Two names you mention John, Tandy and the Army Navy Stores.............. my first metal detector was from Tandy and as for shopping in the Army Navy stores you could be whatever you wanted.

Several items I had I could range from a Germanicon Para to an RAF pilot escaping ......... More to do what film I'd been watching, obviously the Eagle has landed and the Great Escape were the influence on German Para and RAF pilot.

The stuff what was in that store is mind boggling, the most useful was the Gas Mask bag which was used at the end of primary and start of Secondary school.