The Mother of All Entertainment Centers

In a previous article, I discussed how the television has replaced the fireplace as the centerpiece of our (i.e. society’s) living room. Taking it further, in many homes—including my own–the entertainment center is the king of the castle. They vary in size, from small consoles to large wall units, but the objective remains the same: hold the television, cable box and/or video game system, and house a movie/music collection. Of course, it goes without saying that the more media you have, the bigger entertainment center you’ll need. I have a large wall unit myself, which gives me the luxury of storing the plethora of books, CD’s and DVD’s I own. You can also place collectables and other assorted knick-knacks, if you’re so inclined. For a while, I considered buying a bust of Julius Caesar and placing it in one of the empty cubby holes of the unit.

The Rise of the Roman Empire

Before he was murdered in 44 B.C., Caesar had planned on constructing a massive library in Rome; one that would rival the Great Library of Alexandria (which he happened to destroy during the Alexandrian War of 48 B.C.). So what’s the connection to entertainment centers, you ask? BOOKS, of course! You didn’t think they had digital cable back then, did you? And even if they did, somehow I doubt they’d be watching programs like Jersey Shore or the Real Housewives of So and So (if, um, they had a television of the future). Hmm, on second thought, knowing their love of decadence, they probably would; I can totally see Caligula being delighted at the exploits of Snooki and Co.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

 

As advanced as the Ancient Romans were–the well-off did have private libraries–I’m sure they would have done a double (or triple) take after laying eyes on today’s HomeTime Furniture featured product. Before we get to the photo (don’t peek!), here’s Parker House’s (the manufacturer) official description:

“For the ultimate home office and entertainment center, this grand wall unit cannot be missed. Substantial in size and incredibly detailed and designed, this wall unit combines the best in open shelving, media storage, and home office workspace into one complete package. Created from two outside corners, two 21 inch glass door bookcases, two 32 inch glass door bookcases, one inside corner, one 32 inch open top bookcases, a 50 inch TV console and 50 inch bookcase bridge, a library desk and hutch, and a library ladder, this large wall system gives you all of the storage you could possibly need with over fourty-five (45) shelves, seventeen (17) doors, four (4) drawers, and a great amount of display and work space. The rich wood tones, intricate metal scroll work, twisted rope wood carvings, plank paneling with hammered nail head accents, and thick moldings create a look that is rich and impressive. Adding this great piece to your living room, den, or home office will surely create a feeling of old-world grandeur and luxury that can’t be matched. Gorgeous, functional, and multi-tasking, this entertainment center home office wall unit gives you all that you need in one complete package.”

In short, this is a wall unit you would find in the Batcave. So without further adieu, Parker House’s Barcelona Collection’s Home Office and Entertainment Center Wall System:

:drool:

 

Much like gold, this is something you purchase only if you can afford it (and have the space). I strike out on both counts. By the looks of it, you can fit everything plus the kitchen sink in the unit. It wasn’t mentioned in the description, but the television console includes an iPod dock. Yes, my friends, the times, they are a-changing. There’s even a LIBRARY LADDER, like you see in the movies! If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is. But that’s the kind of quality you get from a company like Parker House, a family owned and operated business since 1946. They strive, and succeed, in offering the highest quality, the best value, the newest designs, and the most satisfying service available for the price/category of the merchandise offered. In addition to wall units, they also offer bookcases, coffee, end and sofa tables, credenzas and hutches, curios, desks and file cabinets. So even if the Mother of all Entertainment Centers isn’t for you, something else most likely is. Browse through the various collections and see what you like.

Math!

And thus concludes another lesson in home decor from HomeTime Furniture. Class dismissed.

 

No Prohibition Here: Your Very Own Bar Set!

Believe it or not, there was a time in this country when you couldn’t drink. The Powers That Be, in their infinite wisdom, decided that alcohol was so, so dangerous, the federal government had to step in and save us from the scourge threatening the populace. For those who know their history, this era was known as Prohibition (mandated by the 18th Amendment to the Constitution), and it lasted thirteen years. A harmonic (or disharmonic, depending on how you look at it) convergence of events led to its ultimate demise: namely, the Great Depression (for both economic and social reasons) and the mob’s involvement in underground alcohol running, which culminated in the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, of which Al Capone was the ringleader (orchestrating the machine-gunning of seven of his rival, Bugs Moran’s, crew). And so, the 21st Amendment in 1933 put to bed what the “Temperance Movement” of the late 1700’s began. And we’re all happier for it.

 

Sam the Sewer Dragon could only be appeased by a barrel of gin a day

 

 

80 years later and the speakeasies of old have given way to the pubs of today. Now, if you’re like me, a city slicker, there are no shortage of bars to frequent. But if you’re also like me, you’re tired of the whole bar “scene”;  the schlep to the city, the parking headaches, trying to convince The Girl of Your Dreams that you’re worth the time of day, and, then, even if you wooed TGOYD successfully, avoiding another male from strong-arming you into giving her up…you know, the usual single guy stuff.

 

But fear not, fellow single men! There’s a solution to our problems, and it comes courtesy of HomeTime Furniture! Feast your eyes on this baby:

 

 

Invisible people like wine, too

 

 

I exaggerate, of course. Bar sets aren’t just for single men…they’re for everyone! Anyone CLASSY, that is. Which means it’s for you (you’re extremely cool, did anyone ever tell you that?), and you (coolness personified), and definitely you (you’re just ok, but I love you, anyway). In all seriousness, though, a bar set is a heck of a thing to have in your home. Want to entertain a lady friend? Or, conversely, a man that you’re trying to snag? How about a chill spot where you and your bud can have a drink (or seven)? Or for any of the other myriad purposes a person/couple might be interested in one? Then why go to a crowded, noisy bar…BRING THE BAR HOME. Or at least the atmosphere of the pub, which, other than alcohol, is the most important element of the bar-going experience (in my opinion, anyway; this is taking into account that you have company to entertain and you’re not drinking alone. Like this unfortunate.).

 

 

Unfortunate

 

The bulk of HomeTime Furniture’s bar sets are from Hillsdale Furniture, one of the nation’s foremost authorities of home furnishings. Since its inception in 1994, Hillsdale has combined the talents of both nationally recognized designers and globally accredited factories to bring you furniture styling and design from around the world that add beauty to any home. Selection, customer service and value are the guidelines that have added Hillsdale to the top of buyers shopping lists. 

 

They are also specialists when it comes to specific categories like–you guessed it–bar and counter stools, designer oriented beds and daybeds, bedroom furniture, casual dining and accents. Taking pages from the history of furniture design and leads from their customers, Hillsdale combines the best in finishes, materials and designs to bring you both beauty and value with every piece you purchase. The combination of metal, wood, stone and leather has given Hillsdale the reputation for “leading edge” styling and concepts. These design details are carried forward to all categories of home furnishings in which Hillsdale specializes.

 

So whether you decide to buy a bar set, a dining table, or a bed, Hillsdale is a manufacturer to consider. And using coupon code HIL5 at checkout will garner you a 5% discount on Hillsdale purchases of $500 or more. Sweet, huh? But that’s what we do at HomeTime Furniture…make homes, and customers, happy.

 

And with that out of the way, I can now re-focus my energies on things that really matter.

 

 

 

Not unfortunate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cartoon Furniture: The Final Frontier

Brand Licensing has been going on since time immemorial. Whether it was Slimer from Ghostbusters on Hi-C “Ecto-Cooler” juice boxes (my sister and I LOVED it), He-Man adorning childrens’ party bags (my birthday party circa 1985) or the plethora of movie tie-ins many fast food chains have/are engaged in (get your Shrek Happy Meal! Uh, no, thank you), companies rarely miss an opportunity to make money with their intellectual property. Now you might think that I’d be against the practice, since I’m all about grandfather clocks and fireplaces, but you’d be wrong. For me, one of life’s simple, yet sublime, pleasures is strolling down the supermarket aisle, checking out what television and/or film property is on a box of macaroni. Or cereal. Or fruit snacks. Admittedly, it doesn’t happen that often anymore (i.e. I’m too lazy to go to the supermarket), but I take solace in the fact that when I’ll need a roll of Bounty with a Pirates of the Caribbean logo emblazoned on it, it’ll be there.

I’m only half-kidding.

This actually existed

 

The rise of mass entertainment signalled the beginning of trademark licensing. With the success of properties like Superman, Mickey Mouse and The Lone Ranger, it was only a matter of time before some enterprising executive connected the dots: “Howdy Doody + doll = $$.” And so it came to pass that various corporations began working with the rights owners of well-known brands to create every type of ancillary product under the sun. Or, as mentioned above, going the lazy route and just plastering an existing item with a famous logo. So, as a result, we had Batman underoos, Bonanza lunch boxes, and Dark Shadows board games. All interesting, I’ll admit,  but nothing on a really grand scale. Enter the 21st century and Spongebob Squarepants FURNITURE. 

 

It was only when he got his own Game Chair, did SpongeBob feel complete

 

 

I could spend a whole day discussing the greatness of Nickelodeon. As a child of the late 80’s/early 90’s, Nickelodeon was, as the kids say, DA BOMB. They had everything: animation (Count Duckula, Danger Mouse), kids shows (Kid’s Court, Mr. Wizard’s World) game shows (Double Dare), comedy (You Can’t Do That on Television, Hey Dude), young adult soap operas (15), and, of course, evening programming…the tremendous Nick and Nite. By the mid 90’s, though, I had outgrown the network. That’s not to say I didn’t watch the occasional Doug, Rugrats, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, but it was few and far between. By the time SpongeBob hit the scene in 1999, I was 21 and interested in other things. Sure, I’ve seen a few episodes (I haven’t been living under the sea…er, rock), which were actually funny, but it was never appointment television for me. The same can’t be said for people I know–most notably my best friend and sister–who adore the program till today. Hey, who am I to judge? The show became such a success that a movie based on it was released in 2004. And for the longest time that was the litmus test; if you could translate your property to the silver screen, and successfully, you had truly made it.

 

But that spongy, squarepantsed, um, whatever he is, wasn’t done. Not by a longshot.

 

"What child? I'm getting this for myself!"

 

 

Lea Industries, a company known for its youth-oriented furniture, and Nickelodeon have teamed up to release a line of Nick-themed furniture called Nickelodeon Rooms. HomeTime Furniture carries their Nick (Nickelodeon Rooms Nick), Tween (Nickelodeon Rooms TweenNick), Teen (Nickelodeon Rooms TeenNick) and, last, but not least, SpongeBob collections (Nickelodeon Rooms SpongeBob Surf Club). My friends, there are pieces of furniture here I could have never imagined owning as a child, tween or teen (Slime! Time Drawer Chest, anyone?), but this is 2011, and the sky’s the limit. If children are allowed to have cellphones, why not a Game Chair? Overall, though, these collections include the pieces you’d expect to find in a youngster’s bedroom (albeit with a Nickelodeon flavor): bunk beds, storage beds, dressers, chests, chairs, mirrors, student desks and even extensive learning centers. So if your little one, tween or teen is a Nickelodeon fanatic, consider one of these lines. Stylish, durable and functional, they make a great addition to any bedroom.

 

Even yours, you big baby. 

 

 

 

 

Fireplaces and Stuff

Home is where the heart is.

A house is not a home.

There’s no place like home(time Furniture).

These are but a few of the many home-related chestnuts we’ve heard over the years. But is it true? Is home and hearth really where it’s at? Well, of course it is…you have read the name of this blog, right? But putting aside that fact for a moment, as an avowed lover of all things retro, how could I not like the most retro of institutions…the home.

In my last blog post, I touched on the majesty of the grandfather clock. If you’re interested in adding a touch of class to your home–and you can afford it, of course–nothing beats one of those regal relics from the past. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to live in a haunted house to own one. The same can be said about our topic today…the fireplace.

Insert Jim Morrison/Doors Joke Here

Much like the grandfather clock, my introduction to the fireplace was through television, although at a much younger age. Growing up in the NYC area, every Christmas eve and morning, WPIX-TV (or Channel 11) would air a continuous loop of a burning log (AKA the ‘Yule Log’). At the time, I didn’t get the point (I was both too young and too Jewish): were there really people sitting down to watch a log burn for seventeen hours (or however long it was)? What was it all about? It was only with the passage of time that I began to understand its inherent appeal. Fire–or, rather, fire in a controlled setting–is great to look at; few things are more mesmerizing (just ask Beavis of Beavis and Butthead fame). Fire also, obviously, emits heats, which everyone likes. Add the soothing crackling sounds you get when fire meets wood, and the fireplace is a winner on all levels. For folks who didn’t have one in their living room, the televised Yule Log was the next best thing. It goes without saying that no one was actually staring at the tube for all those hours; the “program” was in the background while families unwrapped their presents, ate Christimas dinner, or just enjoyed the festivities of the holiday. Of course, I’m just guessing. Please let me know if I’m wrong.

The fireplace–the real fireplace–has a rich history. In the beginning (literally in the beginning, when fire was discovered), fire pits in the center of rooms were used to heat the assorted people gathered around it, cook food and provide light when the sun went down. Since this was thousands of years ago, and chimneys didn’t exist yet (they didn’t come onto the scene till the late 12th century in Northern Europe), smoke escaped through a hole made in the ceiling of a particular dwelling. No, it doesn’t sound too safe to me, either, but those were the realities of the time.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw ground-breaking advancements in fireplace technology. In 1678, A British royal by the name of Prince Rupert (nephew to Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, who was executed in 1649 for fear he was becoming too tyrannical), who also happened to be a scientist, raised the grate of the fireplace, improving venting and air flow. Benjamin Franklin–yes, the Benjamin Franklin–maintained the tide of innovation with his famous Franklin Stove, in 1741. Developing a new style of stove with a hoodlike enclosure in the front and an airbox in the rear, the reconfiguration of the flues (which is a duct, pipe or chimney that conveys exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace, water heater, boiler or generator to the outdoors; In the United States, they are known as vents) made for a more efficient fire, one that used one quarter as much wood and generated twice as much heat. It is said that when offered a patent for the fireplace’s design, he turned it down. As it turned out, he wasn’t in it for the profit; his intention was to help mankind, not make money. Now, tell me, who would even consider that today? Finally, in the later 18th century, Sir Benjamin Thompson (or Count Rumford), an Anglo-American physicist who also served in the American Revolutionary War as a Loyalist (a group of Americans who supported the British crown…boo!!), applied his knowledge of heat to perfecting the fireplace. He made them smaller and shallower with widely angled covings so they would radiate better. And he streamlined the design of the throat so the smoke would encounter no obstacle in its natural tendency to travel upwards. Today, with the extensive restoration of old and historic houses and the renewed popularity of early American and classical architecture in new construction, Rumford fireplaces are enjoying a comeback. They are generally appreciated for their tall classic elegance and their heating efficiency.

There are three types of fireplaces: masonry (brick and stone) manufactured (“prefabs” that have sheet metal fire boxes), and ventless (duct-free/room-venting fireplaces). Masonry and manufactured fireplaces can be fueled with wood, natural gas, biomass and LP/propane fuel sources, while ventless fireplaces are fueld by either gel, LP/bottled gas or natural gas.  In the US, some states and local counties have laws and ordinances regarding ventless fireplaces. They require the least installation and are the most efficient fireplace. The gas burning version of a vent-free fireplace while using less fuel, burns that fuel at close to 100% efficiency. They must be sized appropriately to the area to be heated. Aside from the heat output there are also air quality control problems due to the amount of moisture they release into the room air, and oxygen and carbon monoxide sensors are safety essentials.

"Behold! I am the great and powerful FIREPLACE!!"

The Amini Innovation Corporation (or AICO) has been one of the top furniture manufacturers since its formation by founder Michael Amini in 1988. AICO specializes in upholstery, bedroom, living room, dining room furniture, and bed designs that are created for those who demand the very best for their homes. Through careful planning and the exceptional ability to balance line and design, AICO makes certain that every element from Michael Amini’s travels is gracefully incorporated in each collection. From intricately carved headboards to velvet and cedar-lined drawers, AICO takes extra steps in highlighting design, style, and detail in each of its pieces. The unique mix of modern production techniques, craftsmanship, meticulous concern, and constant refinement ensure the integrity in construction in every Michael Amini product.

AICO, through HomeTime Furniture, offers opulent fireplaces as part of certain collections (Windsor Court, Palais Royale, Eden, Villagio, Sovereign, Trevi, Tuscano, Villa Valencia, Cortina, and Oppulente, among others), but they can be purchased separately. Most of these fireplaces have electric inserts, which means no cut wood, no open fire, no propane and, most importantly, no fumes. In short, no hassle. Coupled with equisite mantels, and AICO fireplaces are the way to go. They are pricey, to be sure, but for those interested, we do offer a 10% coupon on all AICO items; just use coupon code AICO10 at checkout.

"That Charlie Sheen...what a cut-up!"

 

Home entertainment centers have replaced the fireplace as the center of attention in modern living rooms. Where once we had the glow of a fire to capture our attention, now we have the glow of the HD television set. Where once family and friends gathered around a crackling flame to chat about this or that, complete silence is the order of the day in today’s living rooms. While we may never be able to fully relive those times, it’s nice to know we can replicate a part of what made those days so great.

Michael Amini, I thank you!

 

Grandfather Clocks? Grandfather Clocks!

May I be honest with you?

 

 

In coming up with a concept for the HomeTime Furniture.com blog, this writer nearly had an anxiety attack. Yes, an anxiety attack. It’s true.

 

Let me clarify. Undoubtedly, writing is one of the great passions in my life; whether it be the short Hardy Boys-like adventure stories I furiously scribbled down as a kid–filling up those black and white notebooks we all know so well–or the angst-filed romance trilogy I churned out on my word processor as a teenager, to the various movie reviews, miscellaneous articles, and poetry I’ve written in recent years, I’ve always enjoyed putting pen to paper (or, um, fingers to keyboard), and creating something out of nothing.

Until now.

Don’t get me wrong, coming aboard HomeTime Furniture is very exciting. Along with the marketing duties that I was hired for, and do enjoy, I’ve been given the responsibility of writing for and maintaining this brand spankin’ new blog for the company. Which, on the surface, sounds great; I mean, what could be better than a person doing the thing he loves, right? The problem, of course, isn’t the writing…it’s the content. Anyone can write about stuff that interests them; the real challenge lies in crafting content relating to topics a person knows nothing about. Being new to the industry, furniture falls into that category for me.

"A furniture article? Nooo!!"

 

My first thought was to take a manufacturer’s press release, re-word it a bit, and slap it on the blog. While press releases are still helpful tools, and I’ll use them when necessary, I quickly abanoned the wholesale use of that idea for obvious reasons: it wouldn’t have helped you, the potential or exisiting HomeTime Furniture customer, hence it wouldn’t have helped us as a company. As for myself, you guys would have never taken me and the blog seriously, which wouldn’t have translated into many page views. I still want this job, you know!

So I took a few days to think it over, and came up with something that sounded logical enough: being a guy in my early 30’s, I thought why not look over our site and pick certain products that I’d be interested in purchasing myself, for my own apartment. I would then the scour the net for information relating to said item, give my two (or three) cents in as entertaining fashion as possible, and, hopefully, convince you guys that the item was worth purchasing, too. At the very least, I thought, let it be entertaining and informative. Anyway, after perusing the site, I came upon an item I’ve always been strangely fascinated with.

Enter the Grandfather clock.

"Grandfather? I hardly knew her!"

 

In my experience, grandfather clocks always seem to pop up in either old, scary films–where they’re a spooky mansion staple–or…well, I guess that’s it. Of course I know that isn’t the case in real life, and that you’ll find them outside of haunted houses, but considering I’ve never been privileged to see one in person myself, film is what I have to go by. Just a hunch, but I’m guessing none of them open up to a secret passageway. I know, I should get out more.

I wish we sold these, too

There’s no single person to credit regarding the invention of the grandfather (or longcase, as it was originally called) clock. This is because there were a few individuals involved in the evolution of the product. Here’s a quick breakdown of who did what and when:

• Galilelo (1582)- called “The Father of Modern Science”, the Italian mathematician, physicist, and astronomer is most famous for his championing of Coperincanism, the belief that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. He was right, of course, but that didn’t stop the poor guy from being ratted out to the Roman Inquistion by philosophers and clerics. He was labeled a heretic for his views, and, subsequently, spent the remaining years of his life under house arrest. Bummer, huh? Regardless of his ignominious end, he was the first to discover that a pendulum could help in keeping time, and even drew the first designs for what would become the grandfather clock. I’m sure he’s smiling somewhere over that fact…or maybe not.
• Christiaan Huygens (1656)- Taking the baton from Galilelo, Huygens–a Dutch jack-of-all-trades scientist (think Galileo without the name recognition)–built the first working pendulum clock. However, as with any new invention, it wasn’t perfect. The clock used a mechanism (Verge encasement) which required very wide pendulum swings, and it was later ascertained by Huygens, in a famous paper he wrote on pendulums in 1673, that the opposite was necessary for accurate timekeeping. Who knew? Well, I guess he did.
• Robert Hooke (1670)- But a debate rages concerning who exactly was the first to come to this conclusion. Was it Huygens or a contemporary, Englishman Robert Hooke? What is known is that the latter is credited with the development of Anchor escapement, the successor to the 400 year old Verge system. The Anchor mechanism reduced the pendulum’s swing to around 4 to 6 degrees allowing clockmaker’s to use longer pendulums, which had slower beats. These needed less power, caused less friction and wear in the movement, and were more accurate.
• William Clement (1670)- And now we come to the man universally acknowledged as Mr. Grandfather Clock. Faced with longer pendulums, Clement (Englishman # 2)  realized he needed longer cases to house them, hence the not-so-clever “longcase” moniker that still serves as the alternate name for the grandfather clock.
• George Graham (1715)-  Bringing the scientific evolution of the grandfather clock to a close was George Graham (Englishman # 3), creator of a new encasement…the unfortunately-named Deadbeat encasement. But here we find controversy, too, as some hold that Robert Towneley (Englishman # 4?) actually invented the system in 1675, and that it was first used by Graham’s mentor, Thomas Tompion (Englishma…ah, forget it), in 1676. As it completely went over my head, if you so choose, you can read about Deadbeat encasement here (you’ll need to scroll down a little, though).

All modern grandfather clocks use the “new and improved” Deadbeat encasement.  Also, all of today’s clocks are “8 day clocks,” which means you only need to wind it once a week. And some manufacturers don’t even require that (keep reading for more information). Back in the day, there were two choices: the 8 day and a 30 hour version. Less expensive, the 30 hour clock required it be wound once a day. Doesn’t sound like a big deal to me, although, as noted above, I’m a grandfather clock novice.

Wikipedia, to the rescue, provides information relating to chime sequences and tunes:

“In the early 20th century, quarter-hour chime sequences were added to longcase clocks. At the top of each hour, the full chime sequence sounds, immediately followed by the hour strike. At 15 minutes after each hour, 1/4 of the chime sequence plays, at the bottom of each hour, half of the chime sequence plays, and at 15 minutes before each hour, 3/4 of the chime sequence plays. The chime tune used in almost all longcase clocks is Westminster Quarters. Many also offer the option of Whittington chimes or St. Michael’s chimes, selectable by a switch mounted on the right side of the dial, which also allows one to silence the chimes if desired. As a result of adding chime sequences, all modern mechanical longcase clocks have three weights instead of just two. The left weight provides power for the hour strike, the middle weight provides power for the clock’s pendulum and general timekeeping functions, while the right weight provides power for the quarter-hour chime sequences.”

Which brings me to the clocks HomeTime Furniture carries. Howard Miller and Ridegway, two of the leading grandfather clock manufacturers–outstanding, AMERICAN companies which, I am proud to say, we are authorized dealers of–offer a wide selection of longcases. Howard Miller, in business since 1926, has been making clocks practically since its inception. Originally manufacturing chiming and mantel clocks, the company finally got around to producing grandfather clocks in 1960. They became so proficient in their craft that they eventually earned the title of ”World’s Largest Grandfather Clock Manufacturer.” Ridgeway, another “old school” company, is also known for their clocks. At one time they sold the world’s only clock that played ”God Bless America” and  ”America the Beautiful”, but, unfortunately, it was discountinued a few years back. Someone on our Facebook fan page, probably half-jokingly, remarked that grandfather clocks should play rock and roll tunes to “bring them back into vogue.” I really dig that idea, so if you happen to be associated with one of the aforementioned manufacturers, it might be something worth looking into. But back to something I allued to earlier, regarding the winding of the clocks: Ridgeway Furniture is unique in that they make the industry’s only synchronous grandfather clock. In layman’s terms: you never have to wind it. Now that would have blown William Clement’s mind, I’m sure.

So why HomeTime Furniture? Along with shipping these stately, fragile clocks via no cost White Glove Delivery Service, you get our solemn pledge to try our best to match a lower competitor price. With all that good stuff, you shouldn’t be asking yourself “Why HomeTime Furniture?” You should be asking yourself “Why not HomeTime Furniture?”

"Could you PLEASE not touch the Deadbeat?!"

 

I remember watching the 1960’s cult gothic soap opera Dark Shadows as a teenager…in the 90’s. Putting aside the fact that I was a strange fifteen year old (not much has changed), I really enjoyed watching those reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel. Although the acting could be wooden at times, the sets liable to come apart at a moment’s notice, and the stories preposterous (some of them, anyway), there was an undeniable charm to it all. Everything was filmed on a small sound stage, making the proceedings extremely intimate; you felt like you were in that world: one inhabited by vampires, witches and werewolves. Sure, it was still a soap opera, but it had heart. It was also exciting, atmospheric, and scary. And, maybe most important of all, it was retro.

So what does this have to do with grandfather clocks?

The Collins family, the main clan of the show–the rich folks who lived in the mysterious mansion in Maine–owned a rather regal looking one. Oh, I couldn’t tell you what type it was, but I can confirm that it played a big part in my enjoyment of the show. It was background scenery, of course, but, boy, when that thing chimed, you knew things were going to get interesting; it was downright ominous. All these years later, and I still remember Barnabas Collins, the tortured vampire lead character (who, I might add, will be played by Johnny Depp in a big screen adaptation of the series slated to come out sometime next year). I still remember Angelique, the witch who cursed Barnabas with his affliction for spurning her love. I still remember the lovely Maggie, who Barnabas wanted to turn into his vampire bride. And, yes, I still remember that grandfather clock. The minute I saw that our company was selling them, it took me back to that more innocent time of my life. Sounds funny, right? Associating an innocent time in my life with a spooky old television show? And yet it’s true.

We live in a post-modern world that rarely stops to look at what came before. Who can, with the iPods, iPads, Xboxes, Kindles, Blackberry’s, and all other forms of gadgets. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t own any of those things. Although I wouldn’t say I live in the past, it does play a major role in my life…always has. And, at its heart, I think that’s what draws me to an item like the grandfather clock. It’s a relic from another time and place, like the show I first saw it on. Take my word for it, if these things ever disappear from the market, it will be a huge loss for us all. And for the more cynical among us, remember, not only does it have the great history behind it (did you know that the grandfather clock was called so because of an 1876 song called My Grandfather’s Clock?? And, no, it’s not available on iTunes), but it’s also a functional item. And it plays music. And it’s cool. What more could you want??

Look, I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve sold myself; I plan to get one as soon as I get married and move into a big (maybe creepy, maybe not) house.

Ah, marriage. New anxiety attack.