Does anybody remember the model shop in D'Olier Street 1970s?

[Noel]

I can't remember the name of the business nor the name of the owner, but I do have fond memories visiting it in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I have one memory of buying ratio signal kits there before boarding trains to Galway, and starting to assemble the kits on the train! Happy days. Had a sort of pencil case with a few modelling knifes, a file and glue, enough to get started. Painting had to wait until I got home from Galway.

 

Does anybody remember the shop, its name and who the owner was?

[Broithe]

Some discussion here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/modelrailways/search/?query=dolier - if you can see it.

[Noel]

Some discussion here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/modelrailways/search/?query=dolier - if you can see it.

 

Thanks. Unfortunately that just links to the MRSI Facebook home page. I'm not very Facebook savvy, but I couldn't see any discussion on the D'Olier street shop.

[Warbonnet]

Thanks. Unfortunately that just links to the MRSI Facebook home page. I'm not very Facebook savvy, but I couldn't see any discussion on the D'Olier street shop.

 

If you join their page you will be able to see the discussion. That's also if they allow you to join of course.

[Broithe]

Thanks. Unfortunately that just links to the MRSI Facebook home page. I'm not very Facebook savvy, but I couldn't see any discussion on the D'Olier street shop.

 

Ah, right, I wasn't sure if it was a closed group or not - sorry - somebody might conscript you.....

[richrua]

Yes I remember it. It was where I had my first few visits to a model shop. That would have been the early 80 s. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling it was something to do with Marks Models, as I remember a sign saying they had moved to Hawkins St. I could be wrong.

[Tarabuses]

Yes, I thought the shop in D'Olier Street was Mark's Models. I certainly remember seeing a young Mark in there.

[josefstadt]

Marks Models was established in 1987. Its predecessor was the Southern Model Railway Company which was based in Leeson Street, then the Grafton Arcade and then D'Olier Street. I'm not sure if the D'Olier Street shop was only operated in the Southern Model Railway Co era or if Marks Models ran it for a while.

[Ben]

It was marks models . it was upstairs . I think

[Noel]

Marks Models was established in 1987. Its predecessor was the Southern Model Railway Company which was based in Leeson Street, then the Grafton Arcade and then D'Olier Street. I'm not sure if the D'Olier Street shop was only operated in the Southern Model Railway Co era or if Marks Models ran it for a while.

 

Thanks. I think that's the one, 'Southern Model Railway Company' rings a bell. I thought they were originally downstairs, but that might just be confused memory echoes. The shop I remember definitely pre-dated 1987.

[Mayner]

Mark took over management of the Southern Model Railway business in the Grafton Arcade some time in the late 70s. The move to Dolier Street and change from a specialist model railway to a hobby shop probably saved the business. The Grafton Arcade shop always seemed to be quite more a place for regulars to meet than a thriving business. The change was quite abrupt existing magazine orders were cancelled without notice one day it was Eddie Elliott and business as usual next day it was Mark.

 

The move to Dolier Street took place before 1980, I was building an N gauge layout at the time Peco points were scarce and I managed to pick up enough to complete the layout during a visit to Dolier Street.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Mayner