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Silverdale Showrooms LTD

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Silverghost

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Does anyone have knowledge of this dealership. According to the MoT disc holder, it was located on Calverley Road in Tunbridge Wells, Kent (outside London) and the works phone number was 20863. Based on the phone number alone, this holder is rather old and may be original to my car. I did a Google search but came up empty.
 
Hello Silverghost,
I've only just joined this forum and your message was the first one I read.
I recently acquired a box of Morris 8 series1 parts and spares for a car which I don't yet own.
In it I found a tax disc holder from the Silverdale Showrooms in Tunbridge Wells.
Like you, I did a quick Google search and drew a blank, but I thought you might be interested to see the disc and I've attached a photo of it for you.
There's probably a record of all the garage businesses operating in Tunbridge Wells from this period, which the local Council may have.
Local postcard collectors (of which there are many - with several local regular postcard fairs held throughout the year) are also a good possible source of information, as many postcards show street scenes, and there may be one out there showing this garage.
I don't have time at the moment to do any further research myself, but if you're still interested I hope my suggestions may be of some help if you want to pursue your search.
All the best to you,
My kind regards,
Howard
 

Attachments

  • Silverdale Showrooms, Tunbridge Wells - Chrome & Plastic Tax Disc Holder (1).JPG
    Silverdale Showrooms, Tunbridge Wells - Chrome & Plastic Tax Disc Holder (1).JPG
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  • Silverdale Showrooms, Tunbridge Wells - Chrome & Plastic Tax Disc Holder (2).JPG
    Silverdale Showrooms, Tunbridge Wells - Chrome & Plastic Tax Disc Holder (2).JPG
    1.7 MB · Views: 72
Pete, methinks this "hunt' will be somewhat more involved than the DeTomaso! ;)

And thank you Howard for the postcard info. A good lead!
 
Will be interesting to see if Silverghost comes back with a reply. I note that his original question was posted 5 years ago.
 
That's really cool! The holder in my car was just a simple clear plastic holder. If you're willing to part with that, please message me. The main reason for my post 5 years ago was that I went to London for a workshop and had hopes of tracking the location down to go there. Timing and such did not make it possible so I'll just have to take another trip over there..... :smile:
 
Silverghost said:
That's really cool! The holder in my car was just a simple clear plastic holder. If you're willing to part with that, please message me. The main reason for my post 5 years ago was that I went to London for a workshop and had hopes of tracking the location down to go there. Timing and such did not make it possible so I'll just have to take another trip over there..... :smile:
Click to expand...
Hello Peter,
It's good to hear from you. Thanks for getting in touch. I don't yet own a Morris, only an engine, gearbox, halfshalf and stacks of other bits and pieces, which I'm stripping down and rebuilding as a project to familiarise myself with as much as possible before the day when I become the proud owner of a complete car.
I want to keep the tax disc holder to use with an old tax disc in the as yet unacquired complete car.
All the best to you.
Kind regards,
Howard
 
YakkoWarner said:
My guess was going to be plastic lamination, but I didn't even see where it was referenced for context
Click to expand...
Hello Yakko,
It was referenced on the back of a British car tax disc holder which was photographed on one of my previous posts.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's a reference to a type of spray painting.
Best regards,
Howard
 
Yes, a paint used "back in the day" but now banned in a lot of places. High volatility and toxic.
 
DrEntropy said:
Yes, a paint used "back in the day" but now banned in a lot of places. High volatility and toxic.
Click to expand...
Hello Dr,
Thank you for that.
I think it must have been "back in the day", as I haven't heard it mentioned in general conversation these days.....................................
I've just phoned our local Autopaint shop and they tell me that it's a solvent based air drying paint product that was mainly used back in the 1970's on Classic cars, but only in plain colours, (not metallic). It was safe to use, if applied using the appropriate protective masks etc.
It is still available for use in the UK today, and doesn't appear to have been banned.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Howard
 
Can't speak for the UK but I don't think the term was used in the US. When acrylic lacquers started getting popular in the '50s, regular lacquer was still around and suppliers started referring to it as cellulose lacquer to differentiate it from the acrylic version. Also, in the owners manual for my 1948 Prefect, there is a reference to its "lacquer" while I have found the original paint ant it certainly appears to be an enamel rather than lacquer. Therefore, I suspect the term refers to painting. Lacquer used a lot of solvent that was released into the atmosphere, both acrylic and cellulose. But as for toxic, it was not nearly so as the modern urethanes.
 
Here in the US, a lot of the materials for paints (for about any application) have been deemed "toxic" by OSHA and other agencies. "Cellulose" (lacquer-based) automotive paints are among them. The use of acrylics took their place. I've known guys who used a brush and the old cellulose lacquers to paint a car, with outstanding results.

Bayless said:
Lacquer used a lot of solvent that was released into the atmosphere, both acrylic and cellulose. But as for toxic, it was not nearly so as the modern urethanes.
Click to expand...

With the "newer" materials, all manner of regulations control who's "allowed" and how the finishes can be applied. "Bunny suits," air regulators, booths with uber-filtration systems... material costs and application means 'n methods have driven the expense of painting a vehicle to astronomical heights. No more "Earl Scheib" $99.95! If it is to be done right, it costs thousands now.

And yes, the "modern" automotive materials are quite toxic.
 
I guess the government's version of toxic is not the same as mine. And you sure could get a beautiful job with the old lacquer with almost any application method. Modern paints sure do stand up a lot longer though and you can still get a beautiful job but it takes a lot more work and maybe even skill.
 
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