Electrical Showroom, 68-70, Talbot Road, Blackpool

The opening of the handsome new premises of Messrs. R. Darbyshire, Ltd., in Talbot-road, marks 
another stage in the romantic rise of this well, known firm of electrical and radio engineers. Fifteen years ago, this business was started in a little shop in Cheapside. Continued progress has now culminated in huge premises, which are the last word in modernity, in one of Blackpool's busiest thoroughfares. Four storeys nigh, with 15,000 square feet of floor space, the new building will bring about, the centralisation of the business. When finally completed the one building will comprise showrooms, workshops, storerooms, offices, and a wholesale department fronting Upper Talbot-street.

Designed by Mr. Halsted Best FRIBA, FSI, the new premises, with their imposing frontage in stainless steel and cream and green glass. are a. tribute to the faith of the founder, who launched the business when wireless and the electrical appliance trade were in their infancy. Since the days of that little shop in Cheapside—then Back Clifton-street— the name of Darbyshire has always been to the forefront throughout Blackpool and the Fylde.  The two big windows flanking the main entrance are surmounted by the name of the firm in bold letters of stainless steel. The interior of the shop itself has been planned in the same up-to-the-minute fashion. There is no crowding of the many and varied articles for sale, bub each is immediately accessible. From the ceiling hang electric lighting fittings, which compel attention by their novelty and beauty. Many of them are on. view for the first time outside London. Each set of fittings is completely wired. and customers can at once gauge how this or that would appear in their own premises.

SHOWROOMS - From the shop one walks over soft carpets to spacious oak panelled showrooms. Generous window space of vita-glass gives each showroom a bright, cheerful appearance, even in the dullest weather. A speciality showroom will be devoted to exhibitions from time to time. The offices, storerooms and workshops have been planned on the same spacious lines. An electric lift will connect the workshop with the ground floor. A striking feature of the completed building will be the Exide battery station. This new development will be a boon to motorists and other battery users requiring quick and efficient service. ….

Specialists in shop fronts and fittings, Messrs. J. and R. Fenton, of Caunce Street, Blackpool. have been the main contractors for the scheme. and have carried out all the steelwork, brickwork and joinery. The beautiful frontage of the shop is a tribute to their workmanship. Messrs. Bateson’s, of 15, Talbot-road, the well-known firm of drapers, furnishers and upholsterers,' were the contractors for the floor coverings, which are such an attractive feature of the premises. To Messrs. Beaumont and Parkinson, Ltd., designers and workers on glass, of Elizabeth-street, was entrusted the designing and execution of the leaded light windows. They also supplied both the clear and opaque glass. Messrs. Ormerod’s (Blackpool), Ltd., of Talbot-road, have also been contractors for floor coverings. The intricate wiring arrangements required to demonstrate the multitude of fittings have been done with Johnson and Phillips cables. [Blackpool Times 29 September 1933 page 8]

Reference    Blackpool Times 29 September 1933 page 8