One of the nicest things about living in the United Kingdom is that no matter where you are there is always a pub nearby.  Unless they are themed they are usually pretty similar whether you are in Rotherham or Rotherhithe or Newbury or Newmarket.

Even the smallest hamlet seems to have a pub and although the newspapers carry stories of these establishments closing down, you nearly always find one open usually serving the local ales and beers of the county as well as all nature of other refreshments.

During the summer on a very hot July day, I visited a pub not far from the shimmering Marlborough Downs. My wife and I were in need of refreshment and although not partaking of alcohol were happily rested in the beer garden with our soft drinks.  It was one of those days when the sun was so high that it created a brilliance that one would expect to see in Venice or maybe St Ives.  All the colours of the garden were in sharp profile.  But as I admired our surroundings I looked through the window of the bar where a celestial light appeared to be emerging.  Sadly it was not anything other worldly but the horse brasses around the fireplace reflecting the light from the bonnet of a car parked outside.

As we had been out in the sun for a considerable period, my wife and I decided to take a break in the deserted bar. The air was much cooler and the low ceiling helped to create a comfortable draft. It was then that I realised the actual number of horse brasses that decorated the bar.  Apart from the celestial ones there were brasses hung in every conceivable space.  I did not count them but at a guess there must have been upwards of a hundred.  It was then that I began to think about them.  Like swallows in the summer we expect to see them in inns and pubs around the country but treat them almost like the glasses we drink from.  They are very familiar.

I do not collect horse brasses (I have one dating from Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897) but wondered at their history as whenever you enter an antiques shop or the Arcade, they are there to be found usually at quite reasonable prices.

Horse brasses are named after their origins, they are to be found quite frequently as plaques decorating the harness gear on horses. As we are all aware we see them frequently on shire horses and other heavy horses.  Being a Wiltshire lad, I always thought that these brasses had originated during the nineteenth century as when very small I remember attending county shows where some of the old timers of the day told me stories of shows dating back to the 1880s.  Mr (Old) Kelsey who lived to be 102, quite often used to show me grainy monochrome photographs of bygone county shows where the decoration of these horses was the subject of much competition.  I was therefore quite surprised when researching the subject to find out that horse brasses actually dated back to Ancient Rome where they were known as phalerae.  During the Middle Ages and before, these brasses were also to be found mainly used as talismans and maybe I would imagine as symbols of status.

Although not connected with its ancestors, the popularity of horse brasses was revived in the mid nineteenth century as the enthusiasm for the decorative arts took hold after the Great Exhibition of 1851. These brasses were often attached to a horse harness called a martingale.  As the use of the heavy horse was very widespread during the final fifty years of the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth century, the decoration of these horses was common practice.  The brasses were not there to ward off evil spirits or I would imagine as status symbols but for decoration only.

The size of these brasses varied but the most popular ones were sized at three times three and a half inches although looking at photographs of the time the actual size varied. There are many photographs of horse parades at these county fairs (and the like) and I understand the RSPCA quite often presented merit awards to the outstanding decorated horses.

As with most things people started collecting horse brasses in their own right and the subjects depicted varied widely. Rather surprisingly they were very popular with academics and other professionals.  But when one looks at this it is quite understandable as much of their thinking was dominated by the Romanticism of the period and the interest in medievalism.  As we all know, the Gothic Revival was very popular and the interest in the humble horse brass was just part of this.  But to some extent it strengthened the linage and popularity of the item to the present day.

The first horse brasses to appear were the cast brasses which were often made by smiths and other artisans. In our locality these may have reflected local landmarks or superstitions.  The Hungerford Trout may have featured on some of the early cast brasses although I cannot say that I have seen one.  Later in the century (c1880) stamped brasses began to appear. This is likely to have evolved from the creation of military insignia.

Stamped brasses were much lighter than cast brasses which was good news for the poor old horse and like anything that was easier to produce were cheaper which meant they were easier to collect.  Unlike the cast brasses which, within reason, would have not have travelled too far, stamped brasses were soon exported to all parts of the empire.

The manufacture of stamped brasses was not based on moulds (as their cast cousins were) but via a rolled sheet of brass which by its very name was stamped. The ease of this process meant that there were many many varieties created. Most of the horse brasses we see today would have originated from that or
iginal stamping process.  I was shown a cast horse brass a few years ago and my first impression was it was heavier to hold than a stamped one although the actual design was surprisingly delicate.  As I have noted, horse brasses can represent almost anything.  From Griffins to Cockerels, from Jamaica Inn to Jersey from Churches to Cathedrals, the list is endless.

Recently whilst in Coventry, I even found one representing the brave Lady Godiva (although she looked distinctly modern in appearance).  If one can think of a subject then I would imagine that somewhere it is represented by a horse brass.

For the most part it is a cheap pastime with brasses only costing a few pounds be they modern or much older.  Apart from the ceremonial ones which can easily be dated one really would have to research these items and date them.  I am not an expert.

Over the last few weeks I have noted that many antique establishments a well as charity shops in this area have decent stocks of horse brasses at reasonable prices.  If you are collecting horse brasses to decorate your house then like we all do, you will choose the ones that attract you but if you are a more specialised collector of horse brasses, then you will be looking for the rarer ones and will know the prices they attract.

I might pick up the odd one in future (most likely from a coronation or a jubilee) but I do not envisage collecting them en masse.  If you do propose to collect horse brasses then do so as it will prove to be a most satisfying recreation and the large plus factor is that they do not take up much room and look great when displayed whether they are reflecting the soft sunlight of summer days or the harsh lights of winter.

Stuart Miller-Osborne

Hungerford Arcade has a thriving record department of which I am the stallholder.  With the sales of new vinyl records on the rise, whilst those of CDs decline, the question of how best to enjoy your music is worth delving into.

With many new records coming with a download voucher, many I suspect never even play these lovely fresh slabs of vinyl.  For me these records should be played and enjoyed as intended.

You can of course buy new turntables from companies such as Pro-Ject Audio and Rega, but what if you fancy something a bit more retro looking?  Turntables from the 70s & 80s can be picked up cheaply from online auction sites, but without proper set-up these could easily damage your precious record collection.  Or perhaps that dusty old deck, that was consigned to the loft years ago, could gain a fresh new lease of life, but again, these will need a bit of tinkering with to avoid damaging your beloved vinyl.

So here I’m going to show you what needs doing whether you’re dipping your toe into the second hand market or restoring an existing record deck.
You’ll need the following before starting.

Multi-meter
Cartridge Alignment tool
Tracking Force Gauge
New Cartridge & Stylus
Needle nose pliers
Small flat head screwdriver

The first thing to check is the wires inside the tonearm, these wires need to be very fine in order to not affect the arm’s movement, as these are easily broken. If they are broken this is a very fiddly repair (or expensive should you require someone else to do it) and should only be attempted by someone who knows what they are doing.

Set the multi-meter to its continuity setting and test each wire in turn. The wires and cartridge pin colours relate to the outputs as below.

White left channel positive [L+]

Red right channel pos. [R+]

Green right channel return [R-]

Blue left channel return [L-]

Once we know that the tonearm is fine we next need to check the condition of the drive belt. Remove this from the motor pulley and platter and check that it isn’t worn. Should you need a replacement belt these are readily available for most decks of this age online. If the rubber belt has perished clean (use a good quality foam cleaner) the surface of the platter or sub-platter to remove any residue before fitting your replacement.

Next we need to install a new stylus and cartridge. With a deck of this age I would do this as standard even if it already has one attached that looks OK. A worn stylus will damage you beloved vinyl so it’s worth not taking any chances.

For this deck I decided to fit an Ortofon OM5e cartridge and stylus, these are relatively cheap and easy to install. Because the Pioneer has detachable headshell all you need to do is fit each wire to the colour coded pin on the back of the cartridge with a pair small needle nose pliers.

Once we re-attach the headshell, with the newly fitted cartridge, we then need to set the down-force pressure.

The down-force pressure is critical for if it is too low the stylus will fail to hold on to the groove wall and mis-tracking will occur, damaging both stylus and record. If it is too high the stylus will wear out the groove wall.  

The down-force pressure is set by first balancing the tone-arm with the stylus cover removed from the cartridge. With a gentle pushing action, turn the counterweight along the rear end of the tone-arm tube.

Now move the arm so that the cartridge is positioned to the side of the platter then lower the arm-lift and carefully rotate the counterweight until the arm tube is in a balanced position.

When the arm is perfectly balanced return it to the rest position. Now hold the counterweight, but do not move it, and gently turn the scale ring until the zero is at the top (i.e. 12 o’clock).

Check once again that the arm is balanced and then rotate the whole of the counterweight counter clockwise (seen from the front) to adjust the down-force figure to match the cartridge manufacturer’s recommendations (in the case of the Ortofon OM5e it’s 17.5mN).

Once the down-force is set it is necessary to apply a small force to the side of the arm to stop it swinging to the centre of the record. This is called anti-skate force or sometimes bias adjustment. With the Pioneer this force is applied by a small dial to the right hand side of the tonearm. It’s important to note that this force should match that of the cartridge downforce. In this case because we’ve set the counterweight to 17.5mn we need to move the bias dial to 17.5.

Once we have the downforce and anti-skate set we can then move onto the cartridge alignment. This adjustment is vital to allow the tip of the stylus to travel along the centre of the grooves on a record. Without setting the correct alignment you will cause irreversible damage to the vinyl.

Take the cartridge alignment tool and place the hole over the spindle as if it were a record.

There are two calibration points, one near the centre of the disc and one near to the outside edge. Loosen the screws that hold the cartridge and gently twist the cartridge around its mounting so that the side of the cartridge body are parallel to the lines drawn on the protractor. Now move the cartridge to the second alignment point on the protractor and repeat the process. Once this has been done you should carefully tighten the mounting screws.

At this point I would next check the VTA or vertical tracking angle (this simply means that the tonearm should run parallel to records when playing) but as this Pioneer doesn’t have that adjustment I can’t. This does limit the choice of cartridge options as you’ll need one the same height as that which you’ve replaced. As it happens the Ortofon OM5e is the perfect match and as you can see from the picture below it works perfectly.

Now we have made all the necessary adjustments the only thing left to do is put on a record and enjoy the music.

Please feel free to contact me for further advice on adammsd@hotmail.com

Adam Thompson
Centurion Records – Unit 50 Hungerford Arcade

Hungerford Arcade has been extremely busy with customers from all over the country and the four corners of the globe.  However, one face just stood out from the crowd.  I could not believe it when I saw that it was the one and only singer/songwriter and actor, Will Young.  Will loves the Arcade and visits us quite often his arms always full of lovely items that he is buying.

Today, when I saw Will, I decided that I must talk to him and he didn’t mind at all.  In fact, he was marvellous.  He showed us photographs on his iPhone of the beautiful ponies he has rescued and who now live on his big estate.  Sheilah, a gorgeous shetland pony who is very small, stole his heart and I could see why.  The ponies are very happy in their new home having acres of lush green land where they live, play and are very much loved.

 Arcade stallholder Daniel Evans, was so excited.  He told Will that the very first dance his mum and dad had was to Will’s song, Evergreen.  Will said that is a lovely song and he seemed quite moved. Of course, Dan phoned his mother immediately and sent her a photograph of him with Will and she was over-the-moon.  Stallholder, Philippa Harper was also in the photograph but unfortunately, I only have one of Dan and Philippa together because Dan went home with the photos on his phone!  I will of course post it on here when I have it.

Thank you very much Will for making me and everyone in the Arcade very happy.  There were camera phones snapping all around you but you took it all in your stride and gave us all a treat we will never forget. Ritaxxx

HUNGERFORD ARCADE

VINTAGE MILITARY VEHICLES DISPLAY

SUNDAY, 6th NOVEMBER 2016

10.00am to 4.00 pm

In aid of the Poppy Appeal

Hungerford Arcade is very proud once again this year to have the Vintage Military Vehicles outside at the front of the building next Sunday, 6^th November.  We also welcome the Wessex Rangers who will also be helping to raise much needed money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Please come along, see these wonderful old vehicles, chat to the owners and give them your support and hopefully raise lots of money for our brave service men and women who made such big sacrifices in conflicts that have gone before and are still going on in the world today.

Lest We Forget

For some reason I have always loved Margate and do try to visit the town if I am in the area.  I have no childhood memories of Margate as I was raised in the West Country and Weymouth and Weston Super Mare were the resorts that I tended to visit.  The nearest connection I had was that my mother visited Cliftonville in 1933 with her school.  But this all changed in 2000 when my daughter went to university in Canterbury.  At last, I had the excuse to visit Margate and so I did in the November of that year.

I had an idea what awaited me and was rather disappointed when I arrived.  Margate was dying. The once elegant hotels were either closed or were just being used by the local authority.  Even the marvellous Turner Light seemed to have abandoned the town.  The shops were tired and there were a number of empty properties.  As I walked along the beach I felt I could see the ghosts of day-trippers past although this was an obvious fancy.  I left Margate that day but vowed to revisit the town when the weather was kinder and less bleak.

For a variety of reasons I did not revisit Margate until 2011.  I was drawn back by the opening of the Turner Contemporary which was opened in the April of that year.  Although still looking tired, the town had been greatly enhanced by the opening of the gallery.  I was not aware of this at the time but the gallery had been built on the site of Mrs Booth’s guest house.  This was the residence where Turner stayed whenever he visited Margate and he and Mrs Booth subsequently became very close.  Their story is told in part in Mile Leigh’s movie Mr Turner which is now available on DVD.  Although a tad dramatized, I enjoyed the movie when I saw it at the cinema and recommend it should you want to know more about his life.  I also noted that people were not just visiting Margate because of the gallery and the splendid beach but because of the town itself.

Margate had responded to the opening of the gallery and to some extent had become chic.  The café society had arrived and one could now eat al fresco under the strong Kent sun. Another thing I noticed was that a few antique outlets had begun to spring up in the area near to the gallery.  In my view this enhances any town and Margate was no exception.

A few days ago I found myself in Margate again and although it was a cool autumn day the light was astonishing.  It was almost if the town was bathed in blue.  As I had an hour or so to kill before I caught my train back to Deal, I decided to visit these antique shops and was pleasantly surprised.  I think I half expected rather chic antique shops with chic prices to match.  But what I found was gloriously ramshackle with bargains to be had if you looked hard enough.  What I did like was that a couple of the shops exhibited some of their wares on the pavements outside.  A few seventy-eights as well as boxes of collectable items all, it appeared, for around a pound.  One shop had some vintage signage possibly from Dreamland and the prices asked were a little more expensive.  But this was an exception. Another establishment had a £1.00 basement which was exciting and some of the items for sale were to say the least very collectable. I picked up a Victorian book of poetry and was tempted by many other things but as I was travelling light that day I settled for Macaulay’s Lays of Ancient Rome.

The nice thing about most seaside resorts is that for the last hundred or so years they have sold souvenirs such as postcards and traditional seaside gifts.  Margate is no different and whilst a lot of these items have ended up in the garbage can in the sky some have gone through the years without fading  and this was what I found that afternoon.

I personally think it is great fun to collect items from yesteryear that bring back memories of what your parents would have purchased when they were children.  I looked through a couple of boxes of memories and was quite taken by the selection.   few of the postcards pre-dated my parents and were from the era of my grandparents. Quiet postcards showing views of Margate and other local resorts.  Small ceramics with the crest of the towns added.  A brochure from Broadstairs dating from the 1950s.  The choice was extensive.  What was quite nice was that with one or two exceptions these vintage souvenirs were all reasonably priced.  Still, I was travelling light so I resisted the temptation again.

Margate, if you travel by train is direct from London or with only the minimum of changes.  I usually travel from St Pancras on the high speed trains which are very efficient.  What I do like about the town is that the railway station is almost on the beach. If you have ever walked from Ramsgate station towards the sea then you will get my meaning.

Margate Railway Station is also great to look at so please take a few minutes to look at the great hall.  It shares this distinction with the great hall at Ramsgate Railway Station but as I noted, Margate is much nearer to the beach.  The area around the railway station is a little run down and there is a monstrosity of a tower block on your right which depresses me every time I see it.  There was some great architecture in the 1960s and 1970s but there is no way that this eyesore comes into that category.  Hopefully it will be demolished quite soon as it spoils the skyline of the town.  Unlike the beautiful gallery.

If you want to find the antique shops then turn right and walk towards the Turner Contemporary. They are mostly congregated to the right of the gallery in the streets opposite the harbour arm.  If you need refreshment then the cafes and pubs are good.

I also recommend the harbour arm and the gallery both of which have quite inexpensive places to eat.  Margate is a happy place especially in the summer and the memories of my dour visit all those years ago have now been consigned to history.

What I did not count upon was that as I walked towards the railway station that I would find a book not in one of the antique shops but in a charity shop which had one of the most haunting dedications I had seen for a while.  The book was a common edition of Scott’s Ivanhoe published by Collins.  I have picked these editions up before.  But what sold it to me was the dedication which I will share with you.

To my small friends from the Polish soldier

Joseph Krzowski

8^th September 1940

It was a dedication from a gentler but paradoxically more violent era and quite how it found its way to Margate is anybody’s guess.  But there it was.  Margate had surprised me again.

Happy Hunting

Stuart Miller-Osborne

SATURDAY, 22nd OCTOBER 2016

HUNGERFORD LIBRARY (AND BOOKSHOP & ARCADE) 

10:30 – 1:30. TICKETS £3 PER CHILD

Nicola and Rita at Hungerford Arcade

Hungerford Arcade is always ready to help with the wonderful events that go on in our beautiful market town.  Nicola Chester called in today and said that she will be leading a fun ‘story steal mash-up’ for children and their parents.  You will search the library, Hungerford Bookshop and antiques in the Arcade to find two or three ingredients to inspire your short story.   It could be a book title, picture or a found object.  You’ll return to the library after the hunt to ‘mash’ them all together to form a story. Nicola will be on hand to give ideas and advice.

Please bring a pen, a notebook and your imagination. This event begins at Hungerford Library and will last about three hours. Please bring a packed lunch. Advised age: 7 years upwards.

Nicola Chester is an award-winning nature writer. She writes a column for the Newbury Weekly News, and is the author of ‘RSPB Spotlight: Otters’ and contributing author to the anthologies ‘Summer’ & ‘Spring’ in the Changing Seasons anthologies. She runs ‘Wild Writing’ workshops and is the librarian at John O’Gaunt School.

It was a joy meeting you today Nicola.  A truly amazing lady!  Rita

Hungerford Arcade staff got into a very interesting conversation with two lovely ladies, Judy Neale and Ginny Dreyer a while back and I am going to share their story with you about this wonderful organisation, Lambourn Riding For The Disabled.

Riding For The Disabled is a national organisation made up of member groups dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through riding and/or carriage driving. It is all about giving children and adults confidence and independence to benefit their health and wellbeing and to achieve their goals while having fun.

Horse riding offers an opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, friendship, laughter, achievement, independence and confidence.  Professionals also recognise these are significant therapeutic benefits of the rider.

The local representative of the RDA is the Lambourn Group which is part of the Southern Region. Each group of the RDA is self supporting, so fundraising is an essential part of ensuring we can continue to provide a centre for riding locally.

Lambourn RDA relies on the input and support of its volunteers – not just those who help with riding but also fundraising, treasurers and administrators or simply those who can help with a bit of DIY!  We need volunteers with a wide range of skills – people who want to share in the fun and excitement and be part of the environment that bring horses and people together for such great benefit.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Labourn Group either on a regular basis or as and when you can, they would be delighted to hear from you. No previous experience with horses is required and appreciate all offers of help, large or small.

http://www.lambournrda.co.uk/

Reg Charity No: 1145104