Now I say a ghost sign but it is still possible that Graham Brothers [Motors] are still in business.
But as a search failed to turn up a reference to them and the front of the building is now a mix of restaurants I suspect they have long gone.
The sign is on Bootle Street which is the working side of one of those grand buildings which offered up offices and shops on the posh side industrial premises at the rear.
Back at the beginning of the last century the entire block was a mix of shops and a restaurant facing Peter Street while the rear was the Packing Warehouse of John Stevenson & Sons, so it is quite possible that at some time in the mid 20th century Graham Brothers occupied a bit of the rear.
And it is a reminder that once the city centre had its fair share of messy businesses which rubbed shoulders with more upmarket ones.
I will continue to go looking for Graham Brothers, and maybe some one will offer up a clue.
We shall see.
And two people have come forward with an answer to the location of the firm.
Just hours after the story went live, David Dolman, commented, "Graham Bros moved to Chester Road Stretford. They were Vauxhall agents, the garage is still there but has changed names a few times. It is now called Arnold Clarkes".
And because the historian in me likes to offer up more sources, Andrew Holland has added "Graham Brothers was a car dealership which relocated to the corner of greatstone Roadd and Chester Roadd. Its still there but under another name. I used". to buy off them. They were still going in the late 80s
Location; Manchester
Pictures; Bootle Street, 2019, from the collection of Andy Robertson and Peters Street, circa 1900, from Goad's Fire Insurance Maps, Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/
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