Blog Archives

More Fun at the Fringe

We are happy to be returning Edinburgh Fringe this year with Judy’s Vintage Fair.

Being held over the first weekend of the festival – 6th & 7th August – in the the uber cool ‘Out of the Blue & Drill Hall‘, the fair is a great way to start the festival with a bang. The Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street was built as a military drill hall in 1901 and between 2003 and 2010 was redeveloped to become the vibrant arts centre it is today. It also has a great cafe serving home-made fare using fair trade & organic produce.

Along with us there will be over 30 amazing stalls featuring vintage clothes, jewellery, homewares, furniture, lighting, record players and vinyl from 1920s to the 1980s! Should be a weekend packed with retro & vintage treasure.

The fair will be open 11am – 4pm, Saturday & Sunday. See our events page for all details on the fair.

Check out the Fringe site to book shows after you have finished all your essential retro shopping!


A Beaulieu full weekend!

We are looking forward to two days fun trading at beautiful Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum and so much more.

We are there the weekend of 18th & 19th June in the Vintage Village selling our wares including record players, speakers, phones and homewares; there will also be lots more from other traders including ladies fashion & menswear, vintage jewellery, upcycled furniture, homewares and kitchenalia. Look out for Vintage luggage, maps, records and curiosities.

 

It will be a full weekend with two car events – the Simply Classics & Sports Car event on Saturday and the Hot Rod & Custom Drive on Sunday.  There will be a colourful display of hundreds of hot rods, custom & classic cars, the vintage village, plus live music and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Don’t forget Sunday is Fathers day and it a fab way to keep Dad happy!

 

So come down for a fun weekend, the fun starts at 10am both days and the weather is looking pretty good too!

Find all the details here and on our events page or the Bows & Braces Facebook Event

 


JVC Videosphere TV with Freeview!

We currently have this amazing JVC Videosphere TV in stock – fully working and converted to Freeview so you can enjoy 21st century viewing in full black & white!

Designed in 1970 by JVC Japan, this iconic round television was inspired by the moon landing in 1969 and the age of space exploration. The shape is based on an astronaut’s space helmet and this version in white plastic with the smoked acrylic visor epitomises this. The Videosphere was first produced in 1974 and was sold up until the early 1980s.

Obviously with the move to digital television the analogue components in the TV no longer pick up a signal, however as our aim is to make old beautiful technology still usable we have retro fitted a remote control Freeview box. The original tube is still is good order, so all we have done is provided a workable signal. The Freeview box is discreetly hidden in the base of the TV, so aesthetically the TV still looks the as it would have when new, but with the added usefulness of the remote control.

DSC_0134The TV is working and in great vintage condition; it has been rewired, electrically checked and fully PAT tested. The Tuning dial, controls for volume, brightness etc, all operate as they should, the metal hanging/carrying chain is present and correct as is the extendable aerial, which is still in one piece.

Pop to our shop to catch this slice of vintage technology.

Go the V&A or Plastics websites for the full history

 

Soda Syphon Use & Maintenance

As we sell lots of soda syphons and the accessories we thought we’d upload some helpful hints about filling, using and cleaning them.

Filling your Soda Syphon

Press the lever on the head to ensure syphon is not charged (under pressure). If it is press the lever until all the water has been removed.
Unscrew head and remove syphon tube, making sure the plastic sleeve stays inside. Fill the syphon body to the top with cold water, (A). If the level falls after filling DO NOT top up again as this will overfill the syphon.

Soda A

Replace the syphon tube and screw on head tightly – take care not to cross the threads. (B).

Soda B

Insert bulb into bulb holder and screw firmly onto syphon head. The bulb is automatically pierced and the gas discharged. The syphon is charged when gas cannot be heard bubbling into the water (about 30 seconds).

Soda C

Shake syphon vigorously for at least 10 seconds.
Remove bulb holder. There will be a gentle pop or hiss which will stop in a few seconds.

 

Important Notes
  • Do not fill the syphon without making sure the plastic sleeve is in position inside the syphon body.
  • Do not use more than one bulb per fill.
  • Do not fill the syphon with warm water unless you are cleaning it.
  • Before using a syphon for the first time or if the syphon has been stored for a long time it should first be rinsed out.