Country Mantel Clock
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 Summer Country Floral Desk Table Mantel Quartz Clock NEW A3672  US $24.95
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 Vintage 1976 Asian Japan Gilded Rapillon Quartz Action Mantel Clock US $24.99
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 BN Paris Cottage Chic Vintage Shabby Pink Roses Glass Framed Clock US $7.99
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 Metal Table or Mantel Clock Hobnail 15 New Fair Combined Shipping US $17.95
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 Metal Look Mantel Clock 15 Antique Look Resin Table Clock Fair Shipping US $22.99
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 Metal Shelf or Mantel Brown Tone Clock 17x13 Battery Operated Fair Shipping US $22.91
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 mantel fireplace clock US $39.95
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 COUNTRY PRIMITIVE CLOCK MANTEL OR WALL STYLE US $19.99
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 ALESSI Brown Black Wooden Mantel Michael Graves Gold Plated Clock US $199.00
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 DESK MANTEL SHELF CLOCK BURGUNDY Simulated Wood US $.01
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 GOLD TONE ISLAM DESK MANTEL SHELF CLOCK QURAN FRAME US $.01
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 3800 ULTIMATE WOODWORKING PLANS COLLECTION on DVD US $6.95
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 DESK MANTEL SHELF CLOCK BURGUNDY Faux Mahogany Plastic US $.01
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with Lion head design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with humming bird design antique white finish 2 US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with Floral design antique white finish 18 US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with Floral design antique white finish 17 US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with floral design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with Floral Bird design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with bird sphere design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock with bird flower design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock Humming bird floral design antique white finish US $19.99
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 Heavy Iron mantel or table Clock Humming bird design antique white finish US $19.99
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 VINTAGE 3 ARM FRENCH CHANDELIER METAL FLORAL SHABBY COTTAGE STYLE WHITE PINK US $528.00
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 1920s Egyptian Revival Isis Sculptural Quartz Mantel Clock Statue Replica US $185.00
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 ELEGANT DANBURY MANTEL OR DESK CLOCK VERY NICE US $15.00
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 LARGE VINTAGE FRENCH CHANDELIER DARK OAK CARVED HUNTING STYLE US $704.00
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 Howard Miller Crescendo Travel Alarm Alarm Mantel Table Clock US $17.50
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 Beautiful rare Mantel Clock f Pfeilkreuz 20s US $145.00
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 Pair of Buffet Table Bedside Lamps Black Cottage Set 2 US $98.95
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 Executive Mother of Pearl Gemstone Globe w 3 Clocks Thermometer Gold Gilded US $149.99
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 Mantel clock distressed vintage chic antique french country fireplace shabby US $64.69
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 Small Wooden Bread Bin with See Through Window US $39.48
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 VICIS ANGELUS TIME ANGEL CLOCK Spirituality Religion US $25.26
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 SUNFLOWER TABLE SHELF MANTEL CLOCK GLASS COVER BUILT IN STAND COLORFUL UNIQUE US $14.50
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 ANTIQUED VINTAGE BIRD on a BRANCH TABLETOP MANTEL CLOCK HOME DECOR US $24.00
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 ANTIQUED GOLD VINTAGE NEW ERA ALEXANDRE MANTLE TABLE CLOCK US $36.95
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 Tin Antique Style Bakery Cupcake Sign Shelf Clocks US $14.50
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 BEAUTIFUL WOOD CLOCK SHELF or MANTEL by HALLMARK HOME DECOR CLOCK FREE SHIPPING US $22.99
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 Seth Thomas Autoset Clock US $9.99
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 Vtg BC Porcelain Quartz Clock with Delicate Pink Roses Accent Mantel or Shelf US $32.99
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 Bulova B2840 Quartz Mantal Shelf Clock Missing Pendulum US $19.99
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 New Modern Black Molded Small Geometric Number Time Desk Mantel Clock Big s US $35.00
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 Antiqued Copper Finish Hanging Mantel Desk Clock US $39.99
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 HUGE 36 French Country Chic Antiqued Ivory Face WALL Mantel CLOCK Fleur De Lis US $269.99
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 Country Chic Iron BIRD VINE MANTEL Shelf Table CLOCK ANTIQUED GOLD ACCENTS US $169.99
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 ANTIQUE MANTLE CLOCK WOOD MARQUETRY UK C1950 US $155.99
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 Danbury Quartz Clock Wood w Engravable Plate Nice US $39.99
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 WELL WORN VINTAGE FRENCH COUNTRY COPPER BRASS PLANTER US $50.00
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 VINTAGE MARBLE HAND MADE CLOCK MANTEL SHELF ELECTRIC US $400.00
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 Primitive WOOD Country Mantel Clock Country decor US $29.99
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 Allen Designs Puppy Dog Pendulum Mantel Table Clock US $69.99
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 Black Red 9 Inch Square Dice Desk Clock Vegas US $34.99
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 New Faux BRASS NAUTICAL SHELF CLOCK Coastal Home Decor Mantel Table Accent US $79.99
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 Crazy Melted Bronze Finish Mantel Clock Desk Table US $84.99
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 Baroque Style Bronze Finish Mantle Clock Sphinx US $109.99
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 Cool Bronze Finish Melted Desk Clock Table Mantel Dali US $84.99
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 Bronze Finish Melting Mantel Clock Desk Table Dali US $94.99
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 Bulova Simphohy II Mantel clock Westmister melody every hours BRAND NEW US $69.95
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 Space Shuttle Pendulum Desk Clock Astronaut US $34.99
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 Garden Treasures Indoor Outdoor Mantel Clock NIB US $29.99
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 Bulova Insight Mantel Clock B2840 US $22.99
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 Umbra Theo Espresso Wood Mantel Standing Shelf Clock US $13.99
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 Unistar Miniature Gold Tone Mantel Shelf Clock Quartz Movement 1 15 16 L US $19.99
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 SMITHS Art Deco 8 Day Floating Balance Mantel Clock Great Britain US $12.99
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 River City Clocks Radio controlled Tambour Mantel Clock with Oak Finish 9 Inch US $34.95
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 Whitewashed Antiqued Quartz Clock w Wood Box Case and Trio of Finials US $38.72
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 Carnaby Collection Seymour Mann Pottery Working Clock US $49.95
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 165 French Baroque Ornate Dancing Harvest Cherubs Mantle Desk Clock US $179.55
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 Hand Painted Country Decor Wall Shelf Clock HOLLY HOBBIE Style Figures 10¾ x 9 US $6.99
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 Large Wrought Iron Fleur De Lis METAL Wall CLOCK DECOR French NEW 36 Time Watch US $115.95
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 Chrome Plated Miniature Classic Carriage Clock Mantel Clock US $30.00
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 SEIKO Musical Mantel Clock QXW219BLH US $158.50
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 SEIKO DECORATIVE WOOD CASE MANTEL CLOCK QXG139BLH US $119.50
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 Farm Animals Table Top Clock Pendulum Rooster Dairy Cows Apple Tree Battery US $27.00
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 ANTIQUED METAL CHIC n SHABBY PARIS CROWN 13 TABLETOP MANTEL CLOCK US $44.00
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 STAIGER MANTEL Glass Dome Clock West Germany FOR REPAIR PARTS US $48.40
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 GZHEL PORCELAIN Amazing decorative Tree Mantel Clock Fast shipping US $399.99
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 Eagle Clock Desk Mantel Office figurine Wild Animal Flying Eagles US $44.99
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 Primitive Wood Country Mantel Clock Antique White Country Primitive Home Decor US $39.99
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Behind the Dial
Copyright (c) 2009 Mike Bond
I retired when I was 50, and settled in a very pleasant town in the south of England, which I'd prefer remained nameless.
I'd always messed around with clocks as a hobby and over the years had built up quite a collection. Most of them didn't work, but now I was able to sit down and repair them and generally increase my knowledge of horology.
You never really leave the Service. I was attached to the Secret Intelligence Service, known variously as S.I.S. or M.I.6., concerned with foreign threats to the country.
Officially, I didn't exist, I and the half dozen men I worked with. We were trained by the S.A.S. and before being drafted into the 'black' section, we had to be up to their level. Following this came further 'dirty tricks' involvement before we were sent on any mission.
My name, Jonathan Barlow, is fictitious for obvious reasons. I'm 62 now, but at the time this happened I'd been out of the Service for three years.
This chap walked in one day with a clock and asked me to repair it. I'd been on active duty for 20 years, and you know them as soon as you see them.
"What's the matter with it?" I asked.
"Um, are you alone, Sir?" He was young, about the same age as I'd been when I joined M.I.6. originally.
"I'm alone. What's the problem?"
"Well, Sir, we'd just like you to hang onto this for a few days. There's, er, something in it."
"Where in it?" I asked him.
"Behind the dial, Sir."
It was a large, antique fusee mantel clock, and very heavy. It struck the hours on a huge, coiled gong, and chimed the quarters on a nest of bells.
"Actually, Sir, it doesn't really need repairing. It's just that we want someone we can trust to hold it until the owner can pick it up."
"I guessed that. How will I know the customer?"
"As soon as he walks in, he'll start counting out dollar bills on your workbench. In fact, he is an American. Then he'll ask for his heirloom. Just let him take it, Sir, and that's that."
"Who're the villains?" I asked him.
"The Russians are rather interested in the piece, Sir."
"I see. You're sure you weren't made coming here?"
"No, Sir, of course not. Too careful for that." His tone bordered on the indignant.
"The Ivans are just as good, my lad, and probably a damn sight better. Always remember that." It was a bit like scolding a puppy.
"When should I expect the owner?"
"One week, Sir, definitely no later."
"And if he doesn't come, what then?"
"Then I'll be back, Sir, but we have no doubt he's going to make it."
"Right," I told him. "See one of you in a week."
He said goodbye, opened the door and I watched him stride off down the street. From force of habit I had a look around. The youngster had turned left. There was a car parked further up the road to the right on the far side, and the bloke inside didn't drop down behind the dashboard quite quickly enough.
I watched chummy get into his car, pull out and start to drive away. The other car did the same. Why wasn't I surprised? This meant that I'd been made as well. Precautions would be taken that night.
My workshop used to be the garage and was attached to the house, which was accessed through a door set at an angle in the far wall.
I carried the big clock through into my drawing room and set it on the table in the middle of the room. I'd examine its contents later that evening.
I made all the usual precautions. My bed looked as though someone was in it. I dug out my Sig Sauer P226, cleaned it, made sure the action was good and loaded it. I strapped my knife to me, then went around the house and made sure all was secure. Then I set about seeing what secret the clock held.
Very carefully, I removed the dial and a piece of paper fell out onto the table. It was written in Cyrillic, but the only words that made sense were something about artificial gravity. The rest of the writing consisted of equations and complicated mathematical formulae. Languages were another thing we had to learn, and I was reasonably literate in Russian. I also knew that artificial gravity concerned manned space flight.
At a guess, we'd copped this from the Ivans and naturally enough, they wanted it back. I was pretty sure I could expect a visit.
About the Author
I strongly recommend a visit to this site. One of the finest clock establishments in the country, it sells antique pieces, both longcase and mantel, as well as modern clocks by Howard Miller, America's leading clock manufacturer. They have a full service department too.
http://www.mywebcashstore.com/bond9241
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