From having a Wimpy to eating pizza at Dino's: Things you used to be able to do in Glasgow

We asked Times Past readers on our Glasgow Times History Facebook page for their favourite city memories of things long gone but not forgotten.

Here’s a round-up of the best – and if these spark any recollections for you, get in touch to share your stories and photos.

Email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG – or join in the fun at Glasgow Times History on Facebook.

1 Shop at the Clyde Model Dockyard.

Generations of Glasgow children will remember pressing their wee faces up against the window of this Argyll Arcade institution, which was established in 1789.

If you wanted the latest Hornby train set or Dinky car, if you were a fan of Airfix models and Meccano sets, this toy shop was the place to go. Advertised as “the shop of a thousand toys for boys” in an era when that was considered an acceptable slogan, there were nonetheless plenty of young Glasgow lasses interested in what was on sale, from doll’s house furniture to model railway accessories. In November 1971, Wilson Taylor, 75, who had bought the shop in 1935, announced it was to close because rates had quadrupled to £3740 in the space of five years.

2 Bend a penny on the tram rails.

Don’t try this at home, obviously, but at the last tram procession in 1962, lots of people put pennies on the rails to get them flattened by the passing ‘caur’ and ensure they had a souvenir of the day. Anyone still got one of those?

3 Go dancing at the Locarno

Glasgow was the city of dance during the post-war decades, and many of the old ballrooms live long in the memories of our readers. The Locarno was a particular favourite. The Sauchiehall Street venue was one of around 30 licensed dance halls in the city in the 50s, a higher proportion per population “than anywhere else in the British Isles”, according to our newspaper. “The standard of dancing was considered, up till 1940, the best in Britain,” we reported in 1958.  “Experts now say that the standard has deteriorated because of such ‘foreign’ influences as the arrival of American soldiers and sailors.”

4 Have a pizza at Dino’s

It was a sad day when Dino’s on Sauchiehall Street closed its doors. It had been a much-loved part of the city’s food and drink scene for more than 50 years when it served up its last pizza on Monday, March 17, 2014.

The original restaurant was set up at number 10 Sauchiehall Street by Swiss-Italian Francis Ferrari in the 60s. It was later acquired by Dino Baldi, and the name was changed to Dino Ferrari. Later, it moved to 35-41 Sauchiehall Street, where it remained for more than 30 years. Assistant manager Tony Crolla summed up the feelings of many staff and customers as he prepared for the final days of trading. “There’s a lot of history in here, and so many people thought it would last forever,” he said. “Nobody expected it to end.”

5 Get your Lux products - and a hair cut - at Pettigrew & Stephens

In 1914, this grand department store on Sauchiehall Street was the largest in Scotland, selling clothes, millinery, confectionery, carpets, furniture, ironmongery and china. It even had its own hairdresser and of course, a stylish tearoom for the ladies who lunched. You could also take advantage of regular demonstrations, such as this one, pictured, in which housewives learned which Lux products would best look after their delicate garments. In 1952, the store went into voluntary liquidation and its business was merged with House of Fraser.

6 Have a Wimpy

Ah, the fast food restaurant which provided table service, plates AND cutlery as you tucked into burgers and chips and knickerbocker glories – who remembers the Wimpy burger chain? At its height in the late 60s and early 70s, this was big burger business with a local café vibe, and at its height, it had 500 restaurants across the UK, including this one in Union Street in Glasgow. There are still a few around but the arrival of McDonald’s and Burger King put paid to most of them here in the city and around Scotland.