The not-so-good old days
Popular service station, 1930s St. John’s
In St. John’s in the 1930s, Reg Brown operated a popular service station on King’s Road. Among the services - tires and tubes repaired. There was a full supply of anti-freeze and chains always on hand. You could also have your car washed, greased and Simonized. Also, Brown’s declared “a complete line of accessories always on hand”. There was free air and crank service. There was also this advisory in Brown’s advertisements: “Cars driven by our staff at owners’ risk.”
We’re not so sure about that crank service. Many cars at the time could be started by turning over the engine with a crank in through the lower front. This was an option if the starting motor didn’t do its job, especially on cold winter mornings. But if Brown’s offered this service for free, that seems to suggest they’d have to travel to the car. A bit much to expect if the service was free, wouldn’t you say? And you wouldn’t drive to Brown’s and then have your vehicle cranked, would you?
The information on Brown’s given above is from a telephone listing (not sure if it is from a trade directory or a phone book) collected together and sent in to us by reader Mike Power.
By the way, Reg Brown’s home was listed as “Maple Terrace” on Fleming Street and his summer residence was on Portugal Cove Road - how far out on that road we don’t know. To us today, this seems incredible - principal residence and country place so close together! Shows you how extensively St. John’s has grown in 85 years. Taxes revenues probably even covered city costs back then, too.
ALSO FROM THE 1930s we have an advertisement for A.J. Kavanagh, Garage. It reads: “Motor and marine engineer, Garage, George Street. Telephones, office 2431, Residence, 1406R. Gasoline; motor oils and grease. Vulcanizing, etc. Day and Night Service.” Kavanagh’s home was on York Street.
FROM 1932 LISTINGS there was Saunders and St. Croix “General automobile repairs and service; Gasoline and Oil”. They were located at 234 New Gower Street.
IN LAST WEEKEND’s column
we carried a photo of an old, restored, green-and-black pickup. It had been photographed in British Columbia by Graham Sheppard. We had commented that it looked at first glance to be a Dodge. But we’ve been enlightened on that point:
Hello Paul,
You’re certainly correct on that BC pickup not being a Dodge! It is a 1937 Ford.
If any of your readers are going to Vegas there is a great auto museum there called Harrah’s Collection at the National Automobile Museum. See http://www.automuseum.org/ When we were there each vehicle had a poster with information on it and also a selling price. They were all for sale!
Les Winsor, Mount Pearl