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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Dorning Street, Wigan

18 Comments

Uncle Joes Factory
Uncle Joes Factory
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 3,265
Item #: 30420
Photograph taken 1970's showing the "UNCLE JOES MINT BALL" factory in Dorning street

Comment by: irene roberts on 9th April 2018 at 19:39

I passed Santus's toffee-works last week on my way to Boston House. It was obviously Mint-Ball production day and the smell in the air was gorgeous!

Comment by: WILLY WACKUM on 9th April 2018 at 19:45

Irene pity they don't taste the same as they did, when you bought them unwrapped and all stuck together... Now they are half the size and cost 6 times as much

Comment by: irene roberts on 9th April 2018 at 20:13

You're not wrong, Willy Wackum! There was something special about them when they all stuck together, (and stuck your teeth together too!). My son went round the world on his honeymoon in 2003 but was brought quickly down to earth by the sight of tins of Uncle Joe's in a shop in San Francisco....I think he'd left HIS heart in Wigan!

Comment by: Mick on 9th April 2018 at 22:14

They taste exactly the same, whats changed are your taste buds.

Comment by: Wiganer on 9th April 2018 at 22:21

Mick obviously you have never tasted the ones from the 1950's when they were sold loose without wrappers.

Comment by: Kevan on 10th April 2018 at 00:09

I am still trying to work out how to get the aroma into my model of the building, maybe I should sacrifice one and build it inside.( See thread in Hobbies)

Comment by: Ken R on 10th April 2018 at 02:48

The smell and taste are unique, and they not only stuck your teeth together but they could possibly lose your fillings. I did, twice.

Comment by: ALPAL on 10th April 2018 at 03:15

used to walk past there everyday on my way to school,mum used to work at Platts printers just round the corner,This would be mid seventies,great days back then,i live in Aus now and don`t bother going in to town when I`m over visiting my brother,I suppose I prefer the old wigan,

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 10th April 2018 at 07:14

When sold loose, didnt they have a white icing sugar coating ?

Comment by: Veronica on 10th April 2018 at 07:22

Kevan - you could try putting some of the sticky Uncle Joes inside the model hidden, but without the wrappers!

Comment by: irene roberts on 10th April 2018 at 09:46

No, Helen, they didn't have a coating on.

Comment by: GW. on 10th April 2018 at 09:50

Hi ALPAL. I found an international pack of Uncle Joe's in a supermarket in my old home town of Castlemaine Victoria. As far as the sticky thread goes I'd just leave them out in the sun for a few minutes.

Comment by: Mick on 10th April 2018 at 11:15

I was just coming out of Tesco petrol station this morning and Mrs Mintball (TOFFIE on the number plate)came flying into the roundabout like there was no tomorrow.

Comment by: Cyril on 10th April 2018 at 12:24

Helen of Troy, at one time the sugar in them crystallised on the surface, they don't do that now even though the present owners insist they are still made to the same recipe. Do they still sell Vodka with mint balls dissolved in it - definitely a waste of good Vodka.

Comment by: John Brown on 10th April 2018 at 14:10

I used to go past it every week-day morning, on my way to school (All Saint's) Occasionally, If you shouted up at the window, someone would throw a few mintballs out. . . if you were lucky. Those were the days.

Comment by: Maureen on 10th April 2018 at 15:20

My little Grandma used to keep them in the top drawer of the sideboard until they'd chrystalised,and then tell me to help myself,God they were lovely.

Comment by: Spenian on 10th April 2018 at 19:56

Used to visit here in school Summer holidays as my Grandparents lived in Spring Gardens which then you could enter on the left of this picture before BT took over the access to the road, the building on the left became 147 Snooker club in the 80's which was the first place I ever saw MTV which was on satelite TV.

Comment by: Garry on 12th April 2018 at 19:23

Nothing is the same today, ie marsbars, milkyways, kit-kats, topics etc they were all bigger in the 1960s and bigger bags of crisps too. Rip off time again!

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