ROMANYS
Written by James Ward
I took these photos ages ago (March 22 2009 according to Flickr), but this morning, I went passed a hardware shop and I was reminded of them.
Romanys is a hardware shop on Brewer Street in Soho. Note that there are two doors, both numbered 51:
The display in the window is quite beautiful. It consists of a wide range of their products, mounted onto boards, with a label stating the name of each product neatly printed in block capitals.
I am always impressed by the range of penknives Romanys have on display in their window.
The Ambassador, the Tinker, the Waiter and the Spartan:
The Mini-Champ and the Sportsman:
The Excelsior, the Recruit and the Climber:
The Camper and the Tourist:
EDIT: It’s only looking at these photos again now, a year and a half after they were taken, that I’ve noticed the other items in the background. “1978 Fanlight Catch”, “Brighton Fastener”, “Fitch Catch Fastener”, “Buffer Hook”, “75MM Hasp And Staple, “Table Forks”. I need to go back and investigate more closely.
JAMES WARD: I LIKE BORING THINGS 
It’s funny, half those knives could see you arrested and thrown in prison as soon as you leave the shop, but they are still allowed to sell them. Crazy times
Forget the knives; just let me look at the whole picture of the Brighton Fastener (or Brighton Catch, as I love to call it). I have Brass Brighton Catches on all my box sash windows, new and original… All, with the exception of a Chrome Brighton Catch in the new bathroom; all the fittings in there are chrome. Attention to detail, James; attention to detail.
Please, if you return on your pilgrimage to view the other pieces, please take me in spirit.
Ian
Next time I’m there, I’ll take a proper picture of the Brighton Fastener/Catch.
These are all classic Victorinox knives – the company that provides the Swiss army.