It started with a call out of the blue, delivered in a lovely Welsh lilt from a village near Carmarthen, west of Swansea. Two weeks later, over half a century of family history had been restored. And some Bakelite was gleaming on the Welsh dresser. * “I’ve got an old clock that doesn’t work. HowContinue reading “Bakelite – and a perfect Wyn-win encounter”
Category Archives: clocks
Taking a hammer to a clock feels hit and miss
Behind a painted dial what horrors await? And should I fix them? A nation turns its lonely eyes to me on the Robinson longcase clock.
Forging ahead proves a treat – Robinson Part 2
There is more to this clock restoration than meets the eye. Coaxing precision crafted clock parts to work in harmony when they have been battered by neglect and the passage of time is one thing. Entering the mysterious and timeless world of the blacksmith is another. And it turns out to be an unexpected treat.Continue reading “Forging ahead proves a treat – Robinson Part 2”
My Word – here’s to you Mr Robinson
What started as a walk with friends on the fringes of the Yorkshire Moors, developed into a thrilling encounter with an early 19th century clock and the inevitable meeting with a mid-20th century mantel clock. Serendipity, or more?
Just checking in – marking time in the workplace
Using the technology of the day to monitor workforce behaviour is nothing new. Meet the wonderful Gledhill-Brook Time Recorder clock.
There’s no present like the time – just ask the homeless
This is not a post about buying someone a clock for Christmas – although that’s not such a bad idea. It is about giving the gift of time in a different way. Charity begins at home – which is all very well if you have one. For the homeless or rough sleepers, winter must bringContinue reading “There’s no present like the time – just ask the homeless”
A mystery, an enigma and a Yorkshire clock maker
The good people of West Yorkshire had come seeking truth. But history continues to defy reason. And the search for the elusive Neddey Wells of Shepley leaves us with more questions than answers.*Where to start with this story? I fell in love with the simple but beautiful longcase clock the moment I saw it, aContinue reading “A mystery, an enigma and a Yorkshire clock maker”
A suitable case for treatment? Dishing the dirt on patina.
Patina – a word much loved by antique dealers and hopeful sellers on Ebay. But is it simply just another dirty word for… well, dirt? As regular readers know, I love a good old clock. The dirtier the clock when it arrives on my workbench, the better. It is the pleasure of the challenge, ofContinue reading “A suitable case for treatment? Dishing the dirt on patina.”
Going, going – are auctions under the hammer or the cosh?
I really love going to auctions. Not the fancy ones with ‘priceless’ artworks. It is the downbeat drama of the provincial saleroom, its cast of dubious characters and ramshackle artefacts that excites me. But has the pandemic finally put the traditional auction house not just under the hammer but under the cosh?* “Unwanted items, likeContinue reading “Going, going – are auctions under the hammer or the cosh?”
Antiques Roadshow or Repair Shop – which are you?
The big ‘reveal’ tells us so much about values. Where do you sit? On the Antiques Roadshow it is all about price – ‘I suppose you want to know what it’s worth?’ the expert teases. And the item’s owner salivates at the prospect. The Repair Shop has a different reveal and it’s all about sentimentContinue reading “Antiques Roadshow or Repair Shop – which are you?”