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Albert Duckett's cycle
shop at 719 High Rd, Seven Kings, London is chiefly remembered for
supplying wheels to any specification, to a high standard. Racing
riders came from great distances to buy their wheels at the shop..The
slogan "Wise men in the East All go to Duckett's" was used in
advertisements. What is not known is that Duckett also built his own
frames.
Duckett was born around 1880, and died in 1966. An advertisement in
'Cycling' magazine on 25 September 1925 claims "over 20 years'
reputation".
The first shop opened in 1922 at 619 Romford Rd, Manor Park, with
cycles branded as 'Elite'. There was a workshop at the back where
frames were made and the bikes assembled. A fire in 1932 destroyed the
workshop, and led to
closure of the cycle shop.
While making ships'
compasses during WW2, Duckett saved his money, and opened a new shop
at 719 High Rd, Seven Kings as soon as the war ended, taking on a
school leaver, Thomas A Smith as mechanic, and also his son
Jack when he returned from war service.
Albert Duckett was a small, well-built man, always wearing a brown
warehouseman's overcoat. He was addressed as Mr. Duckett, but is
remembered as a very nice man, always kind, jolly, and a real
gentleman. The shop became a sort of informal clubroom. People would
stay in the shop after hours.
By 1950, his vision was very poor, but he continued to finish all
wheels built while he was in the shop, by feel and sound. He stopped
building frames in the shop, but frame repairs were still done there.
Herbie Stokes, and later Vic Edwards (from 1958)took over the frame
building. It is believed that some frames were built by Ephgrave.
In the 1950s, some felt that the Art Deco head transfer was rather
dated, so the ordinary models were given the round pre-War 'Elite'
transfer, complete with obsolete address.
In the post war years, there were two employees, David Whiting, and
Tommy Smith, who became manager on Duckett's retirement until the
closure of the shop around 1967.
Paul Standeven |
