| Tour 2 starts with a
visit to the Streets of Yesteryear. This is much like the 'Shambles' in the
Castle Museum,York except that it is supposed to portray the streets in the
evening and is thus very dark. Not that you can tell as flash lights up the
contents of the windows. They had some weird ideas on medicinal remedies in
those days. |  |
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I said this was a bizarre set of collections so the next thing we found was
a pair of whale eardrums. Interesting but it didn't quite follow... |
| The whole collection
contains a huge number of dolls. Most of these appear in a later collection
but it seems as though 'extras' can appear anywhere. That is in fact a major
theme of the displays with odd 'samplers' appearing seemingly randomly. |  |
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Occasionally you find a historical piece such as you would expect to find in
a museum, but it is an exception rather than a rule. I do like old
grandfather clocks, I've just never had the space or money for one. |
| I'm told these are
Faberge eggs or maybe imitations. There are several hundred in various
displays, these are just in a 'shop' window.. |  |
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More eggs and a very ornate porcelain urn, artistically very attractive and
in another shop window. I guess this is a parade of shops for the extremely
wealthy. |
| There are carriages and
sleighs and this horseless carriage 'scattered' around the streets. A
collection in their own right, they are too dispersed and have no
identifying plaques. This is more a work of art than a museum. |  |
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An overall view of part of the street. This is very difficult to photograph
because flash is useless and there is insufficient light even at 800 ASA. |
| At the end of the street
is a fairground type organ called the 'Gladiator'. You can put tokens in to
hear it, just as you can with many of the other musical exhibits. |  |
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It is full of fabulous detail and craftsmanship and makes a beautiful sound. |
| Round a bend into another
darkened display. This has a couple of rather more ornate 'State' carriages
but again no indication of what they are. They are almost fantasy vehicles
and perhaps that is all they were ever meant to be. |  |
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A different set of memories appears with transport as the theme. Here we
have a tin train but definitely a superior model, probably about 'S' gauge. |
| In England this would
have been a collection of Dinky toys. The manufactures are different but
they are all metal diecast models probably dating from the fifties and
portraying even older vehicles. There are several cabinets of them. |  |
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They are all in pristine condition and some include their original boxes.
Today they will be appreciating rapidly as an asset. |
| This is a small trailer
to tow behind a car. I can only think that it was once an advertising
vehicle for a circus or a zoo or something. This hall is only partially
developed with displays (above) around the walls on a descending walkway and
the floor covered in old vehicles awaiting display. |  |
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But what a weird collection of vehicles. There are at least half a dozen
hearses, and others are 'spread' around the whole collection. The car in the
foreground has what looks like a bath in the back, and another is covered in
mosaic tiles. |
| There is the occasional
recognisable car. I might guess this to be a Panhard but I'm no expert. |  |
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And in the middle of it all is this fairground-type attraction of
indeterminable purpose. It looks as though it will work in due course but
for the moment is just a 'work in progress!' |
| On to other collections
of yesteryear like this collection of heads. There are similar collections
of plates and jugs. |  |
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And along the way are metal castings, some quite complex and ornate |
| And in case you think we
have forgotten the music automata, an odd example is snuck in when you
aren't looking. |  |
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Don't ask! I have no idea. I think it is a power source for something,
perhaps a taster for the organ room on tour 3. Perhaps it is just supposed
to keep you guessing. This is a bit like Willie Wonka.... |
| If it is art then I can
appreciate this as art. There are dozens of dolls and dozens of oriental
items to come - just a taster...... |  |
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