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Oscars surplus in Toronto
Do any of you Southern Ontario guys remember an Oscars surplus at 270 Spadina Ave in Toronto? I recently bought a box of holsters that originally came thru them.
I did frequent all of the surplus stores when I first went to Borden in 1981, but I don't recall this one. Does anyone remember them and when they closed? Bought a few things from Hero surplus....still have some of them 40 years later. |
#2
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Oscar’s was a typical surplus store in downtown Toronto. It was about 1980 that the store was sold and he moved to an industrial unit in Downsview: Dufferin and Finch area as I recall, where he dealt in wholesale military surplus soft goods. I often went there to pick through the mounds of soft goods. He was an affable dealer, a survivor of tough times in WW2 Europe. As with many surplus dealers he had a wife who hovered in the background in the later years to make sure he didn’t be too generous in his dealings. I still use a drill press branded with his logo: the beginning the importation of Chinese tools that began to come to Canada in the 1980’s. I don’t recall ever knowing his last name.
Last edited by BCA; 17-11-21 at 04:43. |
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Thanks Brian.
The old time surplus stores...sure do miss them. We still have my favorite surplus yard, but the owner can not live forever, and there are no succession plans. |
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Probably Hercules. If so it was on the east side of Yonge Street just north of Wellesley. The building is still there but its army surplus days are long gone. It was a classic with barrels of SMLE's, No.4's, torched Brens and Bars for $15 to $25 apiece. Oddly they had the worst torch cut Sten I've ever seen hung on a hook behind the counter and they wouldn't bring it down, sell it or even let you touch it. Up a wide squeaky wooden staircase and at the back of the second floor were bins of surplus that seemed to get added to weekly.
About three doors down was 'Nicks' who had bundles of NOS '37 pattern web, but only ones side of those L-straps. |
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Long Extinct Surplus Stores
I also remember Save More by Moss Park and King Sol on King Street West. I used to be able to make a day-trip of hitting all of the downtown surplus stores by taking the Voyageur Bus to and from Ottawa. It would be a long day, but worth the time.
I even recall the days when Ottawa had three militaria stores! John's War Surplus in Pembroke was also a pretty good place to find stuff. Last edited by Ed Storey; 17-11-21 at 19:35. Reason: Additional Information |
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You guys are right...Hercules. I bought a no1mk3 barrelled action for $5 or $10, and they had crates of 2" mortar rounds in the varnish for $2 each. Bought a bunch of other things there, but that is what I remember.
I also remember walking around killing time and ended up walking by Levy Auto parts. It was a Saturday so they were closed, but at least I can say "I remember when....." |
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There was also another one on the other side of Yonge near Parliament that had Irving parachute harnesses, Oliver and 1903 Pattern leather bandoleers and once, a Dalton dead reckoning computer. |
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I seem to recall Hercules had an artillery rangefinder for around $300 near the front entrance. Way too rich for me back then...that was two weeks pay. Even today I would not expect to spend a lot more than that.
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