Antique or Vintage Items You Love - Not For Sale

[Sciworks]

Most people interested in antiques or vintage items, have some that they love and will not sell. Show us your favourite vintage or antique items that are not for sale, expain why you keep them and give us some insight into their history and uniqueness. I will start with one of my favourite watches:

This is a Quarter Repeater in a silver case made in Paris, France around 1770 (probably an unsigned Aguimac). The bow at the top of the watch, when depressed, is connected to a chain which winds a separate spring. When released, the watch strikes the hours with one ding each, then it strikes the quarter hours, each with two dings.

These watches were essential for travel at the time, as there were no lights in horse drawn coaches and no fluorescent paint for the hands, this mechanism allowed the owner to tell the time to an accuracy of 14 minutes, in pitch black darkness.

The watch is wound by a key from the back and the hands are set with a key at the centre arbour from the front, after lifting the hinged bezel and typical high domed glass (crystal). The mechanism is a very thin, exquisite verge fusee movement. Verge is the name of the escapement, the parts that make it tick, and fusee means it is driven by a chain wrapped around a sprung barrel which is connected to a cone, allowing constant torque to be applied to the motion work.

I love all mechanical watches and clocks, as they are alive, need precision engineering and perform a function, unlike a Clarice Cliff pot :-)

[HerMajesty]

Most interesting about the watch! Thanks!
My non-sale antiques are two items....that kind of go together. Sorry, no pic, as they are back in the states while I'm in the UK. The first is a huge old oak trunk with metal straps that one set of my great grandparents put all their worldly possesions in before making the arduous trek to the US in the mid 1800's. It has some old newspaper still inside, and is a testament to courage, adventure and hope for a better life. The second is one of their son's more recent purchases....The home entertainment center of the late 1800's on the prairie, a little pump organ.

[suesjools]

Coolness, love the stories! My fave piece at the moment, (no pic as it's not with me at present), is one I bought at a flea market some years ago, a solid silver crab trinket box; after doing some research, I discovered it dates to the Meiji Dynasty period and is Japanese made, with its beautiful detail it looks almost lifelike. I also like the vintage musical cigarette carousel I picked up at another flea market, not as valuable, but definitely unique and pretty.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[WiccaBasketUK]

I love my Susie Cooper bits and pieces. One day i will be able to get a full dinner service and tea set.

[Sciworks]

Ok - I will do another:

This is my Clifford Essex Paragon 5 String Banjo. It was made c1910, in the first workshop Clifford Essex used after dissolving his previous partnership. The quality is superb, all the fittings are heavy guage brass with nickel plating, the neck is laminated with African Blackood (Ebony) to stop warping, it has a hollow tone ring sitting on a laminated shell which is finished in thick ivory to improve the tone.

I bought this in 1978 from Macaris Music in Charing Cross Road, the original VOX shop is no longer there but Macaris is still there a couple of doors down. I was taking home about £60 per week when I saw it hanging up for £465, it made me sweat that I was wiping out my savings to get it, but I did.

It is 100% original and in excellent condition, with its original leather case, I also have the tailpiece cover which I leave off because I think it's prettier that way.

[suesjools]

Wow, that is one gorgeous banjo!

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Pink_Panther]

Bet he pulled a few strings to get it!

[adruml]

The only Vintage item(s) I have which are not for sale are my drums.

1970's Ludwig Vistalite Power drums in Mint condition.
I am going to be a grandpa very soon and have already told my daughter if he has any interest whatsoever in playing the drums they will be his and they must stay in the family. His father is a drummer as well as his grandpa so chances are he may just use them.

[suesjools]

Cool set. Rock on!

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Sciworks]

Great set of drums - I can knock out a simple rock rythm but nothing fancy.