I recently became a member of a wonderful website devoted to Zodiac Toys, the iconic UK 60's and 70's brand and chain of toy shops. Set up by ex-employee Roger Jones, it is a fabulous archive of shop fronts, displays and staff memories. The displays section is well worth sifting through for a glimpse of long-lost toys. I remember vividly going to the Preston Zodiac toy shop with my Mum, along with its rival Thomas Mears, looking for my next star buy. I have just one Zodiac - labelled item from my childhood now, a wonderful oversize picture book called Jason and the Golden Fleece, priced 7/6, by Purnell 1968 illustrated by artists Janet and Anne Graham Johnstone who were prolific back then giving a sort of elf-like quality to all the people in their paintings (who along with Pauline Baynes and Ron Embleton are my favourites childhood book illustrators).
Roger's site is a fine example of what a good company archive by ex-employees could be like. If only similar existed for Tarheel/Empire, T in a Circle, Tri-ang and JR21/Century 21.
Click on the piccy above (the Luton Zodiac shop) and support Roger's site.
Paul, Thank you so much for endorsing my humble website. It is not difficult to build sites like this if you have the information to put on line. I use www.webs.com - a basic site that can be built in minutes. A site I sadly miss is the Woolworth museum site which was pulled when the company collapsed a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteA started a thread last year on "Do You Remember" at http://forums.doyouremember.co.uk/toys/3362-zodiac-toy-shops.html
Got some interesting replies and contacts; you may find other toy stuff on there as well.