Now if you are a certain age and watched 1950s television, the chances are you will remember the American TV series “Have Gun Will Travel”.
It was according to one source, the adventures of a man called Paladin" who was named after one of the warriors in Charlemagne's court.
“Paladin is a gentleman gunfighter who travels around the Old West working as a mercenary gunfighter for people who hire him to solve their problems for them. Although Paladin will charge steep fees to clients who can afford to hire him, typically US$1000 per job, he will provide his services for free to poor people who need his help. Like many westerns, the television show was set during a nebulous period after the Civil War.”*
It aired in the United States in 1957 and ran until 1963, and at some point in the early ‘60s it was shown on British TV.
I can’t now remember any of the episodes but the title has stuck with me, partly because for a long time it was a catch phrase.
And as such was adapted for the advert ....... “Have Gear Can Travel” which appeared in the Eagle comic in the August of 1962.
This I know because my friend Tricia found the comic on eBay, bought it, and sent it up from London.
It will have been a copy I will have read and that makes it a bit special.
But over and above that, it will also have been a product which was familiar to Ken Foster’s dad who opened his cycle shop in Chorlton in the mid 1950s.
Ken still runs the business from Barlow Moor Road and I rather hope he likes the advert.
I know I love the name of the firm who made it the “The mighty atom-a gearbox in a hub”. They were Sturmey Archer who were established in 1902 by Henry Sturmey and James Archer. The firm last through the last century until in 2000 the assets and trade mark were sold Sun Race of Taiwan.
So, yes a silly story, but one that allowed me to remember a favourite TV western, and to mention my friends Tricia and Ken.
So that is it.
Location; 1962
Pictures; advert from The Eagle, Vol 13 no.32 August 11 1962
*“Have Gun Will Travel” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_Gun_%E2%80%93_Will_Travel
“Paladin is a gentleman gunfighter who travels around the Old West working as a mercenary gunfighter for people who hire him to solve their problems for them. Although Paladin will charge steep fees to clients who can afford to hire him, typically US$1000 per job, he will provide his services for free to poor people who need his help. Like many westerns, the television show was set during a nebulous period after the Civil War.”*
It aired in the United States in 1957 and ran until 1963, and at some point in the early ‘60s it was shown on British TV.
And as such was adapted for the advert ....... “Have Gear Can Travel” which appeared in the Eagle comic in the August of 1962.
This I know because my friend Tricia found the comic on eBay, bought it, and sent it up from London.
It will have been a copy I will have read and that makes it a bit special.
But over and above that, it will also have been a product which was familiar to Ken Foster’s dad who opened his cycle shop in Chorlton in the mid 1950s.
Ken still runs the business from Barlow Moor Road and I rather hope he likes the advert.
So, yes a silly story, but one that allowed me to remember a favourite TV western, and to mention my friends Tricia and Ken.
So that is it.
Location; 1962
Pictures; advert from The Eagle, Vol 13 no.32 August 11 1962
*“Have Gun Will Travel” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_Gun_%E2%80%93_Will_Travel
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