Pick O' the World

[Capt.Seaweed]

Guys,
Browsing thru my old book collection last night, these are pre decimal currency price on cover jobs, so they are over 45yrs. old.
For some reason they never printed the date on these, I used to work out age by the car ads on the inside covers, this one going by the Valiant ad is about 1962.
This one had an ad on rear cover for the "Pick O' the World" tackle shop at 195 Hay St. Sydney, was near the old Capital theatre.
Wondering does anyone here remember it, I remember as a teenager in the 60's visiting there, was like an Aladdins cave of tackle, never had the money as a school boy, but loved to look.
Seem to remember an old foreign guy running the place, don't think there'd be too many here old enough to recall. It's long gone as well as the Capitol.
Wouldn't it be great to walk back in now, knowing what we know?
Regards, Tony (Wulagi, NT).

[OLDMAN]

Tony
I remember two tackle stores in that general area, the one you refer to was owned by a Frenchman(i think)

the other was a small store that was packed full of gear...
If it wasn't on show then bob would go "upstairs" and find it.
It was owned and run by Bob Niven and his wife,
then later by his son (Robert i think)
I bought my first seascape from bob


The good o'l days.
Laurie

[Capt.Seaweed]

Laurie,
Good to see I got one bite, the store on Hay St. was mostly old gear (could have been a Frenchman), he had alot of secondhand fishing rods/reels/lures.
More so than a new gear store like the one around the corner on George St. (I'm trying to wrack my feeble brain for the name) started with M, not Mossops,
bugger maybe you remember. Think he was a famous cricketer of the era, big shop had all sports as well as fishing.
I was in my teens in the 60's, until I saw the ad I'd forgotten about it, would love to time travel and walk back in today.
Regards, Tony (Wulagi, NT).

[OLDMAN]

That was Mick Simmons sports store(not just fishing)

[Capt.Seaweed]

Thanks Laurie, that's it Mick Simmons another one no longer around.
Regards, Tony (Wulagi, NT).

[MXB]

Although I am a bit younger I remember going to a shop in Hay St when I first got into fishing about 1975. Can't remember the name of it but it existed into the 1980's when it was closed down. A treasure trove of fishing gear. Mick Simmons may still be there but not sure. They were still there a few years back but no fishing gear. Compleat Angler still in Dymocks Building. Its a different world in Sydney CBD nowadays . . . not many old shops left.

MXB

[OLDMAN]

I cant remember the street names...but I remember both shops faced north,
and Bob Nivens was the small and VERY cluttered shop.
Only family worked there, and all were red heads.
Laurie

[fish69blue]

bought my very first cast net from Bob Niven 40 years ago.I used it to throw over Friget Mackerel at the mouth of the little creek at Hat Head.
Great memories.Regars Barry

[MXB]

I cant remember the street names...but I remember both shops faced north,
and Bob Nivens was the small and VERY cluttered shop.
Only family worked there, and all were red heads.

Thats the shop and yes it faces north on Hay St . . . a cluttered old shop where my Dad took me to buy my first rod and reel. An Abu Cardinal 54 and a Jarvis Walker rod and a couple of Powerod blanks. Also got my first blackfish rod there Powerod ' Blackfish Deluxe', hollow fibreglass w/ cork grips. Still use it today occasionally!

bought my very first cast net from Bob Niven 40 years ago.I used it to throw over Friget Mackerel at the mouth of the little creek at Hat Head.
Great memories

Certainly is good memories of those old shops

MXB

[Marrakai]

This should help those of us with ol'timers disease.....

<click to enlarge>

MickSimmons.jpg

The 84-page fishing catalogue would be a loada laughs today, anyone got a copy...?

I can't remember the Nivens shop ever having a paid advert in the monthlys, but will keep an eye out.