Since 1992 we had been stockists of all titles published by the Southdown Enthusiasts Club, satisfying regular orders for these publications, both online, postally and though our events stall at a variety of about 30 events each year in Southern England. Since April 2009 we decided for a variety of reasons, to eventually cease being a stockist therefore what stock remains is for online sales only. Bear in mind the Southdown Enthusiasts Club has never offered anything but a postal service, no online sales and what other trade stockists there are, these do not offer the whole range of titles. The club attend few events.
Dinnages have in addition a good number of titles long out of print, therefore offered to our online customers at a slightly premium price as any good book does incur, for hard to find booklets, we would say almost exclusively. Occasionally the odd Southdown Enthusiasts Club booklet can be found at auction, they are infrequent except for the annual fleet book.
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.
These 'Out of Print' titles the publisher 'The Southdown Enthusiasts Club' no longer having any of these in stock themselves, 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 as we say many First Editions of any publishers book obtain a premium against any later editions.
We had decided to cease stocking this Clubs publications as of the 10th June 2009, even though we were one of the few trade who bought more than just the Fleet List and History Booklets available. Due to apparent help and assistence the webmaster of this online store and stallholder was given honary membership of the club, however it would appear this was withdrawn sometime around the 18th May 2009 after about a period of ten years.
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 had decided to move on anyway 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.
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 library 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.
