Le Grand Bazar, Préfailles, France

This is a most extraordinary shop. It looks from the outside like an ordinary shop selling postcards, trinkets and toys of various sorts, though its exterior facade is pleasant enough in an old-fashioned way (circa 1900). But inside there is a huge amazing collection of old kites hanging from the ceiling. A leaflet in the shop gives the story behind the kites (my translation).

Between 1900 and 1910 M. Charles Deffain was working in Paris as a commercial traveller in wooden toys and kites for M. Tranchant Georges (94-98 rue Carnot, Montreuil-sous-bois).

In 1910 he joined with M. Truchet Henri to make kites under the brand name GOMEZ. The workshop was situated at 68 route d'Orleans, Antony (in the Haute-de-Seine suburb of Paris).

Then he expanded his range of original models and set up his own business at 83 rue du faubourg St. Denis, Paris 10 and a factory at 77-78 rue de bondy, La Courneuve (a suburb to the east of St. Denis). The brand ‘artistic toys ELECTA’ was created.

In 1936 he moved his factory to Préfailles and his son (also named Charles) took over the business.

In 1942 his grandson René succeeded Charles fils and renovated the kite collection

In 1970 the firm was making publicity kites, with a total production capacity of up to some 12000 units per year.

In 1990 his great-grandson Georges discovered in the attics of Le Grand Bazar some dusty trunks full of old kites. He decided to restore them and exhibited a dozen in the interior of Le Grand Bazar. Today this unique collection comprises about 100 models.