learned here.

I've got an advert somewhere which has him also playing piano at the Castlewirock one evening a week; never knew in those days that he was such a star performer locally.

PS Here's the advert, and I see it was actually the organ again he was playing.
Joe McGrath at Castlewirock 1972.jpg
Susan
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GordMac
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by GordMac »

The record shop in the middle of Hamilton Street was Baillie's.It closed in the late sixties and sold off their stock of records at bargain prices as I bought quite a few.They also sold and rented out televisions if memory serves me well.
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John Donnelly
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by John Donnelly »

down south wrote:Joe McGrath was one of our teachers at Ardrossan Academy; he was also an old school pal of John Donnelly, as we learned here.

I've got an advert somewhere which has him also playing piano at the Castlewirock one evening a week; never knew in those days that he was such a star performer locally.

Susan
Joe was also a permanent fixture for years in the Douglas in Stevenston.

JD.
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little plum
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by little plum »

Vinegarjoe wrote: Frank Gilmour, at one time owned a "supermarket" at the Station gates on the corner of Warner St.
Vinegarjoe, no offence intended here, but I think the shop you are thinking of was Armours ironmongers.
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by irejim9 »

Thanks for all the info - now know where it is. Takes time to wind the wheels of memories.

He also said he remembers Alison Bell, his Music Teacher, she moved to Aberdeen, has fond memories of Janet Rouse, Norrie Dixon, Norrie Burns, Margaret Swindle.

Another memory - Ronnie Brady bought every Elvis LP record at one of the shops in Hamilton Street and wonder if he still has his collection. It must be worth a mint now.
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by Vinegarjoe »

little plum wrote:
Vinegarjoe wrote: Frank Gilmour, at one time owned a "supermarket" at the Station gates on the corner of Warner St.
Vinegarjoe, no offence intended here, but I think the shop you are thinking of was Armours ironmongers.
Sorry LP, I think you're wrong. but Armour's was round on Shore Road. Frank Gilmour's was next door (towards the station) and straddled the corner between Shore Road and Warner Street with the main entrance right on the corner.
On Shore Road it was then Armour's , then the hairdresser's, then cottages, ending with Frank's other shop Union Electronics, then the Church Manse.
In the other direction, Warner Street there was either one or two little shops (something tells me a Knitwear/haberdasher but not sure), then the lane to the Bowling Club, then the Co-op for the rest of the street.
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little plum
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by little plum »

[/quote]
Sorry LP, I think you're wrong. but Armour's was round on Shore Road. Frank Gilmour's was next door (towards the station) and straddled the corner between Shore Road and Warner Street with the main entrance right on the corner.[/quote]

You are right, I remember it noo, the doorway sat at a 45 the same as the chemist over the road.
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by gnyaff »

L.P. You are correct, the shop was approx. 50 yards up from the La Scala Picture house. I can see the sign above the shop now. It was called "James Hay's Music Shop" They sold all sorts of musical instruments as well as records. I remember the owner well. He had a handlebar moustache and Mrs Hay always wore a string of pearls and had a lovely smile.

Baillie's did sell records in the upstairs part. They did rent out and service televisions, that part of the business was called British Relay. One of the T.V. mechanics who worked there was Willie Barr who was the rhythm guitarist for the Tulsans.

On to Joe McGrath, was he something to do with a Band Called Joe McGrath and the Blue Grass Boys?

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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by joeh »

Seen Colin Hay at the Edinburgh Festival last night. Terrific 5 piece band including a fantastic Cuban guitarist.
Colin gave a great peformance. Loads of droll humour about his career. Had a wee chat with him after the show about our memories of his parents shop in Hamilton Street. Great night, although I woke up this morning thinking....Underwoods..... who had the premises later. Some facts might have merged between the two shops. If the two of us looked glaekit at times hence the reason. Anyway, I used to order Blues albums from whatever shop it was. I remember one of the owners having a moustache. ( Wisnae wan of the wives either,... I dont think ).
Aye Scott, I also knew Margaret Longman well at Gregor Watsons record section. ( btw, Tommy Q says hello, I stay near him ) As CF says, 23rd Precinct in Bath St Glasgow had about the best specialist record selection anywhere.
A'w the best, joeh fae Embra, still knackered from last night/this morning.... Janice, dont you dare open they curtains.
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Re: Music shop in Saltcoats

Post by stivis »

[utube]Gregor Watson's electrical shop [/utube]
First place I heard and saw a Bob Marley LP, and Trout Mask Replica Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
51sBFJYnq6L.jpg
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