Hardware Shop Collection

Unidentified hardware store, Ungaria, between 1895 and 1910. Creator: Unknown
Unidentified hardware store, Ungaria, between 1895 and 1910

Men on "Skid Row", Modesto, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Men on "Skid Row." Modesto, California

The town square of Memphis, Texas, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
The town square of Memphis, Texas. [Grocery store, jeweller's, Auto Body Glass & Top Shop, burger shop, Piggly Wiggly, barber's shop]

Men on "Skid Row", Modesto, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Men on "Skid Row." Modesto, California

Men on "Skid Row", Modesto, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Men on "Skid Row." Modesto, California

Billboard on U.S. Highway 99 in California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Billboard on U.S. Highway 99 in California. National advertising campaign sponsored by National Association of Manufacturers

Lower Richmond Road OFH01_01_01_f08_05
Lower Richmond Road, Putney, Wandsworth, Greater London. The view looking east along Lower Richmond Road (then Windsor Street)

Grocery store, Mt. Orab, Ohio, Route 74, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
[Grocery store, Mt. Orab, Ohio, Route 74]

General store interior, Moundville, Alabama, 1936. Creator: Walker Evans
General store interior. Moundville, Alabama. [Advertisements for Coca-Cola and fertiliser; loaded shells; paraffin lamps; fruit jars; crockery; baking trays; rope; sacks of self-raising flour; boxes

Hardware store, Silver City, North Carolina, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Hardware store. Silver City, North Carolina

Small town shop front, Louisiana, 1936. Creator: Walker Evans
Small town shop front. Louisiana

Westgate, Guisborough, North Yorkshire. 1st October 1954

Windsor Street, junction with Lynch, Lenos store Uxbridge, Greater London, Circa 1929

The man who tied up the best defences in Britain settles for wrapping up a kettle... Aston villa footballer, Johnny Dixon, in his new shop. 2nd September 1968

Ironmongers shop on Carnaby Street, London, 1944
Ironmongers shop on 37 Carnaby Street, London, 1944. A man looks at the window display in an ironmongers shop with buckets, lengths of hose and other items on the pavement and hung from hooks

Mackridges ironmongers shop, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, 1962. Artist: Michael Walters
Mackridges ironmongers shop, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, 1962. A traditional ironmongers shop in Wombwell, a small mining village near Barnsley

Twist your arm for an order, 1967. Artist: Michael Walters
Twist your arm for an order, 1967. A Stanley Tools rep uses a little gentle persuasion to secure an order

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Step into the world of hardware shops, where tools and supplies await to fulfill your DIY dreams. From bustling grocery stores turned hardware havens in Ohio to quaint general stores in Alabama, these snapshots from the past transport us back to a time when craftsmanship reigned supreme. In 1942 or 1943, on Lower Richmond Road OFH01_01_01_f08_05, John Vachon captured the essence of a small-town hardware shop nestled amidst the aisles of a grocery store in Mt. Orab, Ohio. As Route 74 bustled outside, customers perused shelves stocked with hammers and nails alongside fresh produce. Meanwhile, Walker Evans' lens transported us to Moundville, Alabama in 1936. Inside a charming general store interior, locals gathered for their daily essentials while eyeing the array of tools adorning wooden shelves. The air was filled with anticipation as they envisioned their next projects taking shape. Dorothea Lange's lens took us further back in time to Silver City, North Carolina in 1939. Here we found ourselves immersed within an old-fashioned hardware store that stood as a testament to resilience and resourcefulness during challenging times. Walker Evans returned once more through his camera's viewfinder; this time capturing Louisiana's small town charm in 1936. A simple yet inviting shopfront beckoned passersby with promises of quality goods and friendly service—a haven for those seeking solutions for their everyday needs. Across the pond on Carnaby Street in London during war-torn 1944 stood an ironmongers shop—an oasis amidst chaos—captured by an unknown artist who sought solace amid adversity. Fast forward to Michael Walters' portrayal of Mackridges ironmongers shop in Wombwell, South Yorkshire during1962—a nostalgic glimpse into simpler times when personal connections were forged over discussions about nuts and bolts. Walters continued his artistic journey through time, capturing the essence of a bygone era in 1967.