Gregg Perry, Invited Guest at Historic Hancock House in Salem County, N.J.

On December 21^st Perry was an invited guest of Hancock House conservator Alicea M. Bjornson to examine horological and wooden artifacts. Perry provided verbal expertise to stabilize the objects in question and suggestions for future display options and security.

The Hancock House is an excellent example of English Quaker patterned end brick houses associated with the lower Delaware Valley and southwestern New Jersey. On March 12st, 1778, it was the scene of a British led massacre during the Revolutionary War. The house is the birthplace of 19^th century social reformer Cornelia Hancock.

1734 Hancock House

It was in the quiet early morning of March 21^st, 1778 when British forces under Major Simcoe made their way up the Alloways creek. Coming ashore south of the village at Hancock’s Bridge, the British troops were focused on their destination, the house and tavern of Judge William Hancock Jr.

Here a small band of local militia was garrisoned for the purpose of protecting John Hancock’s Bridge, one of the three bridges which crossed the Alloways Creek. The British had been repulsed by the local militia just three days before at Quinton’s bridge.

When Simcoe’s troops took the sleeping militia by surprise, the quiet countryside was pierced by the cries of men as they were bludgeoned and bayoneted.

The Queen’s Rangers and local Torres followed orders to:

“Spare No One”

The dawn brought with it the reality of what had occurred in the early morning hours. Judge Hancock was found mortally wounded in his house. The british met their objective and the result was Salem County’s Revolutionary War Massacre.

Gregg Perry's Cuban Conservation Trip

On December 4^th Gregg Perry embarked on a monumental research excursion in Cuba lasting until the 12th. Traveling with 35 other members of the “American Institute for Conservation (A.I.C.)”, the trips objective was to analyize the state of conservation and restoration in the areas of decorative arts, fine arts and architecture. Perry was the resident expert in wood, its surface finishes and horology for the trip.Perry and his colleges are professional members in good standing with the A.I.C.. They engaged in a full time schedule of professional non-commercial, academic research in 3 Cuban cities in the field of conservation and historic preservation. Their research consisted of meetings with non-governmental members of conservation institutions, trade and cultural organizations and individual non affiliated professionals in the field, as well as other travel related activities. The research that the group compiled will have a high likelihood of dissemination through the A.I.C. organization and also each participant’s individual practices.  This trip was authorized under the general license granted to qualified professionals based in the United States by government regulations.  

   

Gregg Perry Clocks

Beginning October 8th of this year, Frederick Duckloe & Brothers and world renowned horologist Gregg Perry will team up to open a specialized shop offering perhaps the largest collection of 17th through 19th century museum quality case, mantle and wall clocks on the east coast.

Mr. Perry recently returned from a two week Horological tour of France, The Netherlands, and Great Britian

One of the highlights of the exhibit would be an 18th century Emery tall case clock.  Manufactured in New York, the clock features a musical movement and is one of only two made, it's sister currently resides in the White House.

More detailed information can be found on our website at http://duckloe.com/clock_shop.asp.

Below are some pictures of the clocks in the Golden Eagle Showroom

All I Want for Christmas is...

My two front teeth!

This sign was just put up in Portland.  I didn't know Donald Gardner was from Portland until I saw the sign.  Interesting bit of history!

Duckloe Bros Mentioned in Web Marketing for Dummies!

Great News!

Duckloe Brothers will be featured in the third edition of Jan Zimmerman's upcoming book titled Web Marketing for Dummies!

The book can be purchased online here: http://www.amazon.com/Web-Marketing-Dummies-Computers/dp/1118065166/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324503155&sr=8-2.

Follow us on Facebook!

Frederick Duckloe & Brothers is pleased to announce that we are now on Facebook!  Follow us on Facebook as well to keep up to date on Duckloe Bros events and activities!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frederick-Duckloe-Bros/287011877994915?sk=wall

A Big Weekend at Duckloe Bros

This Sat., Oct.8, Duckloe Bros. is hosting two informative seminars & receptions. Please call 570-897-6172 to reserve a seat for either and also for lunch (served in our factory) 11-AM-12PM: Mike Danial's Stickley Road Show Enjoy a rare insider's look at one of America's most legendary furniture companies with our friend Mike, Stickley Corporate Historian. Widely acknowledged as one of the country's leading authorities of Mission-style furnishings, Mike will share the history of the Mission movement in America, discuss the construction details of the finest quality pieces, offer pointers on how to identify highly valued collectibles and appraise participants' Stickley antiques. 2PM-3PM:  Antique Clock Seminar Gregg Perry, an esteemed horologist, or clock expert, kicks off the opening of Duckloe's clock shop with an informative seminar about mantle and tall case clocks.  Bring your clocks, pictures and questions to learn about these valuable collectibles. The clocks on display will include 17-19th Century museum quality pieces.  Duckloes will have the largest assortment of 18th Century British clock on display on the East Coast. One of the many special pieces will be an 18thC.Emery tall case clock from New York. One of only two ever made, it's counterpart resides in the White House. All will be available for sale to the collector or to view by the enthusiast. For additional information, please visitwww.duckloe.com then enter "The Clock Shop".

Furniture Restoration

Duckloe is pleased to offer a new service for repairs and refinishing of your cherished solid wood furniture.  Our skilled craftsman and finishers each have over thirty five years of experience working for us.  Please call Fred or Barbara at 570-897-6172 for details.

An Introduction to Frederick Duckloe & Brothers

Located in Portland, Pennsylvania, a village on the border of New Jersey, just south of the Delaware Water Gap, Frederick Duckloe & Bros. is firmly committed to many of the same techniques in the manufacture of Windsor reproductions as were used in 1859 when Frederick Duckloe founded the firm.  Because of this dedication, our furniture is among the best available for purchase anywhere.  Just take a look at a few of the highly regarded institutions that have entrusted us with the scaled reproduction of priceless pieces from their collections:

• Independance Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of American History, Washington, DC
• The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiques, Boston Massachusetts
• First Boston Coropoation, Boston, Massachusetts
• Mystic Seaport Aquarium, Mystic, Connecticut

Our chairs can also be found in these places of distinction:

• American Yacht Club, Rye, New York
• Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey
• Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Fraunces Tavern, New York City, New York
• Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant, Boston, Massachusetts
• Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey
• Washington Chapel, Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
• City Tavern, Independence Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The evolution to this high level of regard in the furniture business began in 1859 with master craftsman, Frederick Duckloe when he fashioned, by hand, the spokes, rims, hubs, frame and body of passenger carriages.  He soon began experimenting with the production of plain and fancy Windsor chairs.  With success, he soon focused on the production of these chairs leaving the carriage business behind.  Today, his chairs are greatly sought after by serious collectors of early American furniture.

Soon after, Frederick Duckloe trained his only son, W.J. Duckloe in the trade.  Soon W.J. make his own mark by creating fine early American reproductions of hand-turned high-poster beds, bureaus, chests and tables all of solid hardwoods with exquisite detail.  Assuming this newly established family tradition, W.J. Duckloe schooled his soon Frederick Duckloe Sr. in the craft of cabinet making.

Young Frederick Duckloe remained busy in cabinetry until World War II when his talents were called upon for more patriotic efforts, mainly for the production of military drafting tables.  After the war, Fred, as we was called, cultivated a highly skilled group of artisans to meet the demand for furniture after the war's end.  This is when he and his team focused on the reproduction of traditional Windsor chairs and settees and developed new patterns for which we are presently known.

Today, Frederick Duckloe, Jr. and Barbara Duckloe Townsend, son and daughter of Fred Sr., are the proud custodians of this family furniture making tradition.  They've modernized much of the business with the exception of the production of furniture.

In our factory we employ sixteen artisans and their apprentices who craft fine furniture with the same spirit of tradition started by the first Frederick Duckloe in the mid-nineteenth century.  You'll also be delighted to find, along with our collection of furniture for sale, many of the top names in find furniture for your home.

We've created this blog to help advertise special promotions, events, and to generally publicize what is going on at Duckloe Brothers.  We hope you'll enjoy our posts and look us up on our official webpage at www.duckloe.com or come to visit us in person at our showrooms in Portland, Pennsylvania.