Long gone dealers of military and useful stuff

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

It is not just the old surplus dealers who are disappearing, it is the small parts dealers who could make a living selling relative small quantities of parts. One of the best sources Chevy parts I've used for years is now gone Tim Tygarts Obsolete Chevy Parts is gone, bought by Jim Carters. Now I hope that Jim Carters will continue to make make both high volume and low volume parts avaliable.

Cheers Phil

[Grant Bowker]

I was aware of the purchase of Obsolete Chevy by Jim Carter, I only wish they had also accepted the Tygart practice of using the Chevrolet part numbers rather than creating their own. Mac's had started to transition from Ford numbers to their own made up system as they transitioned to part of the Ecklers group. I recently received a catalog from them that proudly proclaimed they were returning to the Ford part numbers "for ease of ordering". Ford and Chevrolet had numbering systems that worked for a long period of time to keep huge inventories straight. Why invent a new system to replace one that works? Tygart used to add an "R" to reproduction parts and also made it clear if the part was in any way not an original part.

[David Dunlop]

Bruce.

I remember Sabre well. Had a huge compound out St. James way and also a smaller storefront place. I still have one of their catalogs kicking around somewhere. Huge inventory of 19-Sets and parts related, other military signals equipment and enough aircraft spares you could nearly build your own Tiger Moth, or Harvard. Even sold Link Trainers at one time.

Rampant rumours that when they shut down some big surplus operation in the Florida area came up and cleared out their inventory. One wall of their shop use to be lined with 19-Sets stacked to the ceiling. Some on racks but many in original heavy duty cardboard boxes and some in large wooden crates, sort of double sized bren gun chests. Also had lots of cardboard boxes of 19-Set Installation kits for various vehicles.

There was also the old Princess Auto Surplus Yard in Transcona with the big quonset hut run by a chap named John. .99 cent WW2 Cdn Army Helmets. $9.95 Lee Enfields and $19.95 Jungle Carbines.


David