Forum Topic

Grove Brake and Clutch

Driving past this morning and I was saddened to see that this wonderful little 'Aladdin's Cave' of a car accessory shop (top of Green Avenue, next to the vets) seems to have closed down.Shuuters were down and no stock in the window.Does anyone know when they closed or what happened to them?

Nigel Brooks ● 4879d30 Comments

I too am very saddened at the news.I hope it is not true as well, but the chaps that ran it were not getting any younger so I suspect that retirement became an ever more realistic prospect - especially since I have never been troubled with the inconvenience of ever having to share the shop with another customer on any of my visits there.  I have often wondered how they managed to sustain the business whilst at the same time always being very grateful that, somehow, they did.

Tony Colliver ● 4879d

The two brothers who ran the shop have indeed retired.  They will be missed by more than motorists.Sadly, another small specialist shop bites the dust.

Brian Davis ● 4879d

Thanks for that.Lovely guys, they used to travel in from Hertfordshire every morning. I used to use them when they were up by Northfield station and latterly for all kinds of bulbs, fuses and batteries etc.I can only wish them a very long and happy retirement.

Nigel Brooks ● 4879d

Very sad to hear this Nigel - a thoroughly good local car accessories shop. It was never busy like some shops, but was well stocked - for years I bought my car batteries there - and pleasant owners too - so sad.

Gerry Tan ● 4879d

Shame they couldn't find a buyer for the business.(Assuming that was their wish of course.)

Tony Colliver ● 4879d

Very sad to hear that Grove has closed down.  I, too, remember them when the shop was located close to Northfields Station. A dying breed, independent car spares shops.  Mainly because 'modern' cars can't be worked on by home/diy mechanics.  I used to lust over Grove's display of individual Britool spanners and socket sets.  And the guys were soooo helpful with twiddly bits like brake unions and kunifer pipe. Yes, very sad to hear the news.

Andy Horridge ● 4878d

will be really missed.They were really helpful always.When they had the store near the station we used to get STP and Dunlop Groundhog stickers from them which ended up adorning schoolbags and bikes

Michael Brandt ● 4878d

. . . I do hope the Grove chaps get to see this forum thread and realise how much they were appreciated.  They had a presence in Nothfield Avenue from the 70's (if not earlier).

Andy Horridge ● 4878d

Missed indeed Andy. I have lost count of the number of people that I sent their way for batteries, bulbs, fuses, and 'odds and sods'.I do hope, like you, that someone here knows them and shows them this thread.

Nigel Brooks ● 4878d

Do you know that in 40 years of using their shop I never knew their names. There was a third guy at the original shop and he looked the same so was either father or another brother.

Michael Brandt ● 4878d

Same here.I know that the 'taller, greyer' one was addicted to Test Match Special and the comedy programmes on Radio 4 Extra we would discuss our favourite shows every time I visited.Lovely people, sadly missed already as my neighbour needs a new battery.

Nigel Brooks ● 4878d

They really were. I spent more time in there chatting than buying and they were both really likeable. Funny how they always looked the same age.

Michael Brandt ● 4878d

There was also the big Cypriot guy who worked there who as like a walking encyclopaedia of tool knowledge (in the days when you didn't need £10000 worth of diagnostic kit simply find out why a warning lamp had come on).Just thinking, there was also the little car spares shop at the top of Niagara Avenue run by a little rotund Polish/German guy. He had the best selection of body repair bits and touch-in paints anywhere. Long, long gone.

Nigel Brooks ● 4878d

>>Michael Brandt wrote>>  Funny how (the owners of Grove Brake and Clutch) always looked the same age.>>AH replies>>Yes, I had noticed that, too. In appearance, they looked the same this year as I remember them from the shop adj. Northfields station in the 70's.Either the guys kept a painting of themselves in the loft above the shops or there's something special about Comma DOT3 brake fluid fumes, the effect of which comes a very close second to the 'elixir of youth'. LOL

Andy Horridge ● 4878d

And Sayers Motor factors in Ranalagh Road. Great for professional refinishing stuff at trade price.Very good one remains in Boston Manor road opposite Trumpers way

Michael Brandt ● 4877d

>>MB wrote>>Very good one remains in Boston Manor road opposite Trumpers way.>>AH>>Yes, A&A Auto Spares.  More recently, he carries out MOTs (and car repairs around the back of the shop, I think) and tends to keep the shop locked when he 'pops out'.  A bit frustrating for casual customers calling by for a bottle of GTX.

Andy Horridge ● 4877d

So where does the assembled company recommend now that we have lost Grove?Where are the remaining good local auto spares shops?

Tony Colliver ● 4877d

A&A on Boston Road (when he's open). A1 on Bilton Road.Just noticed that the little Indian guy (helpful when you' gained his confidence) at Leading Auto Spares (Northfield Avenue at the top of Occupation Road) has also shut up shop!

Nigel Brooks ● 4877d

I always had bad experiences with the little Indian guy.Two recon alternators that turned out to be completely useless.Not impressed.

Tony Colliver ● 4877d

Not very helpful re. current car spares shops - but 'Unimac' has just sprung into my head.  It was opposite (what was) the petrol station in the Uxbridge Rd (adj the old Hanwell police station).  Unimac, owned by a sikh chap, disappeared, must be, 15 years ago.  Also, remember Car Doctor Spares in Greenford Avenue?  And there was 'Longlife' (I think) in West Ealing.  All gone because of the change in trends of car design/ownership.  Now we have GSF (everywhere), Eurocarparts (likewise) - no expertise, no service, no joy.  Ho hum.

Andy Horridge ● 4877d

Interpart was a great place, the last shop on the small parade in the Uxbridge road opposite the Civic Centre. Was a young guy called Chris who ran it and later another gut whose name fails me.But they were both great and fantastic for parts and price

Michael Brandt ● 4877d

GSF are actually very good but you have to know PRECISELY what you want. What I miss is the ability to browse and I am sure these laces miss out on many 'impulse' buys by being an 'automotive Argos'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4877d

MichaelThe guys at GB&C were the James brothers.  Ron James, the younger and slimmer one, worked at Rank Pullin Controls as an electronics draughtsman in the '80s (I was a design engineer) and worked in the shop by Northfields station with his father and brother at weekends.  They moved to the current location - mid '80s? - and the dad retired soon after.Slightly off topic, I'll recount my favourite Ron James story:We worked in a secure area at RPC and Ron was busy all day at his drawing board and never had to meet outside people.  The dress code was very relaxed and Ron was a tee shirt and jeans guy.  One day his boss who was a creepy sort, who wore the same suit year in and out, told him to smarten himself up.  On Monday Ron came in in a three piece suit, crisp shirt and tie and shined shoes.  On Tuesday he came in in a different three piece suit, different crisp shirt and tie and shined shoes.  And Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday.  And then back to tee shirt and jeans.  No more was heard.

David Biles ● 4876d

From a sticky label on a 30 year old hub-puller in my shed.The car spares place at the top of Niagara Avenue was Spartex.

Nigel Brooks ● 4875d

And does anyone remember the Aladdin's cave in Hanwell called Barnikel?

David Biles ● 4875d

Cricky, David and Nigel, you guys are older than I thought!

Gerry Tan ● 4875d

Everybody looks younger on the interweb Gerry!  :-)

Tony Colliver ● 4875d

I wish I did Tony.Sadly, I do believe I'm the only octogenarian on EalingToday.

Gerry Tan ● 4875d

"And does anyone remember the Aladdin's cave in Hanwell called Barnikel?"Yes, but just along from them was Cleggs which had the most amazing selection of Swiss Army knives on display and, if I recall correctly, was the place you went to get your Scout/Cub badges.Further up the road towards west Ealing was Morgan's Furnishers and the 'Surgical Appliance' showroom which had a massive truss in the window!

Nigel Brooks ● 4875d

>>Nigel wrote>> 'Surgical Appliance' showroom which had a massive truss in the window!>>AH replies.Ok, ok, I'll be the one to say it.  "Thank you for your support, I shall wear it with pride."

Andy Horridge ● 4875d