Alf - I'm pretty sure Borders took over (some of) the Books etc stores a while ago, including the one in Charing X Road.
Foyles has indeed been given a major going over after a new generation of the family took over - I think they decided that running a book shop was actually more important than holding Literary Lunches! Seems to me that they are hugely reducing the number of books in stock, while also making them a more interesting selection. A very large WW section, but many will be familiar to students of mail order listings.
Foyles' USP (at least for me) is the excellent coffee shop run by the Monmouth Street Coffee House people. It is alongside a terrific jazz record section, so you get great music with your morning coffee and then go and buy lots of books!
Best wishes - Roy
PS to get back to the original subject in this thread! - The Tyzacks in Kingsland Road was their machines branch and was sold many years ago to Powertek, who closed a couple of years ago. I believe Powertek now only sell via mail order (often advertising in F&C). The old tyzacks hand tool shop is now, I think, a sports injury clinic or some such - sign of the times??