Antique Grandfather Clocks

Grandfather Clocks Old Or New ?

John Shone — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:56:32 +0000

I have received several enquiries lately asking my advice as to whether it is better to buy an antique grandfather clock or a new grandfather clock. I have to say that I am not familiar with the staying power of a new grandfather clock and what it may or may not be worth sometime in the future.I do know that when I first started buying antique grandfather clocks 38 years ago, I could obtain them for around £10.00 and look at the price of some of them now! I also think that there is a lot more character in the design of an antique grandfather clock and if they could speak, how many stories could they tell ? The quality in the cases and movements in antique grandfather clocks is outstanding and not machine pressed out like they are today. I suppose that when it all comes down to it, buy the grandfather clock that you like best !

Fact About Mahogany Grandfather Clocks

John Shone — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:06:59 +0000

Probably the most sought after antique grandfather clock is the one in a mahogany case ,but did you know that this type of clock first came into being by accident rather than design? Round about the 1760′s the sailing ships of the time were a bit top heavy and were prone to turn over if there was not enough weight in the hull. When they delivered cargo to the Americas and had no cargo back, mahogany(which was of no value then) was put in the hull as ballast to prevent the over turning problem.It was then just thrown away on return. However, soon people began to realize the potential in this beautiful wood and what it had to offer and it was then used commercially. One of the first people to take advantage of this wood and its low cost was Thomas Chippendale who regularly obtained it from the returning ships at London Docks. Thus came into being the beautiful antique grandfather clock in a Chippendale case.

CLOCK LOVER

John Shone — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:52:12 +0000

If I could take a word and hold it gently in my
hand, and if I closed my eyes and felt its softness
and warmth as I touched it, caressed it and
kissed it with my lips, and if I shaped it,
moulded it and smoothed it so that it became
special and precious to me, though I knew not
what it said, but was somehow still aware
that the whole meaning of my life was contained
therein, when I opened my eyes to look
it would say; CLOCKS.

TODAY

John Shone — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:37:10 +0000

What did I achieve today?
My body aches,I must be credited with something.
Was I loved or was I loathed?
Did I revive or ruin my reputation?
My shoes smile at me from their resting place,
they know the effort I made.
My computer was my god,and my pen my soul,
as I sort peace and truth,
in a torn and troubled world.
I’d like to be free.
Though I’m told ,when I’m old,and I’ve had my say,
I’ll look back and reflect and long for today.

JOHN SHONE’S LAMP

John Shone — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:34:52 +0000

When I was a kid I wasn’t very tall
In fact I was small not very tall at all
But in my heart I knew I was a champ
'Cos outside our house stood the Old Gas Lamp

Got picked on by the bigger kids and often got a clout
Did as I was told me, never had much of a shout
But I knew my spirit they’d never damp
When I had the main prize, the Old Gas Lamp.

I’d throw tyres over the top and swing on it with a rope
Use it as a maypole and wash it down with soap
And when night time fell all the kids would camp
under the glow of the Old Gas Lamp

And when we warred with other mobs and horrible names did call
To be rewarded by a clout on the head from big kids ten feet tall
When the battle was over, off we’d tramp and negotiate peace under the
Old Gas Lamp

It was not a thing to glory at standing in the street
with graffiti all around it and the smell of a big dog’s feet
but I’ll still remember when I’m old with cramp the pleasure I got from
JOHN SHONE’S LAMP

LEARNING

John Shone — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:31:22 +0000

Today, I walked along the road I had often
walked along with you and my world was sad.
For my steps were weary and heavy now
whereas once they had danced lightly on the
joy and happiness you always gave me.
My soul cried out in anguish as it sought solace
in memories of tender moments once shared
with you, but grasped at the wind.
For the hollow that was once my heart could
not contain the well of tears that flooded
within, and I knew, in this wretched vacuum of
your absence, that the passing of the years
would not dim the sorrow of your leaving
or the flame that still burned within

MUCK AND BULLETS

John Shone — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:10:12 +0000

When I was younger, I enjoyed two favourite past times, reading and fishing. I spent many happy hours with my line in the water and reading the contents of a good book at the same time.
One day while I was idling away at the seaside, an elderly gentleman approached me and asked if I often read books and fished in unison. When said that I did, he advised that for every fish I caught that day, he would supply me with an equal number of books.I thanked him kindly and then proceeded to have a most successful day in which I read a lot and lured many fish onto my line. As night time fell, I was up to my neck in books and mullet.
(Only the names have been changed, to protect those who neither read nor fish)

Grandfather clocks am I

DAN THE PIG

John Shone — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:05:43 +0000

This is the tale of a pig named Dan,
who drives around in a little white van.
Now and then,he has dinner with his gran
and the love of his life is a multi talented and hauntingly beautiful one legged chicken named Annabelle.
One day Dan and Annabelle decided to drive over and visit their friends the three little pigs, but when they arrived,a frightening scene confronted them.A big bad wolf was huffing and puffing his brains out at the homes of the pigs,intent on blowing them down and then eating the inhabitants.
”Quick,Dan,you must help them!” screamed Annabelle.
Without thought for his own safety, Dan launched himself at the wolf and a terrible battle ensued.This way and that they rolled with Annabelle occasionally shouting
”Stick the head in Dan!”
Although she is multi talented and hauntingly beautiful,Annabelle has been brought up in the north and thus,by association, is slightly lacking in class.I am reliably informed about this by my well educated southern friends.
After a while,Dan found himself tiring and sensed that the wolf was starting to get the upper hand.Discretion being the better part of valor,Dan jumped back into the van and he and Annabelle drove away at top speed. At that,the wolf returned to the job at hand,blew down all the houses and gleefully gobbled up the three little pigs.
(The endings of some fairy tales are sometimes misrepresented.)He then cast his mind to other things and slowly but deliberately, started heading towards grandma’s house.
Don’t miss next weeks exciting chapter in the thrilling lives of Dan and Annabelle entitled “DAN,DAN,CAN YOU SAVE GRAN!!”
(My money is on the wolf,but life being what it is,I suppose that once again, the poor old buggar will get the rough end of the stick.I mean,does it really matter if a bad tempered,windy little granny gets eaten from time to time, as long as it’s not someone we know?)
Footnote
——–
How Annabelle came to lose her leg was most unfortunate. She was in town one day, when she suddenly saw an absolutely gorgeous dress in a shop window and fell in love with it on the spot.
She dashed into the shop and said to the owner
”That dress in the window,I must have it, how much is it?”
”It’s the very latest fashion from Paris” said the owner, “and may be too expensive for you;it’s an arm and a leg.”
Annabelle,immediately replied,”Will you take an offer,will you just take a leg?”
And the rest, as they say, is history.

GRANDFATHER CLOCKS AM I!

30 hour grandfather clocks

John Shone — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:01:19 +0000

If you have a 30 hour grandfather clock and you want it to run longer,secure a paperclip to the fly wheel and thus stop it from striking. Your clock will, then run for thre days and sometimes even four

MARRIAGE OF THE SUN KING

John Shone — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:51:38 +0000

Oh great and yellow globe, with heat
so fierce, so bright, remember this day,
for you marry the moon to give her light.
A golden chariot will be drawn by seven fiery horses,whose nostrils flare with power,
whose mighty hoofs, crash fearfully down,shaking the very sky with awesome might,
and you brave Sun King, shall guide them proudly
on your solar flight.
And in the distant dark of the mysterious night,You shall see her,reflecting your brilliance, heightened by her own quiet beauty,
a rare and perfect pearl, tinged with blue,
set in a velvet expanse, waiting, excited,
for you.
For one brief moment, you will leave your chariot to come together.
A majestic flash will fill the sky,and you
will be transported away on gossamer wings.
She will become whole and full, a shiny
jewel fulfilled with light,to smile upon
you with love at night.
Oh great and yellow globe, with heat so fierce, so bright ,remember this day for you marry the moon to give here light