Long gone dealers of military and useful stuff

[Dan Martel]

Does anyone recall the surplus store in Winnipeg that was located on the south side of Portage Avenue across from the Hudson's Bay? It had a huge sign above the door with a reproduction of the 101st Airborne's screaming eagle. I've never forgotten that sign. One of my strongest memories of living in Winnipeg. I think it's long gone now.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Ryan]

Some amazing memories being recalled here. I have nothing like that to share.
My fond memory is of Erskines disposals in geelong, lots of good surplus equipment in the 1980s. Including prc25 sets for $25.

[David Dunlop]

Dan.

That would have been United Army Surplus.

David

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Dan Martel

Does anyone recall the surplus store in Winnipeg that was located on the south side of Portage Avenue across from the Hudson's Bay? It had a huge sign above the door with a reproduction of the 101st Airborne's screaming eagle. I've never forgotten that sign. One of my strongest memories of living in Winnipeg. I think it's long gone now.

Cheers,
Dan.

Yep, United Army Surplus. I was at the closeout auction about 8 years back I think. They weren't selling very much by the each...it was by the box, or the row, or the room. I bought a whole room full of stuff for $125, and sold $500 of it before I even moved it. The basement rooms went just as cheap.....tons of stuff for $100 or so. They gave the guys 5 days to get it all out. I went there in the last hour they had, and picked up a last few things from the room I bought. The guy told me to make a pile, so I ran around like a madman. First stop was the textiles room. Picked up boxes of battle dress buttons, spools of thread, and the best thing of all was a set of 10" heavy duty black scissors....the real ones and not the chinese knock offs. Got the whole pile for $50.

I still have one of their signs in the wall of the shop.

[rob love]

There are still a couple of the old time dealers, or the remnants of what they once were, kicking around the prairies. There are certain cities which I do not pass through without going in to buy more.

[Mike K]

I dont know how I came to have this item but its a tape measure .

Probably given to some of the more regular customers , maybe dating from the 1970's . Would this mob be related to the Hancock surplus lines ?

[Keith Webb]

Yes, they were the parent company when I was working for Hughes Auto Spares.

Keith Downey who eventually bought the business worked there and used to visit each week, delivering my little yellow pay packet envelope.

Hancocks was started I believe by Bill Hancock who had a lot to do with the surplus business in the early days then saw there was more money in the new parts.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I dont know how I came to have this item but its a tape measure .

Probably given to some of the more regular customers , maybe dating from the 1970's . Would this mob be related to the Hancock surplus lines ?

[Matt Austin]

Not quite long gone, but I pick up Pattern 37 web gear from Aussie Disposals whenever I see it. I've acquired a few pieces this way. On Saturday, I picked up two large pouches, one with a VX number and name, the other with an SX number, and I was able to get their details from the AWM nominal roll. It'd be interesting to find if either man was still with us; I'd love to send one back.

[Keith Webb]

This is a view of the Vic Drew trucks yard at Kensington which had many CMPs and even some CMP rear bodies such as Stores, Binned and Workshop. That's Tony Wheeler exploring. I took this picture around 1974.