Maxwell & Sons

Comments

Name: Bridget Kelly (neé Maxwell)
Comment: Although we sold records the company was principally known for pianos - we had a workshop round the corner in Wimbledon. We also had great respect in the industry as we were regulators (piano tuners) to all the instruments in the Royal Albert Hall. My grandfather used to make violins and my father was a good piano player but lost part of his hand in the Second World War, so couldn't play but he still used to regulate pianos.

There was a branch at 927 Brighton Road, Purley (we lived in Purley so that's the branch I remember best, coming in to visit my dad from school which was just round the corner in the high street). I remember Mrs Gladdon working there but not sure if she was the manager or not. I think it was the last shop to be acquired.
(2025)

Dave Harwood

24 Apr 2024 at 04:42

Maxwell & Sons Ltd also had a branch at 927/9 Brighton Road, Purley and there is an image of a 10in. record sleeve with that address on it at this link:
https://www.45spaces.com/record-shop-sleeves/r.php?r=reg597725
I also found this advert in the 'Croydon Times' dated 23rd October 1959:
“SALESLADY with experience required to take charge of gramophone record department — Maxwell & Sons Ltd., 927 Brighton Road, Purley. UPLands 3410.”

Richard Lindley

07 Jan 2025 at 09:11

My aunt, Dorothy (Dord) Farnfield was manager(?) of the Staines branch for many years and lived over the shop, where I visited her at least once with my parents as a child. I think she retired in the early or mid-1960s, though I could be misremembering.

Bridget Kelly née Maxwell

10 Feb 2025 at 04:39

It's nice to hear people have good memories of my father's shops. He did have five shops, Wimbledon being the main branch. Mr Brown managed the Kingston branch and Mr Hatsfeld ran the Wimbledon shop. I can't remember much about the Staines branch, except my brother working there for a short period before his serious bike accident.