Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole 2016

[Kenlowe]

I have heard that the pocket watch market is so depressed that they are often sold just for their gold price. With good fortune there may be something special.

[Truffle Finder]

That's exactly what I had heard!

I have spoken to the lady, and I have explained about the 'flatness' of the market at the moment, so she is aware that there may not be much in the way of the 'return' on these items.

We shall have to wait and see what turns up!

Truffle Finder.

[Ghost Plane]

Same this side of the pond. Took my father's pocket watch in for repair (white gold, WW2 vintage) and was informed not to bother unless it had sentimental value, which it does.

[Barkingpig]

Same this side of the pond. Took my father's pocket watch in for repair (white gold, WW2 vintage) and was informed not to bother unless it had sentimental value, which it does.

A larger issue "this side of the pond" is even finding a person to repair them. I had 6 from my family that were not running & finally found an older jeweler who would look @ them. He was in his own shop & didn't have a telephone; He explained: " do you think I should have a watch apart with all it's small pieces & stop to answer a telephone?" He repaired them all; some repairs were minor, for which he only charged a lesser amount & others more. It was almost two years before I picked up the last watch & I was sure he "might not live to finish!"

 

He was a lovely gentleman who had gone to watch repair school when young because he felt "everybody would always need their watch repaired." He was obviously NOT a fan of the generation who "popped in a battery" & called it a day. I would doubt he would have favored the adherence for cell phones as time keepers which seem to be today's fad.

 

I was lucky to sell them almost ten years ago when their prices made repair sensible. I had already given my Grandfather's which my Father carried to a cousin who was his namesake when he died. It is sad when so many things are deemed "not worthy" of repair.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Barkingpig

[Truffle Finder]

Well, I'm pleased to say, that the watches arrived safely by post, and I took them over for a good friend of mine to see them.

I left them with him, and he phoned me later yesterday evening, and he offered £450 for them.

I telephoned the lady, and told her about his offer, and she is delighted!

It is good, because my friend is happy, and so is the lady, and so am I! It is always nice to be able to help out from time to time!

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

You're a good egg, Truffle!👌

[Truffle Finder]

Yesterday morning I went to a little Antiques Fair at the Town Hall in the middle of Tavistock, {I'm down in the West Country, at the moment].

I wasn't really expecting to find very much in the way of fountain pens, but as luck would have it, there were two Conway Stewart pens from the 1950's and a rather nice 'mille-feuilles' White Friar's paperweight at one of the stands, which I bought for £50 for the three items.

I was planning to go in to Plymouth to put some more things in to my Unit at an Antiques Centre there, so the paperweight is now sitting proudly there [waiting patiently to be sold!] The two Conway Stewart pens will come back with me to the workshop to be restored later in the week.

For some reason, I have woken up very early this morning, so while 'nursing' a mug of tea, I thought I would have a look over the Fountain Pen Network, and see what's going on. When I have finished my tea, I hope to go back to bed for a couple of hours!

Tomorrow,[i actually mean 'later today! It's now 5.30am!] I'm having to take the car over to the local garage to have a complete service, and It's MOT test, then I'm off to the dentist, then I'm due to see the Accountant's for [hopefully] a 'brief discussion' about the accounts, it's all great fun!!!

Truffle Finder.

[View from the Loft]

Truffle, your day sounds exhausting. Dentist, accountant - fun? Well, not my idea of fun anyway. Hope your day turns out better than it sounds.

[Truffle Finder]

You're absolutely right 'View from the loft'!

I was trying to be a little ironic!

Fortunately the garage have known me for years, and they always let me have a loan-car, while mine is being worked on. The accountant is a very pleasant lady, who can explain everything to me in words of one syllable that even I can understand, which helps a great deal.

The dentist even complimented me on how well my teeth and gums looked,so I'm obviously doing something right! [And it's been a year since I last saw him!]

So, it's not been a 'too bad' type of a day!

Truffle Finder.

[RMN]

Yesterday morning I went to a little Antiques Fair at the Town Hall in the middle of Tavistock, {I'm down in the West Country, at the moment].

I wasn't really expecting to find very much in the way of fountain pens, but as luck would have it, there were two Conway Stewart pens from the 1950's and a rather nice 'mille-feuilles' White Friar's paperweight at one of the stands, which I bought for £50 for the three items.

I was planning to go in to Plymouth to put some more things in to my Unit at an Antiques Centre there, so the paperweight is now sitting proudly there [waiting patiently to be sold!] The two Conway Stewart pens will come back with me to the workshop to be restored later in the week.

For some reason, I have woken up very early this morning, so while 'nursing' a mug of tea, I thought I would have a look over the Fountain Pen Network, and see what's going on. When I have finished my tea, I hope to go back to bed for a couple of hours!

Tomorrow,[i actually mean 'later today! It's now 5.30am!] I'm having to take the car over to the local garage to have a complete service, and It's MOT test, then I'm off to the dentist, then I'm due to see the Accountant's for [hopefully] a 'brief discussion' about the accounts, it's all great fun!!!

Truffle Finder.

 

Henry, Is selling paperweights in that area a good business, with Yelverton around the corner?

 

 

 

D.ick

[Truffle Finder]

Well, I can't say that my small stock of paperweights in my small unit is selling particularly 'briskly' but they do sell. I've no doubt that The Paperweight Centre in Yelverton has inspired a few of the customers who have bought them from me.

Years ago, I popped in the Centre, and had a good look round, and got talking to the couple who ran the place, and having told them what I do for a living, the lady went and got her old school pen, [an Esterbrook lever-filler] and asked me to restore it for her. She was delighted to have it back after I had done it, and sent me a lovely letter thanking me.

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

I'm pleased to say that my second dentist appointment has been done, and having picked up the fully serviced car yesterday afternoon, everything was looking fine, then I got inspired, and decided to take the car into Plymouth, to a 'Hand Car-Wash' place on the outskirts of the city, and have the 'complete works', and £15 later it is looking fabulous!

On the way back towards Tavistock, I was thinking about how I used to just drop in to the Conway Stewart Factory sometimes just to touch base with them, and have a chat, then I thought that I could just turn off the main road, and have a look to see if a new tenant had taken over the premises.

I pulled in to the estate, and there was a big car parked immediately in front of the service door and the door was open! I drove closer, and parked, got out, and walked towards the door. Inside there was a lady working on something in [what used to be the foyer] and when I said 'Hello' she nearly jumped out of her skin!

I had noticed that the Conway Stewart Sign was still attached to the big door of the building, so I asked her if she wanted it for anything! She said 'no', so I asked her if I could remove it! [Cheecky I know! But Heh!!!] She said' Yes, go ahead, if you can get it off there.'

Well, I tried to prise it off with my fingers, but it was quite firmly fixed, so I walked over to a mechanic's garage opposite, and asked if I could borrow something to lever the sign off the door.

He was very helpful, and after delving around in a back room, he produced just the right sort of tool for the job! We walked over and within five minutes it was detached.

So, now I am the proud owner of the Conway Stewart sign from the factory!

Goodness what I'm going to do with it, now that I have got it!

Truffle Finder.

[my63]

Depending on the size it would make a great table top with a nice piece of glass to protect it.

[View from the Loft]

Depending on the size it would make a great table top with a nice piece of glass to protect it.

Sounds a good idea.

 

Truffle, what a find! Right place, right time - and as the saying goes, if you don't ask, you can't get.

[Truffle Finder]

I'm now back in my workshop, and I decided to bring the sign back with me.

It is 4 foot long, and 2 foot wide, with a cream background with Conway Stewart emblazoned across the middle of the sign with:- Since 1905 underneath the name. To the left, and on the right hand sides there are the usual intertwined CS letters set in two diamond shapes.

It does look very pretty in the workshop, but I really don't know what I will eventually do with it, I'm just really pleased that I got it when I did, as the lady who has taken over the premises said that she was pleased that she would not have to get rid of it! So, as light as not, by next week, it probably would have been in the skip!

Truffle Finder.

[Kenlowe]

as light as not

 

I scratched my head, googled it, phoned a friend. Had a cup of tea.

 

Decided it must be a west country English saying.

 

The penny dropped, is that, as likely as not?

[Truffle Finder]

I stand corrected!!!

Sorry about that!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

On reflection Kenlowe, I think that I should have written:- "like as not"!!!

It is funny how one says these things very often, and it's not until one has to write it that you suddenly wonder exactly what you want to say. It sounds perfectly fine when you say it, but when written down, it just doesn't look right!

Truffle Finder.

[Kenlowe]

Aha. I know just what you mean, even made up words. I used the word wholescale recently, I meant it in the context of widespread. The person knew what I meant to say even though the word made no sense.

Edited June 22, 2016 by Kenlowe

[esterbex]

Wholescale, full-scale, same difference.

 

What a coup Truffle!!! Timing is everything. That poor sign has been waiting for you all this time. The ghost of Conway Stewart whispered in your ear. Congratulations on a wonderful piece of memorabilia. This should be part of your pension scheme.