Smiths & Sons
Who buys umbrellas these days, from a specialist shop?
This shop has fascinated me for the last 25 years, since I moved to the area as a student. It’s situated in London, on New Oxford Street, very close to Tottenham Court Road and Bloomsbury, the British Museum, Shaftsbury Avenue, etc. Arguably one of the most commercialised areas in England.
What I find unique about this shop is that while the rest of the original neighbourhood shops have either been demolished, modernised or taken over by one of the main High-Street brands, this shop has managed to retain its original look and character. How it survived, just selling umbrellas, is beyond me!
In case you can’t make it out, the labels at the top of the windows read:
Ladies Umbrellas, Tropical Sunshades, Garden & Golf Umbrellas, Gentlemen’s Umbrellas (Fox Frames, Gold & Silver mounts), Riding Crops & Whips, Irish Blackthorns, Malacca Canes, Life Preservers, Dagger Canes, Swordsticks And… Umbrellas Recovered, Renovated & Repaired and Sticks Repolished
I have been meaning to take some proper pictures of it for a while (mostly on fear that it may just not be there next week!) but I’m never there with a decent camera, and it’s always very busy in front of it. As it happens, I managed it with my little P&S, although I’d love to go back at some point with a polariser filter and do it properly!
[Casio Exilim EX-S10 f:2.8 1/400sec, ISO-50, cropped & straightened)
Featured in the Calendar My Pocket London
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Smiths & Sons belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, "Old Things - 3 per Day", **BITS and PIECES** , All Around the Styles, Anticonsumerism, European Everyday Life (add the place!), Full Frontal Facades, ImageWriting (2/24), JPG Cast-Offs, London Architecture, Nostalgic Art and Photography, Out of the Past, Passionate About Vintage, Retro Conglomerate, SHOPFRONTS , Something To Say, Street Photography and Photojournalism, The Compact Group *ONE* per day with *camera details please*, The Male Photographer, The Patchwork , This is England, Treasured UK Structures (TUKS), UK Visions , United Kingdom, Victorian Viewfinders and Vintage and Gorgeous Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Vikram Franklin
Oh I remember this!! It’s a wonderful quaint shop!! (around the corner is a camera shop – towards Oxford St – Tottenham Ct Rd junction?)
The To let sign is for the first floor I hope!! Lovely capture – I never did manage one.
monocotylidono replied
Thanks Vikram, yes, I assume that the “To Let” is not about the shop. Glad you recognise it!
Actually, it’s a great junction – when you come out of Tottenham Ct.Rd tube station and you send your other half for retail therapy to the right (Oxford Street) while you turn left:There is a camera shop almost exactly where I’m standing to take this shot, to its left along New Oxford Street is Jessops and across the road opposite the British museum is a courtyard with several Antique Camera shops. LOL
Johanne Brunet
Well, I totally understand how it can survive for so long selling umbrellas! Almost everybody owns an umbrella, and if they’re like me, they would be good customers. I keep losing mine or they get damaged by the wind or they go out of fashion, and I simply want a new one to match my new coat! LOL!
Great shot, George, totally fascinating!
monocotylidono replied
LOL thanks Johanne – In the days of £1 Chinese import umbrellas, I’m glad to hear that there are still connoisseurs… :-)
Shelly Hiebert
Huh….an umbrella store surviving all of these years, and as you say maintaining its character :) Great capture of it George :)
monocotylidono replied
Well… it also sells walking sticks! LOL Thanks Shelly :-)
Shelly Hiebert
Oh, well the walking sticks explain it all then George ;)
monocotylidono replied
LOL :-)
TickerGirl
Well… It kind of makes sense… doesn’t it always rain in England?
Just kidding! I don’t believe stereotyping ;) And I actually just bought an umbrella myself!
monocotylidono replied
Oh, no Monika – I’m afraid that rain in England is a fact not a stereotype ;-) Many thanks.
Mike Oxley
What a great shot and write up. It’s amazing that this shop still retains its original character and hasn’t been modernised. More power to them!
monocotylidono replied
Thank you very much Mike, I hope it stays like that for another 25 years! :-)
brendanscully
Lovely…...could be retro, 1946….....
monocotylidono replied
Yep, that’s probably when it was last refurbished! :-) Thanks Brendan
Ursula Rodgers
LOL, there’s actually a specialty shop for umbrellas? I’ve got to go and check it out! I think I’ll pass the walking sticks by though :D Great shot George!
monocotylidono replied
Thank you Ursula :-) You may pass the walking sticks, but can you resist Ladies Umbrellas, Tropical Sunshades, Garden & Golf Umbrellas, Gentlemen’s Umbrellas (Fox Frames, Gold & Silver mounts), Riding Crops & Whips, Irish Blackthorns, Malacca Canes, Life Preservers, Dagger Canes, Swordsticks ? And don’t forget: Umbrellas Recovered, Renovated & Repaired and Sticks Repolished ! LOL
KParapantaki
I am seriously thinking of collecting your pictures in a special folder. Most of your commentaries belong to an encyclopedia….
monocotylidono replied
We aim to Educate and Entertain… ;-) xx
gail anderson
monocotylidono replied
Wonderful!!! Thank you very much Gail, much appreciated!
Mary Ann Reilly
I adore umbrellas. Love this. COngrats.
monocotylidono replied
Thanks you very much! Also for the favoring!!! :-)
James Deypalan
Nice capture George and well said..congratulations well done!..do they sell photography umbrella (reflector and diffuser) as well? :-)
monocotylidono replied
Probably! and if they don’t they’ll make you one to order. Do you want it with a silver or gold handle? LOL. Thank you very much :-)
Jason Connolly
Splendid shot here mate, there used to be one in Preston,Lancashire.. I think it shut down and is now a pasty shop…