Bristow: Gun & Fames

Gun and Fames make something that C-Ps buy. We know this because on the rare occasions that Bristow chases up a purchase order it tends to be with Gun and Fames. The very first supplier that Bristow was seen urging an order on was Myles & Rudge, then Jenson and Benson, and Lagos and Lagge (Why all suppliers must have two names is not clear). But in 1967 G & F seem to have become the main supplier to C-Ps. Bristow has been chasing them ever since. He can deliver magnificent waves of invective over the phone or write grossly insulting letters that lead to long chains of correspondence.

It has to be said that G&F staff are as about as interested in selling to C-Ps as Bristow is to buy from them and regard his orders as the equivalent of the school bell sounding playtime -

Strip 2256 was published in the Evening Standard in May 1968 and in Bristow (1970) and in Bristow's Guide to Living

. If he phones them he spends a long time while the man at the other end appeals for silence from his colleagues, turns off the radio, confiscates the ball they are kicking about etc. If he urges an order using strong language, they would much rather reply with a harshly-worded letter, probably encrypted or written in invisible ink, than actually deliver the goods. Of course Fudge on the phone with a "This is the Chief Buyer speaking" produces a gulp at the other end and a promise of immediate delivery.

If Bristow does manage to get through to the right man (when he foolishly asks to be put through to his opposite number, the squeaky voice at the other end will say "Tea-boy speaking") he will be distracted with compliments about his magnificent speaking voice ("Gather round lads, it's Mr. Bristow") or met with fancy stories about how hard the man at the other end is working on the current order (overtime, weekends, holidays abandoned...).

Recently the happy-go-lucky mood of the sales staff has darkened. From a strip on frankdickens.com in November 2003 we find these comments about Bristow:-

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Gun and Fames Ltd
	Gun and Fames make something that C-Ps buy. We know this because on the rare occasions that Bristow chases up a purchase order it tends to be with Gun and Fames. The very first supplier that Bristow was seen urging an order on was Myles & Rudge, then Jenson and Benson, and Lagos and Lagge (Why all suppliers must have two names is not clear). But in 1967 G & F seem to have become the main supplier to C-Ps. Bristow has been chasing them ever since. He can deliver magnificent waves of invective over the phone or write grossly insulting letters that lead to long chains of correspondence. Strip 4349 was published in the Evening Standard in March 1975 and in Bristow Latest from where this scan was taken. One up to Bristow as Gun & Fames' finest are baffled. It has to be said that G&F staff are as about as interested in selling to C-Ps as Bristow is to buy from them and regard his orders as the equivalent of the school bell sounding playtime - Strip 2256 was published in the Evening Standard in May 1968 and in Bristow (1970) and in Bristow's Guide to Living . If he phones them he spends a long time while the man at the other end appeals for silence from his colleagues, turns off the radio, confiscates the ball they are kicking about etc. If he urges an order using strong language, they would much rather reply with a harshly-worded letter, probably encrypted or written in invisible ink, than actually deliver the goods. Of course Fudge on the phone with a "This is the Chief Buyer speaking" produces a gulp at the other end and a promise of immediate delivery. If Bristow does manage to get through to the right man (when he foolishly asks to be put through to his opposite number, the squeaky voice at the other end will say "Tea-boy speaking") he will be distracted with compliments about his magnificent speaking voice ("Gather round lads, it's Mr. Bristow") or met with fancy stories about how hard the man at the other end is working on the current order (overtime, weekends, holidays abandoned...). Recently the happy-go-lucky mood of the sales staff has darkened. From a strip on frankdickens.com in November 2003 we find these comments about Bristow:- He's crazy - they should lock him up and throw away the key You'll get nowhere Forget it You are wasting your time On your bike The guy is a nightmare Once they would have channelled all this aggression into vituperative correspondence and phone calls made in silly voices. It's rather sad really. Doesn't anyone care anymore? Gun and Fames are far more appreciative of their staff than Chester-Perry’s. If Bristow hears a crackling on the phone whilst chasing an order it is his opposite number unwrapping Christmas presents from the firm. If the man he wants is "in the pool", he isn’t in the typing pool but the swimming pool. But the thing that makes Bristow slump on his desk going "Sob!" is when he hears "Sorry Mr. Bristow I shall have to put the phone down, the wages are coming and I shall need both hands". Top