The Great Gold Rush
As a kid growing up in Hanley there was a tried and tested formula that could strike gold; check the backs of the settee for fallen shrapnel. You would never know what you might find.
Talking of nuggets, there is one industry booming in the poverty stricken city of Stoke on Trent. The Pawn broking business.
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The Money Shop, Market Street, Bradford. There are identical shops nationwide with one in Stafford Street, Hanley where folk are rushing to cash in their gold. Image: Betty Longbottom
Mushrooming all over the country these yellow in colour modern-day pawn shops are a far cry from the old Dickensian establishments (although Dickens would have had a wealth of story lines to choose from in today's 'Golden' Era).
Curiously, (Hard Times or not) hock shops are doing brisk business as hard up people all over the city rush to cash in their gold.
8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!
Terms:
8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!
Contact: 01782 342609
Valid until: Saturday, June 01 2013
On the up side, gold is fetching a great price, and if you decide to take your trinkets into a pawn shop you will know you will be getting a better price if the staff use that little eye piece called the 'Jewellers Loop' to inspect the wares (up to £90 more).
If one then agrees to sell they will need to fill in a short form and produce identification like a bank card.
Yet if the gold has a precious stone embedded into it the value will not increase. The price you will be given is for the weight and carat of the gold only.
If your precious stone is large in size, one of the established jewellers could send it off to Birmingham for you to have it valued-for a mere £55.
It seems there is money to be made in the Great Gold Rush.
Comments
by Alberus
Monday, January 14 2013, 1:31PM
“Erbert87...This was an old landfill site at Sideway, Stoke in the Fifties. Sometimes we got lucky on the first visit, but more often than not it would take a few times to find anything, but hey, a sixpence was a sixpence in those days. The popular name for these grid "deposits" was the "Muckruck".”
by FFDP1
Monday, January 14 2013, 10:17AM
“A robbers delight.”
by Erbert87
Sunday, January 13 2013, 7:20PM
“Crumbs Alberus, that takes the biscuit. Where was all this sludge dumped and how long did it usually take to find an item of worth?”
by stokepotter
Sunday, January 13 2013, 7:02PM
“Only Gordon Brown could turn boom into bust when he sold our gold reserves for peanuts.”
by jonesystoke
Sunday, January 13 2013, 4:29PM
“At CEX in Hanley there's always a large queue. I've been in this line a couple of times when one of the cashiers has shouted - "can people buying come to this till please" and I've been the only person buying!
As someone above's already said - a shame :(”
by Alberus
Sunday, January 13 2013, 10:17AM
“Never mind the back of settees. When I was a kid me and my mates went down the tip where the street grid wagons unloaded their sludge. When we we raked around in this crud we often found coins and other sundry objects that had rolled down the grids. Can't see today's kids doing that somehow.”
by Socialisteye
Sunday, January 13 2013, 10:00AM
“Good article. This is the reality of life in these times. Austerity and poverty in a so-called advanced country like Britain. Shame”
by Anon_mow_cop
Saturday, January 12 2013, 10:16PM
“I happen to notice the lowlife always hanging around these shops when I am in Hanley. It was just like when I was in San Franciso a few months ago, yep, all the dregs of society outside the pawnbrokers there as well.”
by stokeandvale
Saturday, January 12 2013, 7:24PM
“Is the same Clown that also said "NO MORE BOOM & BUST" ?”
by DoctorDo
Saturday, January 12 2013, 5:46PM
“What a pity Gordon Brown didn't wait a while instead of selling our gold reserves when the gold price was at its lowest for decades. Any clown could see that the price would eventually rise again.
Except of course the clown running the nation's finances.”