Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Where to get a weathervane

Where to get a weathervane

[Latest update 08/09/14: Locations added along with examples of sources in France and India.

As with most things today there are also many sources from where get a weathervane no matter how simple or complex, large or small, cheap or costly you want it to be.

This part of the blog will grow as more sources are included.
Note: the entry of a source is not intended to be an endorsement of that source unless otherwise indicated,  simply an indication of a source where weathervanes can be obtained.

Sources

Black Country Metal Works

Location: Oswestry, Shropshire, England

Visit this site to see the range of weathervanes in cast iron, hand painted or copper. 
The site says "Here at Black Country Metal Works, we create weathervanes of quality and stature, a majestic addition to anyone's homes, and we have a large range of gorgeous free-standing and wall mounted garden weathervanes available.
Our Copper Weathervanes are simply unrivalled; they are wonderfully 3 dimensional and have great detailing on them...This is quite simply the most splendid home decoration that you will ever buy.  These make great memorable presents too.


Denninger Weathervanes and Finials

Location: Theodosia, Missouri, USA

Alfred H. Denninger, a blacksmith since 1974, and his wife Beth (with the help of their dog Radar) have combined their interest in American history and their skills in wood and metal crafts to create their unique company. Since 1988, the Denningers have been decorating the finest buildings throughout the United States and six continents around the world with their American Folk Art.

Many of the techniques which Al uses in his shop have remained unchanged since the 18th century. His talent lies in his ability to combine these primitive techniques with state-of-the-art technology. 

Go to Denninger Custom Weather Vanes PageGo to Hand Hammered Copper Weather Vanes PageGo to Denninger Baseball Fan Weather Vanes PageGo to Denninger Custom Silhouette Weathervanes Page


Dorset Weathervanes


Location: Blandford, Dorset, England

Graham Smith, at Dorset Weathervanes, now offers you the chance to give your property the finishing touch with a handcrafted example of this fascinating craft.
Fisherman with KitOld Father TimeHuntsman and FoxFleur-de-lisPair of saddleback pigs

Noah's Ark


Girouette

Location: Le Coudray-Macouard, France

Restoration of antique weather vanes and creation of new designs in zinc and copper.

The website describes the following:
Girouetterie created and produced his unique pieces ... He could not imagine a more beautiful setting than Anjou, near the gardens of France, one of the historical sites bearer of the finest monuments surrounded by rich nature, famous products premises. Such an environment could not be ignored sensitive to its local artisan heritage and its restoration .. A library of drawings, you can select the theme of your weathervane and the various elements necessary for its development. 

Example of a banner

Lincolnshire Weathervanes

Location: Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Ian Ellis runs a small business from Boston where he lives and manufacture solid steel bespoke weathervanes. Unlike other companies he only make weathervanes.




Master Work Collections 

Location: Dang Baradari Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Manufacturer and supplier of copper weathervanes.



Mid Cork Metalworks

Location: Ballymakeera, County Cork, Ireland

Mid Cork Metalworks Limited supply weathervanes to the highest standards.
The tops of their weather vanes are now interchangeable for ease of change of the sail design for special occasions such as Christmas or simply because you want to - they have hundreds of designs to choose from.

Image description Image description

Simply Weathervanes

Location: Corby, Northamptonshire, England

Simply Weathervanes stock a wide variety of weathervanes for almost any application. From the Mini weathervane and Cottage weathervane ideal for the garden fence post or shed to the Traditional weathervane, Farmhouse weathervane and Manor weathervane perfect for the house, garage or even a stable.  These weathervanes are available in flat black steel, 3D copper and cast 3D aluminium depending on the design and finish required. 




Saturday, March 8, 2014

Weather Vanes / Weathervanes

Weather Vanes / Weathervanes

This blog is about weather vanes - also known as weathervanes, weather cocks or weathercocks.

[Last update 07/09/14: Look Up - St Thomas Church, Salisbury, England.

Originally begun on the Sun Spot Sundials blog which is primarily about sundials and compasses, it was deemed to be better to have a dedicated blog - which i
s where this one comes in.


Ship based on a Hebridian Lymphad
Copper weathervane - a heraldic ship


The link between sundials, compasses and weather vanes should become a little clearer as the first two were previously described as a means to showing the time and to show the way.
Weather vanes relate to showing the way but specifically for showing the way the wind blows.

Wikipedia for example describes a weathervane or weathercock as an instrument for showing the direction of the wind and typically used as architectural ornaments to the highest point of a building.

Although partly functional, weather vanes are often quite decorative, featuring the traditional cockerel - hence the name weathercock being associated with them, with a design with letters indicating the points of the compass. Other common motifs include ships, arrows and horses.  Not all weather vanes have pointers.



Comet (flaming star) weathervane
[PM 15/10/10, Lisbon, Portugal]


Weather vanes have actually been around for hundreds and hundreds of years. The word 'vane' comes from the Old English word fana meaning 'flag'.

Today weathervanes come in a bewildering range of designs in almost any shape and size.
Examples other than the more traditional cockerels, farm animals, ships and particular trades e.g. blacksmiths now includes almost anything you could think of  from foxes to giraffes and national flags to Mary Poppins.



One of the most unexpected, strange and huge examples that I have come across is a full size airplane - a fixed-wing propeller driven airliner, a retired Douglas DC-3 (CF-CPY) atop a swiveling support mainly used by pilots to determine wind direction. This weather vane only requires a 5 km/hour wind to rotate and  now serves as a weather vane at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada.

File:Douglas DC3.jpgA full size airliner used as a weathervane

Private and Public

A fine example of a public area weathervane is the one in Gateshead, England.

File:Weather Vane, Windmill Hills - geograph.org.uk - 695819.jpg


A good example of a private (private commission) weathervane is the David Smith dragon weathervane.

Serpentine Dragon Weathervane--Commission piece for Discovery Channel Productions, Burbank, CA
David Smith dragon weathervane

Look Up

St Thomas Church, St Thomas's Square, Salisbury, England

Reference

There are a variety of sources of information on weathervanes including but by no means limited to: