Forum
Something I always wanted to do was track down every instance of a new "floor" or a new department being mentioned. It's funny, of course, as fans know that the building continued to grow throughout the series and certain departments (accounting) changed from episode to episode. For example, in S6E2 Mr. Humphries says that "accounts" is in the basement, however there are two other episodes where a character says they are going "up" to accounts.
This will not be in any particular order:
#1 - Alcohol department is on the ground floor - In S4E3, Mr. Harman is taking an executive "drinks" trolly into Mr. Grainger's office after he takes over for Mr. Rumbold. Captain Peacock tells him "Wines and drinks are on the ground floor.", questioning (again) why Mr. Harman is in his department during working hours.
#2 - Accounts is in the basement - In S6E2, Mr. Lucas says they should get the girls down from accounts to come into the club. Mr. Humphries says, "But accounts is in the basement, how do you get them down?"
#3 - Sports department - Mentioned in S4E5 - Mr. Humphries, "And we have the briefs, up to here - Anything else is in the sports department" - In S9E3, the golfer comes down from the sports department to demonstrate golf clubs and other equipment. There are at least two other mentions of the sports department in episodes that I'm still tracking down.
#4 - Yachting department - Mentioned in S4E1 - "We don't have any raincoats that will keep out the rain, but we do have a few that might strain it for you. If you really want to keep out the rain, you should go to the yachting department and get yourself an oil skin"
#5 - Toy department - Obviously, all of S5E2 was devoted to this.
#6 - Home furnishings - In S7E3, Mrs. Slocombe has her temporary apartment up on the 5th floor, which has several left-over "home furnishings" (her front door) before the floor gets renovated.
#7 - The canteen and lunch room - Obviously used many times throughout the series. FUN SIDE NOTE: this was a REAL kitchen and the actors actually spent time cooking for each other there during the week while filming the show.
#8 - Restaurant (Not the canteen) - It's mentioned a couple times that there is a full blown restaurant at Grace Brothers, which is NOT where employees take their lunch or tea breaks. In S4E1, Mrs. Slocombe says she's in the restaurant while pretending to be a young girl on the phone talking to Mr. Rumbold. As early as S2E1 "The Clock", Mrs. Slocombe asks why they don't give Mr. Grainger "a proper do on in the restaurant upstairs", meaning that they give Mr. Grainger a proper retirement party there instead of the department floor.
There are several mentioned at the beginning of S5E2 by Mr. Rumbold.....
#9 - Haberdashery and lotions - Mentioned in S5E2
#10 - Bathroom fittings and sanitary wear - Mentioned in S5E2
#11 - Stationary - Mentioned in S5E2 and part of Mr. Tebbs' bakground in S6E1
#12 - Bedding - Mentioned in S5E2 and part of Mr. Tebbs' bakground in S6E1
#13 - Footwear - Mentioned as part of Mr. Tebbs' background in S6E1
#14 - Camping department - Plays a big part in the very first season during S1E3. Also, Mr. Lucas spends the night in the camping department during S6E5.
#15 - THE FAMOUS BOARD ROOM - Mentioned many times by Mr. Rumbold and shown in several episodes, including S2E5, S5E2, S5E5
#16 - Apartments - A floor with actual apartments to stay in, which is where the staff stay during S10E3 "Friends and Neighbors"
#17 - The Club - The club located down in the basement, shown in S6E2
#18 - Medical department - S7E2 "Strong stuff, this insurance" and mentioned in several other instances, including the AYBS movie and S3E4 "Cold Store"
#19 - Young Mr. Grace's office - We don't know if this is on the same floor as the board room, or if there is a separate floor just for executive offices
#20 - Executive wash room - Mentioned several times, Captain Peacock gets the key to the executive wash room in S3E3
#21 - The "Way Out" Boutique - Supposedly a "trendy" clothing department - During S5E4, when the staff are supposed to wear their own clothes, Captain Peacock shows up dressed formally. As a result, Mr. Rumbold says that he sent Captain Peacock "up to the 'way out' boutique to be made to look a little more trendy"
#22 - Maintenance department - Where Mr. Mash/Mr. Harman hang out. In S10E3 there is a camera showing the maintenance department where they are playing cards.
#23 - PET department - Mentioned several times, especially in S4E5 "Fifty years on" - Mr. Lucas goes to the pet department to find out how old Mrs. Slocombe's p...... er, "cat" is.
I've no doubt there are several more if people want to post them here.
#24 - Costumery - Mentioned by Mr. Rumbold in S3E1 as one of the floors with a lady floor walker.
#25 - The music department - Mentioned in S3E8 while they're trying to come up with new ideas for the store, including playing a record over the loudspeaker.
#27 - Florist - S6E6 - Captain Peacock: "Don't worry sir, I sent Mr. Lucas to the Florist and told him to put them on the account"
#28 - The lost property department - S2E2 "Cold Comfort" - Captain Peacock brings the 'heating devices' into Mr. Rumbold's office, who says "I would suggest the lost property department would be more appropriate"
#29 - Electrical department - Again in S2E2 - Mr. Humphries says "Mr. Lucas did a foray to the electrical department and did us proud", referring to the electric blanket.
Woops, forgot to post #26 earlier:
#26 - Bargain basement (another basement department) - Mentioned a couple times, including S5E3. Mr. Rumbold says, "Young Mr. Grace will be coming up from the Bargain basement", meaning he's headed to the boardroom where Mr. Lucas is ready to start the ceremony.
#30 - The barbershop/hairdresser - This is in the AYBS movie. Near the beginning, we see Mr. Grace and Mr. Humphries here - The actor playing the barber (Raymond Bowers) appeared four times as an extra throughout the regular series (S5E1, S5E7, S6E2, S7E5).
#31 - OTHER STORES/BRANCHES - Not a department, but worth mentioning that we find out later on that Grace Brothers has many stores, not just the one we see in the show. For example, in S2E1 "The Clock", Mr. Rumbold makes it clear there are other stores/branches of Grace Brothers located in Britain and (possibly) other countries.
#32 - Buying department - In S3E5, Captain Peacock says to Mrs. Slocombe: "I have to remind you, that you are all paid to sell the goods purchased by the buying department."
This is particularly hilarious, because in another episode (S5E4 "The Old Order Changes"), Mrs. Slocombe says that SHE is responsible for the merchandise that they sell:
Mrs. Slocombe: "Well why didn't you come here and get one? (blouse)"
Miss Brahms: "I'm not buying this rubbish."
Mrs. Slocombe: "Miss Brahms, I am responsible for the choice of merchandise in this store!"
#33 - The hardware department - Can't believe I missed this one before, this is actually where Mr. Rumbold is supposed to have come from......he was promoted from the hardware department to be in charge of the ladies and gentlemen's department at the start of the show. Nicholas Smith talked about this as well on his PBS interview.
#34 - Tools and Do-it-yourself - This is mentioned several times throughout the series. Mr. Humphries says he worked there for a period for a period of time, during which they put on a theatrical production.
#35 - Cosmetics - Also mentioned a few times, as is the "infamous" Edna Comlozi that comes to Mrs. Slocombe's office in S7E4.
#36 - Office equipment - Mentioned in S7E4 when Mrs. Slocbome tries to get green blotting paper for her desk.
#37 - The Second Hand Book Department - In S6E3, Mr. Tebbs dresses up as a vicor and buys a book to carry around with him. He says that he "picked it up from the second hand book department"
Wow, when I sat down to start this today, I had no idea I was going to make it to #37..........
