REC ANTIQUES 23 RE GLASS TARGET BALLS
From: "Brian Blandford" (kudos.punch@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Glass target balls
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 01:55:05 +0100


Jessica Vincent <jeileenvincent@no-spam> wrote <snip>
> since they aren't cheap for *just* a glass orb....does anyone > know if they have been or are being reproduced?
>
If they are dark green and hollow they are probably old fisherman's net floats. If they are clear and solid and of good optical quality they may have been made for measuring the sunlight-hours-per-day burning-glass principle beloved of British seaside resorts. I can't believe anyone would make glass balls just to replace clay pigeons, but I suppose it's possible!
Brian












From: "Phil Rowley \(remove NOSPAM to reply\)" (prow@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Glass target balls
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 07:31:53 +0100

I've just come back from holiday in Germany and I'm afraid that the original posting for this topic no longer exists on the news server I use.

If this glass ball is perhaps 2 1/2 inches in diameter and hollow, then it may well be a target ball. The BBC has produced a number of series of scientific and other developments presented by Adam Hart-Davis called "What the Romans/Tudors/Stuarts/Vistorians did for us". In the Victorian series there was a programme about developments in leisure and these glass balls were shown.

They were filled with feathers, so that on impact it appeared as though a pigeon had been shot (sick). They were replaced by the "clay pigeons" later.
I will have a look on the BBC Internet site to see if I can find a picture.

Phil

From: "Phil Rowley \(remove NOSPAM to reply\)" (prow@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Glass target balls
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 07:36:48 +0100

This link has info & pictures :- http://www.glswrk-auction.com/203.htm

From: Marshall Schuon (carguy323@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Glass target balls
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 03:26:59 -0400

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 01:55:05 +0100, "Brian Blandford"
<kudos.punch@no-spam> wrote:

>
>Jessica Vincent <jeileenvincent@no-spam> wrote <snip>
>> since they aren't cheap for *just* a glass orb....does anyone >> know if they have been or are being reproduced?
>>
>If they are dark green and hollow they are probably old fisherman's net >floats. If they are clear and solid and of good optical quality they may >have been made for measuring the sunlight-hours-per-day burning-glass >principle beloved of British seaside resorts. I can't believe anyone would >make glass balls just to replace clay pigeons, but I suppose it's possible!
>Brian ________

That's it, that's IT!!! I am RICH! What an idea! I will make *repro* clay pigeons. Wow. Why dint I think o' this afore??!!

Marshall