Tuesday 29 January 2013

A Weekend Away

We had the good fortune to spend last weekend in Harrogate, we stopped in the Old Swan hotel which was where Agatha Christie ran away to in 1926. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Swan_Hotel
The hotel was quaint and very reasonable as well as being damn good value on the winter offer deal, we spent the slightly snowy Saturday wandering around Harrogate's charity shops, antique centres and obviously whilst there we visited 'SPACE'  http://spacevintageretro.blogspot.co.uk/

There was plenty to choose from in Space but nothing that I 'needed', picking in the charity shops was a bit on the slim side this visit but I did manage to bag a couple of ties one wool and one silk shown hopefully below;


 
both appear unworn or virtually so, the wool one made by H.Griffiths of Wales and the silk one by H.Munday of Woking. 
              

Monday 21 January 2013

Beginnings


After some 38 or so years spent searching out what many call tat, cack and rammel I decided it was time to share some of my experiences with anyone who cared.

Having spent quite alot of time with Vera & Bill (grandparents) and listened to their war stories I had a fair idea about make do and mend, I think I was the only kid in England who's Action Man had a wooden foot!( lovingly created by Bill and painted in 'pit orange' gloss paint).

Because of their experiences of life I quickly picked up skills in fixing and making things, it didn't take long for me to start collecting 'stuff ', anything would do as it was all precious to me and the older the better, after all it would all be useful eventually in fixing something or other!

This was in the early 1970's and anyone who remembers that time knows cash wasn't exactly plentiful certainly not in a Northern pit village!

I began mending toys, mainly toy soldiers (Britains et al) and repainting them, this progressed to bicycles and motorcycles and anything mechanical, then marriage and children came along and I was really strapped for cash so fixing things was even more useful, it provided cheap entertainment for me and stuff for the house and it's ever growing occupants.

In short I became a collector or hoarder as it has become known, clocks, wrist and pocket watches, optical instruments, militaria, antique and vintage furniture (CC41 utility type mainly), laterly more and more vintage and retro clothing has begun filling my wardrobes.

I hope to share my finds and restorations with half decent photos, it may be a slow start as I have absolutely no idea about blogging whatsoever, no idea what gadgets are and little idea of uploading photo's, bear with me and hopefully I may have something of interest soon-ish?...  


 
here's one of my favourite items an early 1930's Raleigh sports/ light roadster fitted with dropped handlebars which were available as an optional extra, it's been retro-fitted with a later Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub.
It