Patrick Thomson's

Edinburgh Studio

I have not found any entries in the Edinburgh trade directories for photography at the department store, Patrick Thomson's, at North Bridge.  This store is close to the junction of North Bridge and the High Street.

However, the advert below for Polyfotos at Patrick Thomson's appeared in the Evening Dispatch newspaper in 1958.

Polyfotos

The advert above was placed in the Evening Dispatch in November 1958 by PTs (Patrick Thomson's store at North Bridge).  It is the only advert for photography that I have seen from PTs.

Polyfotos were popular in the 1950s.  Forty-eight different small photos, often of children,  were contact printed onto a single sheet, then the best would be chosen to be enlarged..

Not just Polyfotos

Thank you to Alex Dow for telling me more about Patrick Thomson, photographers.

Alex wrote:

Photographers

"I just noticed the posting about PT's Polyfoto Studio.

At some period during WW2 and probably previously, PT's had a conventional photo studio, as I remember having at least one photo taken there.

Patrick Thomson's

My late aunt, Helen Tant, worked in the Counting House of PT's; and as a result it was one of the bigger stores we occasionally frequented.

There was a music trio usually playing in the restaurant.

In early 1945, I first encountered a pomegranate in the restaurant, as a treat.

PT's also had a Hairdressing Salon.  Such facilities were not uncommon in the Department stores of that period.

Allan's Store

I remember that there were regular marionette shows at one of the Allan's stores on South Bridge."

Alex Dow, Fife, Scotland, August 17+20, 2007

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