Up until April 2009 we were satisfying regular orders for these publications, both online, postally and though our stall at a variety of about 30 events each year in Southern England, although there are now few available in stock left just for our online sales. Bear in mind the Southdown Enthusiasts Club as yet still does not offer an online service or any payments by card. Current titles are available here while our stock remains, as none of these booklets are on back order. The online store stock control is only a guide, so on occasions a booklet may show Out of Stock one day and back in the next, coming from our book warehouse and showroom, not to be confused with previously a constant restock of current titles.
We still also hold a number of the older titles which are properly classed as 'Out of Print' being that the publisher 'The Southdown Enthusiasts Club' no longer have any of these in stock themselves, and unless they make a reprint at a later date, could not sell in any case quantities of first editions, more a reprint or revised version. Many early publications were in 'typewriter' text, and many First Editions of any publisher obtain a premium against any later editions.
During our annual accounts for 2008-2009 we looked back and found we actually started sales of booklets published by the Southdown Enthusiasts Club way back in 1992, not 1997 as previously thought! We had decided to cease stocking this Clubs publications as of the 10th June 2009. We were one of the few trade who bought more than just the Fleet List and History Booklets available. So some 18 years later there is an obvious drop in trade sales due to this change. The webmaster of this online store and stallholder is still an honary member of the club, maybe as kind reward for the variety of help over the previous years, both for promoting the club, sales, and the club stall set/break downs when few helpers in attendance. Our sales stand visits far more events in the South than either of 'The Southdown Enthusiasts Club' and 'Maidstone & District and East Kent Bus Club' therefore providing such additional publicity.
The family team of Dinnages have decided to move on and change direction on what we can provide enthusiasts in the forthcoming years, making sales in the future to better provide transport enthusiasts whether of Southdown, Brighton, or any other transport operator past or present. Our main aim is to be much more active in publishing our exclusive photograph library and even consider drawing on knowledge in time with others to collate together and publish similar ideas on transport operators ourselves, along similar lines of the other small publishers booklets we carry, using them and our extensive library as inspiration. For the time being views can only be purchased via our Monthly Newsletter, follow the link top left of every store page, plus a selection of views are shown here.
The Southdown Enthusiasts Club particularly covers the current and former operations of Southdown Motor Services, Stagecoach South, and Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company as the major current operators in Sussex. This is actually the core coverage of our own photographic library based on original negatives and slides of which the majority of could never have been associated in any way to the Southdown Enthusiasts Club own photo circuit. We keep very accurate records of where our original material has been obtained from, therefore very detailed labels are provided on the reverse of our prints. We welcome any queries as to the authenticity of our own images and thier source.
The Maidstone & District and East Kent Bus Club also covers Stagecoach as an overlap although does cover more of the Kent based operators. In addition to their booklets, our photograph sales can be found five times a year on our stall at the Maidstone Vintage Toy Fair. Details can be found on the internet for the location and dates or contact us for more information.
Our policy change will not affect our sales of the Maidstone & District and East Kent Bus Club publications which have since only taking these to stock in 2007 have increased in sales tremendously, with both ourselves and the club having to make reprints at more frequent intervals to satisfy demand. In support of this club the owner of this online shop has now become a paid up member in order to keep up to date with any East Sussex and Kent vehicle and operator news.
A point to note that, the use of any logo, image or text taken from any of those publications listed is purely in order to assist in the sales of these publications just as other internet and online traders undertake to bring products of interest to potential buyers. Therefore this online shop is in no way whatsover part of, financially involved in, or in any direct assistence of the Southdown Enthusiasts Club and its publications or its photo circuit, therefore does not imply in any way such as 'passing off' for the club on this site if it might appear to be by any of the visiting public, therefore we claim only to use the images and name of the club in 'fair use' so as to sell the remains of our stock.
