A FAMILY-RUN business in Helensburgh is celebrating 80 years in business.

Manderson’s has seen three generations of the family work at the electrical store and they have witnessed numerous changes in technology over the years.

Daniel Manderson founded the electronics retail and repair shop at 62 East Clyde Street in 1936, which installed electricity into homes and sold and maintained radios.

It soon became apparent that the business was growing and to expand, Daniel went on to purchase the space next door at 64 East Clyde Street, which specialised in sales and repairs of radios and then subsequently televisions.

Some years later, when business was booming, he went on to purchase an additional property at 81 West Clyde Street which specialised in the sale of small electrical appliances and light fittings.

Once Daniel retired, the East Clyde Street shop was run by his son Ian Manderson, and the West Clyde Street store by his daughter Phylis Manderson.

Today the business trades only from the shop at 81 West Clyde Street and is run by Kenneth Manderson, Daniel’s only grandchild.

Kenneth has worked in the shop for 40 years, and he told The Advertiser how things have changed.

He said: “I was always around the shop as a child. It just seemed a natural progression to work in the shop and train as a TV engineer when I left school.

“There have been many changes to the business in my 40 years of working. We now live in a disposable culture, with many of the smaller electrical goods being replaced rather than repaired.

“With the evolution of technology over the years the business is always changing. We now focus on the sales of TV and radio, with aerial and satellite installations. We continue to stock a large supply of various light bulbs but no longer sell lamps and shades.”

Kenneth spoke of how, like any small business, the store had had its ups and downs over the years but he was proud that it was still a family business.

He added: “I feel proud that the family business started by my grandfather 80 years ago continues to trade three generations later.

“We have had our ups and downs but I am grateful to my many loyal customers and the people of Helensburgh who continue to support small local businesses.

“The store has grown and changed from charging accumulator batteries for radios in the 1930s to selling the latest internet-based televisions in 2016.”

The shop has grown and adapted over the years to suit the changes in technology and not only are they celebrating 80 years in business but the success of a family business still run by a Manderson.