| AdminHistory | Frank Conway was born on 4 July 1919 to Harry and Millie Cohen. His shop was registered in 1948 as 'Frank Conway Warehouseman', later as Conway Automatics and Conway Trading Company. Based at 7 Toynbee Street, he sold swag (end of lines), ball gum and bubble gum and other automatic machines, had a round of juke boxes in cafes and clubs, sold music records and (from 1960) hired out roulette tables.
The shop closed after Frank's passing on 2 December 1966. It remained empty and derelict until the Toynbee Street redevelopment scheme in 2010s. In 2011 the consultation outlined that 7 Toynbee Street would be preserved. Conway Automatics ceased trading and was wound up in 1970. The Conway Trading Company was continued by Stuart Stewart, a second cousin who was in the hosiery business and opened premises at 15 Toynbee Street.
Frank and his wife Mimi had a market stall from the mid 1940s in Petticoat Lane / Middlesex Street on Sunday and Wentworth and Toynbee Streets in the week. Items sold included curtaining materials, hair brushes, combs and creams, boots, footballer and popstar cards and pictures. His brother and sister-in-law Hilda and Alf also ran the stalls. Frank also auctioneered in Commercial Street / Petticoat Lane selling items including chocolates. The stall in Petticoat Lane continued until 1991.
Alan Conway undertook research and compiled these records in 2011-2012 from memorabilia in his care. |