Hickies has been trading in Reading since 1864, but they didn’t open their shop in Friar Street until 1908. The business started out as a piano tuner and repairer, over the years it has expanded to offer records, radios and even Rock instruments. In 1964 Hickies celebrated its 100th year of continued business, with the story being covered in the Reading Standard and Reading Chronicle.
The business took a giant step forward in 1913 when it was purchased by Frank William Elphick. He set up Hickies’ piano repair workshop at 20 London Street, and later radio and television workshop in Chatham Street. In 1958 Frank Elphick retired leaving Hickies to his 3 sons. The store has been under the family’s management ever since, currently in the family’s 3rd generation, with some members of the family having worked there for over 50 years!
Hickies success is, in part, down to their ability to adapt to change. Starting out as a simple piano selling business, it soon incorporated repairs too. As radio and TV grew in popularity Hickies began to sell and rent these items too, and for a while this was its most successful service – during the early post-WW2 years the shop employed 80 staff, many of these repairmen for these new technologies. In the 1950s they expanded again, selling guitars as Rock and Roll swept the country, and by the 1960s it was also selling records. They have provided music tuition for many years, thus encapsulating a world of music and technology under one business.
Hickies has played host to a variety of famous faces over the years. In the 60s several bands such as the Wild Ones, Amboy Dukes, the Movers, Mackandas and the Falcons were frequent visitors to the shop. Even Lenny Henry has made an appearance, as to has actor/musician Alan Fletcher (aka Karl Kennedy from “Neighbours”) whose guitar was fixed by the BBC’s Rogue Traders team!