Anyone know any recent history of this famous name from Birkenhead. There's not much on Google but I did see a link to an insolvency meeting in 1980. Surely they did not go bust that long ago??
HI, when i left school in 1975 my first job was working for beno-dorn,s the tailors in grange rd west [the old deaf school}. MY job was apprentice tailor my boss mr beno dorn worked for hyman jacobs then left to open his own tailoring buisness well before mr hymans closed his around i think? 1980/1981??. Then we were all made redundant in 1980 from beno-dorn,s he had shops in liverpool/birkenhead x2/ and chester.We had some happy times and memories in the b/head shop.
Hymie Jacobs had a reputation for making really good suits, don't think I could afford his prices - I got my last tailor made suit from Alexandre in Grange Road. He and most of the other tailors of his day all sold made to measure suits, you went in and got measured up, went back for a fitting and the suit was made individually for you, but of course you had to pay for the service. They were killed off when made to measure suits sold by the likes of C & A and M & S became more customer friendly and you could mix and match the jacket and trouser sizes because off the peg suits were much cheaper than tailor made.
The reason I asked is that I've just bought a HJ suit from Age Concern shop in Hoylake. It looks like the guy who had it must have died on the day he got it because it is in pristine condition! 100% wool and quite heavy and very well made! I suppose it must be more than 30 years old if HJ went out of business in the early eighties?
hi, Was there any old 5 or 10 or 20 pound note,s in the pockets?. When beno-dorns closed his shop in liverpool north john street in 1978/79 i was in the shop cleaning out the shop on my own i found a big metal box full of some rare army badges cloth/metal they must have done uniforms in the war? anyway me being honest i asked the manager who at the time was walter smith mp {wirral} could i have them he said no!. They ended up going the tip anyway what a shame! all those rare badges.
Last edited by mikethetrainman; 18th Oct 201110:46am.
I'm pretty sure my mate got his first Merchant naval uniform off Hymie, his first job was on one of the Empress boats and he had to dress for dinner. 4th engineer which made him officer class.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Hymie's shop was in Grange Road where the new Asda shop is. In the late 50's he moved over to the other side of the road by Bibby and Perkins. It was an expensive item a made to measure suit but they were well made. I bought my wedding suit from Hymie in 1960 and I still have it although I only wear it now for funerals and there are too many of thoes!
I bought a made to measure suit off Hymie in 1968.Its a black one which i got for a funeral and still have it{yes for funerals} Then the next two also made to measure where off the tailor who's shop was directly opposit Halmington square station. {heads getting to old to remember the name of the shop.}
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
My mum was left a house in a will and the lady who pass it on to my mum used to date him,He used to have a green jaguer which he pick the young lady up.We would be sitting on the edge of the kerb outside my parent house.looking at this posh car.Back in them days it was rare to see a jaguer.Must have been in the 70s
I bought my first bespoke suit from Hymy when I came out of the army in 1959.I went back in 1960 for my wedding suit which cost £30gns,I was earning about £10 a week at Lairds.I remember going for a fitting and trying on the half made jacket,Hymy tore off one of the lapels he was not happy with, nothing left the shop until Hymy was satisfied.You did not go to Hyman Jacobs if you wanted a suit tomrrow or even next week.Those were the days when we all wore a suit when we went out ,even to the local.
Had my first suit from Hepworths in Grange road and only had one more made to measure suit after that for my wedding. Luckily after that the wife's cousin used to pass along some of his tailored suits as he was a salesman and used to buy a new one every 6 months
I was taken to Hyman Jacobs to collect a coat, I cannot remember if it was a jacket or an overcoat, I was aged about 6 or 7, I do not remember being measured only collecting the coat, once outside the shop, dad told me to look through the pockets, and I found a Sixpence. 80 some years later, I still remember that moment. What a great to way to plant a memory!!! A fantastic tailor and salesman.
Last edited by OldGuy; 21st May 20239:33pm. Reason: missed out a letter