Guest house grandfather clock sells for £400,000

A grandfather clock that was a conversation piece in Lake District guest house turned-out to be a rare example that has sold for more than £400,000.

The ebony veneer "long clock" was made in London around 1670 by Dutch-born Ahasuerus Fromanteel, who built the first-ever precise pendulum clocks in England.

It went into a sale at Bonhams auction rooms in London with an estimate of up to £150,000 but went under the hammer for £400,800, to an un-named collector.

Bonhams sold the timepiece on behalf of the owners of a Lakeland guest house where it arrived after spending 100 years measuring time at a house in rural France.

Despite its travels the 5ft 9inch tall clock is in fine, original condition with the ebony veneered case intact along and with exquisite mouldings to the hood, trunk and sides.

A Bonhams spokesman said: "Without doubt, had this clock been known to the great horological historians of the past, it would have featured in many of the standard reference works and exhibitions as a wonderful, largely untouched, example of the formative years of the English pendulum clock.

"The clock recently returned to the UK having graced a family home in the South of France since around the time of the second World War.

"The vendors family have their roots in the North of England and inside the hood, written in pencil at the back of the tympanum is "W Rogers, Cook St. L'pool, July 1885, JW"

James Stratton, Head of Bonhams Clock Department says: "This is a fantastic result. This clock was made while the ashes from the great fire of London were still cooling.

"Impeccable provenance, rarity and immaculate construction all make this a collector?s piece and a fantastic investment.

"The best of the best will continue to demand a premium price - which has proven to be the story of this recession.

"The estimate of £100,000 - £150,000 paid tribute to the lot?s historical value but even we were surprised by the level of interest.

"Without doubt, had this clock been known to the great horological historians of the past, it would have featured in many of the standard reference works and exhibitions as a wonderful, largely untouched, example of the formative years of the English pendulum clock."

Historic records show that the Fromanteel family produced the first pendulum clocks in England, following the visit of Fromanteel?s son John to Holland.

He learned to make the new-style clocks from Salomon Coster who had an agreement with Christiaan Huygens to use his orignal idea.

It meant clocks had became accurate enough to have minute hands for the first time.

Cops take kids Christmas shopping

More than 125 local children, armed with police escorts, converged on Walmart on Saturday morning looking for the perfect toy during the Bullhead City Police Department's annual Shop with a Cop.

The program, now in its 14th year, allows children to be paired up with a police officer for a morning of shopping, buying toys, clothes and music for themselves or for their families. Children selected for the program are nominated by their school teachers and approved by school administrators. Participants need to be on the free and reduced lunch program in order to be nominated.

Scott Steele, president of the Bullhead City Police Officer's Association which sponsors the program, said the event is always a success.

“It's a memorable morning for not only the kids, the officers look forward to this event as well,” Steele said. “It is a way to interact with children on a different level since a lot of them see us while we are working and are scared of us. The program gives kids a positive experience with us.”

The officers assist the child with picking out the items they'd like to purchase and keeping a running total of the amount. Each child is given a $100 gift card to spend.

“I want video games, like a racing game and gun games,” said 7-year-old Carson Rac.

Walmart not only provides extra staff for the event, but also pays the sales tax for the items. It's an event staff say they love.

“Shop with a Cop is an event we at Walmart look forward to every year,” said co-manager Dale Westrom. “We're glad to be part of it.”

Before going to Walmart, the children and officers ate a complete pancake breakfast at the Elks Lodge.

“I only ate my sausage,” said Blythe Holloway, 7.

Shop with a Cop is made possible by donations from community groups, businesses and individuals.

In addition to the Bullhead City Police Department, members from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Fort Mojave Tribal Police Department, the Mohave County Constable's Office, California Highway Patrol, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Game and Fish, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife and the National Parks Service participated in the event.