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On several occasions I have blogged about Mr GeniAus' clockmaking ancestor, James Gowans (1806-1886), and our mission to find clocks made by James. We affectionately call this old chap "James the Clock". I wrote in February 2010 about James' clocks and expressed a wish that one day we would own a clock made by James.
Over the years I have devoted several posts to the "James the Clock" saga. If you have a spare few hours you can read them, otherwise just skip over the links.
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/james-clock.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/tick-tock-we-think-weve-found-gowans.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/on-road-again.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/2000-km-to-see-clock-was-it-worth-it.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/two-men-and-clock.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/a-4x-great-grandfather-clock.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/and-now-there-are-six.html
http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/and-now-there-are-seven.html
If you have read all the posts you will know that the cousin we met through social media had a Gowans clock with provenance; his clock has been passed down through the Gowans family. On our last visit to England in June the cousin told us that it was time for us to take the clock home. He has no offspring and decided on one of our earlier visits that, as we have four offspring and a tribe of grandchildren, the clock had a better chance of staying in the family than if it remained with him. We were thrilled that he was ready to say goodbye to the clock, we had not wanted to rush him. On arriving home in Australia we contacted shipping agents and with the assistance of the cousin organised for the clock to join us at home.
Another plus is that the clock is a completely different style from the one that is is our living room.
Although the clock arrived on the wharf in Sydney nearly two months ago it spent some time with customs and agents and was released to make the hour's journey to our home last week. Our cousin was relieved when we told him that it had finally been delivered but wasn't so excited when I said it was in our kitchen. I reminded him that it was a very nice kitchen.
I was out when the clock arrived but Mr GeniAus unpacked it and put it together and it was ticking away beautifully by the time I got home. It bongs loudly (one couldn't call it a chime) on the half hour and hour with the midday and midnight performances being quite long. I don't mind the noise because it is such a pretty piece and lovely to look at. Take a look for yourself.
8 comments:
Lovely Jill.
I remember you telling me about that clock Jill. I am so pleased it has arrived 'home'. Very exciting!
What a lovely piece of history... I do recall your posts re the clocks. So lovely that this one has come to you. It is certainly a treasure.
It is a beautiful clock and a great family treasure to have
It is a beautiful clock and a great family treasure to have
What a wonderful piece of genea-bilea you have inherited. And a very fine clock too.
What a nice ending to your clock stories. I wonder how many of us manage to track down family heirlooms and get them back in the fold either by purchase or bequest. Many years ago I met someone who had the nameplate of my ancestor doctor. As I was very young and naive I thought they may give it to me. They must have seen how much I wanted it and asked a huge amount (a weeks wage) at the time but I had to decline. Luckily a distant relative also had a plate which they donated to the local museum.
It's stunning and what a great cousin
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