Recollections of Kay’s of Ealing

John Witcomb’s letter ‘Who recalls Kay’s of Ealing’ in OBM448 brought back memories from around about 1948-50. After a nasty man with a silly moustache had thrown all his toys out of the pram, my father was able to get his 1930s BSA Blue Star (which he called his ‘magic carpet’) and Swallow single seat sidecar out of mothballs. As we lived in West Ealing, the nearest place for spares was Kay’s of Bond Street.

So, Saturday mornings, after dismantling half the bike and spreading it along the kerb, the offending part was located. As I liked to ‘help’ Dad and he liked the company, the dreaded words were uttered: “We’ll nip down to Kay’s.” A black cloud descended as I knew what I was in for.

As John Witcomb said, and as I recall, the ground floor was devoted to tools and managed by a short, slightly tubby character with round pebble glasses

– a bit like Billy Bunter – who looked 15 but could have been 50 and was very knowledgeable and helpful.

The spares department was in the basement down a very tight winding and well-worn flight of stairs to the depths. If you were lucky, there would only be about 10 customers down the stairs, patiently waiting for their turn.

The air was thick with cigarette smoke. The man behind the counter always wore a khaki warehouse coat and seemed to know every part number in existence. But woe betide you if you were not sure of your facts: “Do you want the grunge pin that abuts the reciprocating toggle washer, or the sliding dog jiggle pin?” – errmm?

Oh, that long disappointing walk home, but still, there might be beans on toast to welcome us!