In the mid fifties through the mid sixties a friend ran a MODEL AND HOBBY SHOP/ Small appliances repair shop in a
Chicago suburb; in addition to trains, planes and cars he repaired small appliances. He had, of course, a source for parts. He told to me once that his livelyhood depended on fixing toasters, irons, can openers, etc. The models and hobbies were for fun; he taught a lot of us about building, fixing and operating models as well as equipment through the models we kids bought. I really doubt he could survive doing that today. How many of those shops exist today? Sad times, JimM