Cars and record shops (part 3)
Cars and record shops (part 3)
As a lad The Guvnor’s summer holidays were often spent in Porthmadog and during those sunny days many hours were spent in Cob Records. And after five or six years away a Cob Records visit was way, way overdue.
The newly-serviced Trooper was pressed into service: with so much work carried out a decent shakedown run would be the best way of ironing out any faults. Hopefully there would be none.
A trip from Carmarthenshire to Snowdonia takes in some of the most stunning views to be found in Britain: take the A482 out of Lampeter, pick up the B4337 and be amazed by the views of the sea and especially when, on a good day, you’ll just about catch the Llyn Peninsula. And as the A470 heads and passes Dolgellau Snowdonia’s seen in all its glory, and especially from the Trooper’s more proud seating.
But that’s almost an aside because this trip was all about Cob Records. It’s still the same, and that’s no bad thing, because the shop’s still rammed with vinyl and CDs. Founded in 1967 and still going strong its reputation was established in the early 1970s offering a mail order service for overseas customers: it says by 1971 it was sending out, on average, 7500 LPs a week to its 25,000-strong customer base.
It’s pleasing to go back to a shop and find not only is it still going, it’s as good as you remembered it ,and that was the case here. With a trio of CDs bought and a promise to be back soon the mighty Isuzu headed off down south, taking the Harlech and Barmouth road and intending to head on to Fairbourne.
But we didn’t. Heading out of Barmouth the intention was to take the wooden Penmaenpwll toll bridge (£1) and carry on hugging the coast as long as possible. But as the toll bridge came into the view that splendid sight was accompanied by a sudden rattle that simply wouldn’t go. That sound was joined by copious amounts of steam and lifting the bonnet wasn’t a pretty sight, the whole engine bay covered in water.
The cause? Hands up who said seized water pump, because that’s the right answer. Heat, there was plenty, progress, there was none. The AA was called and couldn’t be more helpful, sending out Chris from Bradley’s of Barmouth. Top man – a proper technician who knew his onions and lent us a Hyundai i20 courtesy car to get home. And we’ll be going back to find out more about this long-established business.
Meanwhile the Trooper was loaded on to a trailer and brought back to Pwll’s S and S Autos for putting right. And it was hard to miss the irony of Bradley’s tow truck being an Isuzu D-Max….
1 Comment
I cannot tell you how many fantastic records I bought in Cob back in the 80s and 90s- it was like the record shop version of Flip clothes shop in Long Acre! I’d come out with bags and bags of stuff that I still own and love now! So glad to hear it is still going. Any chance of a “record sleeve pictured with appropriate car” photo thread?