Pawn Shops

[amelia]

Hi All there is two pawn shops opened up here in Castlemilk nothing like the old ones though. Wouldn't like to take in a bundle for the counter is wide open for everyone to see.
Gosh there must have been about a half dozen in the Gorbals or even more, I think I have been in them all between my ma and my grannie.
My ma used to use the one in Hospital St. at Clelland St. hated going to it in case some of the lassies in my class saw me, pawned things on a Monday and had to have them out on a Saturday
Amelia x

[Jimbo]

Man o' the hoose's BEST suit came oot oan a Friday and back in oan the Monday!

[DannyGill]

Hi Amelia + Jimbo,
Yes the auld Pawn shop that brings memories back to me too. My Granny used to take me to the one in Braehead st where the Ritz picture hose used to be. There were little cubicles which gave you a wee bit of privacy and there was a bit of a stigma about going into the Pawn, my Granny would say to me walk quickly as if your passing the Pawn shop and at the last second turn into the entrance !!!!! lol. These new "Pawn shops" as you say Amelia are very open plan which also shows you people [of today] are maybe not as "embarrased " to use them ?. In my front room in the sheltered housing block of flats where I live in London I have a Photo[s] on my wall showing that same Pawn shop in Braehead st, the Ritz picture hose and my school photo taken in wee Bonnies way back in the mid 50's and that always reminds me of my roots. Every morning after I have said my prayers I go over to my school classroom photo and say [outloud]"hello class mates well how did your life go, mine was terrific". I might have left Glasgow 45 years ago but Glasgow never left me.
Regards
Danny

[Jimbo]

Not Pawn related, at least I think not, but I remember my granny coming back with a "bundle" on her back which she apparently got from "big houses" (I didn't really understand what the grown-ups were talking about - this was the late 40's) what she did with the bundles I have no idea. Paddy's Market springs to mind, though!

[DannyGill]

Not Pawn related, at least I think not, but I remember my granny coming back with a "bundle" on her back which she apparently got from "big houses" (I didn't really understand what the grown-ups were talking about - this was the late 40's) what she did with the bundles I have no idea. Paddy's Market springs to mind, though!

Hi Jimbo,
Paddy's market now that was some place mate , seemed like there was clothes scattered everywhere you looked and you could always see people arguing over the price, I used to love going over there and then walking up the Gallowgate to the Barras.!!!!

[Jimbo]

This new breed of "Pawn Shops" seem to be modelled on the ones you see in Las Vegas i.e. they are only interested in high end gold and silver jewellery which ultimately ends up in their window for sale!

[DannyGill]

This new breed of "Pawn Shops" seem to be modelled on the ones you see in Las Vegas i.e. they are only interested in high end gold and silver jewellery which ultimately ends up in their window for sale!

Hi Jimbo,
Yes I agree with you there mate and I think in some of them here in London they change cheques for you but at a certain percentage [as some people haven't got a bank account]. Also I think you can get a loan before payday but again what you pay back is well over the odds, a long shot from the old Pawn shops we used to know years ago in the soo-side.

[accobra]

Hi, Amelia ,Jimbo ,Danny,
It had to come up this"Hidden Currency" that I think we all used at one
time or another . I was not aware of them when I lived in the Gorbals but as a hard up apprentice
I did use a " Pawnshop in Merkland street <Partick> and Iput my wrist watch in on a Monday and
got it out on Friday when I was paid all of 3 pounds fifty seven.
But interesting enough when I was waiting to meet my father near the same Pawn Shop I used to wonder why I saw more than one person walk by with a big brown bag and then double back and go into the Pawn shop but when he/she came out there was no paper bag to be seen.
Now the last time I tried to pawn something Iended up in a cell in Shepherds Bush Nick !!
I was working in a Shipyard in Brentford <Middlesex> and Iwas in digs with my brother and a fellow Glaswegian Billy Anderson and Billy and took the day of work and I was a bit short of cash so we used
our last few shillings to get the 207 Bus from Hanwell to Shepherds Bush. Now Shepherd,s Bush is
probably full of many "Dodgy" characters and while my friend and I were trying to get a few pounds
for my camera which I had bought and paid for we were stopped by a policeman who I believe was
tipped of by one of the pawn shops that we had tried without success.
The upshot was that when I was being questioned on the Uxbridge Road Billy started giving the
Policeman lip and I knew immediately he did that it was going to be difficult for me.
Sure enough I asked to come along to the station which was near by and having the receipt at home for camera I had no problem with this. It was a different matter when I got to the station .
I was immediately accused by the officer of handling stolen goods and this guy was very threatening.
Then Iwas put in a cell for about half an hour and then his superior interviewed me and was trying to be nice to me " Good cop back " now I understand the term!! There was a film in the camera and I had to remove it in order that were able to access the serial number. I was then told that I would
have come back the following week after they had check the serial number.
I went back the following week and collected my camera and I feel sure that if my friend Billy had not
been so lippy I would not have been made an example of.
That was 47 years ago and fortunately I have not had the need for a Pawn-Shop or a police cell.!!
I think in some ways credit cards may have replaced Pawn shops but i have not seen any for
a long long time.

Best Regards Reg

[DannyGill]

Hi Reg,
Yes the "hidden currency" it kept our parents/grandparents head above the waterline on many an occasion and as you say quite rightly Reg the "stigma" of going into a Pawn shop was always there. I also noticed when I was a wean in the soo-side some people looking into the pawn shop window at the many articles that could be purchased at second hand prices [no shame in that as life was tough in those days] but the "stigma" attachment would surface when after the people that had looked at articles in the Pawns window would walk away. Only to return in ten minutes time [with their minds previously made up with what article to buy] and try and slip into the Pawn shop so nobody could notice them !!!. As for the Polis well I know they have a job to do but how many ordinary people like ourselves over the years have had a bad encounter with them and if you try and stand your corner then they give you a hard time [I have never ever forgiven those Glasgow Polis who stole money off of me while I was held overnight in Craigie street Polis station for singing a pop song in the street, that was and is the only time in my whole life I had dealings with the Polis or any other Polis 47 years ago too]
Yes the old Pawn shop was held as a life saver for many people years ago.
Regards.
Danny

[Granny911]

Hi all,
Remember a few of the old pawn shops back in the day.

Danny the one on Braehead Street was John the pawn shop. He had a sign above the shop that said "Our signature tune is for you a loan" Quite witty of him. I may not have that quote exactly right, but pretty sure that was it.

We have pawnshops here where I live in Canada but I don't think they ever took in clothing, certainly take lots of other interesting stuff though. Sheila.