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A. V. Club Asks Whether H. P. Lovecraft's Fiction Can Speak to Us about Donald Trump
Since tonight is yet another edition of Ancient Aliens, this time revisiting the claim that the moon is a hollow alien space station, I have only a couple of brief things to talk about while we wait. The first is the weird trailer that Universal released for Matt Damon's upcoming 2017 movie The Great Wall, or, as it will soon be known, The White Supremacy. I know that Hollywood believes that audiences won't see an action movie that stars an Asian person, but how utterly bizarre is it to see Matt Damon leading the charge to defend medieval China from an invasion of dragons? Already this year we had a filmmaker apologize for making all of the Gods of Egypt lily white, and now Universal cut the trailer for The Great Wall—a movie directed by a Chinese director and funded in part by China—to make it look like all of the forces of Asia are helpless until the white guy shows up. The director, Zhang Yimou, said that he purposely put a white guy as the lead to follow "a film language that [Americans] are familiar with" in order to introduce them to Chinese culture.
While that may be depressing, this leads me to an interesting, if flawed, piece that ran yesterday in The A. V. Club. There, Joshua Alston takes on the question of whether H. P. Lovecraft's racism makes his stories especially powerful and relevant during a period of racial resentment and unrest in the United States.
Trump has reached the cusp of the presidency by stoking those fears with the flair of a ringmaster. He's also cribbed from some of Lovecraft's most enduring themes, including Lovecraft's exploitation of our common fear of the unknown and our anxiety about the unfathomable horrors to which we're blind and powerless.
Alston makes the case that the political monsters conjured by Trump and his Republican allies follow many of the same patterns that Lovecraft used in creating his own monsters, namely stoking fears of the "other" and mythologizing issues and problems until they grow into an all-encompassing horror based as much on innuendo and belief as on anything factual.
I don't think I entirely agree with Alston. While Lovecraft was, of course, a virulent racist who produced a number of racist stories ("The Horror at Red Hook" being Alston's Exhibit A, but other examples are not hard to find), Lovecraft did manage in his fiction to universalize fears that originated in his own racism so that fear of racial minorities was only one part of an all-encompassing universal dread. In Lovecraft's fiction (as distinct from his letters and personal opinions), it is only chance that led to white people having any special claim to civilization, and they are just as ignorant and deluded as any other group of human beings. Alston suggests that Lovecraft's fiction treats "difference" as a "mortal danger," but that reading is applicable only some of the time. In The Shadow Out of Time, the narrator, for example, learns to respect the Great Race by becoming one of them, and in At the Mountains of Madness the Old Ones are depicted as mostly humane (for a slave-owning aristocracy—it was a Lovecraft story after all). If we were to take the ideas expressed in "The Call of Cthulhu" more or less literally, Lovecraft seems to say that white Americans are intentionally blinding themselves to reality in order to preserve an illusion of cultural and racial control. This is decidedly more complicated than non-white = evil, even though Lovecraft as a man expressed such opinions rather frequently.
I agree that Lovecraft's fiction does have resonance in our current climate, but I feel like it's too reductive to say Lovecraft was racist so therefore his fiction serves as an analogy for Trumpism. Sure, the conservative heroes in his stories try to build walls to keep the Old Ones out and are constantly on guard for terrorism inspired by mad Arab prophets, but at the same time their dread isn't just that the Other exists but rather the haunting realization that they are not the center of the universe. Here is perhaps the theme that speaks best to today's world: Americans in general, and white Americans in particular, are having difficulty coming to grips with the fact that the terrifying forces of history have conspired to decenter them from their post-World War II role as the center of the world. As we move toward a multipolar world, a globalized economy, and a multiracial democracy, that sense that the old pillars of the earth have fallen is perhaps the closest connection between Lovecraft's themes and the political moment of today.
That said, such readings necessarily take the perspective of a white reader. I can only imagine that those who are not white or not American would view his themes very differently.
Scott Hamilton
One correction: The Great Wall is essentially a totally Chinese production. Legendary is owned by a Chinese holding company. I guess it's arguable if they're "Hollywood" or not. However, these kinds of productions are being initiated by Chinese companies pretty often these days, including Skiptrace, the new Jackie Chan movie in English that opened to huge business in China last week. What American producers that are involved are usually just there to get the English language talent involved.
Compared to Hillary Clinton, there's nothing wrong with Donald Trump. Who wants a checkout operator for American President?
Clete
You're back. I, and perhaps a majority of the others who follow this blog, had hope that you had left for good. Most of the time you contribute very little to this blog with your normal off-topic rants about your one and only theme.
TheBigMike
Shhhh! Don't talk to it! That will just encourage it. Maybe if we all ignore it it will go away forever. So, from here on out, let's just not even acknowledge that it exists. No more comments, no more attention.
David Bradbury
Mark has a theory that Zhang Yimou likes to make fun of westerners- a habit manifested in Zhang's 2008 Olympic opening, where the real ceremony was mostly being performed by tiny numbers of people on the central scroll, and the mass movement we all loved so much was just to keep less sophisticated viewers amused.
I have a thing for Asian cinema, and it's interesting to note that on IMDB, Zhang Yimou (along with Ang Lee) are often criticised by Chinese critics/audiences as pandering to Westerners. This new movie doesn't exactly dispel that notion.
The approach taken with The Great Wall sounds a lot like what happened with Dragon Wars, a Korean movie with the hero being played by Jason Behr.
"Here is perhaps the theme that speaks best to today's world: Americans in general, and white Americans in particular, are having difficulty coming to grips with the fact that the terrifying forces of history have conspired to decenter them from their post-World War II role as the center of the world."
I would have to disagree, Jason. Largely because I think that it's NOT "Americans in general," or even "white Americans" in general. I think it's pretty much only the old white men whose power is "threatened" by the fact that younger and more progressive people won't put up with this shit anymore. That is most DEFINITELY what's going on in Hollywood, considering that ten years ago there was FAR more cultural diversity in movies than there is today--not enough, certainly, but still far, far more. That can really only be a conservative backlash by the old guard who feel themselves threatened.
The focus on Trumpism is, in truth, a focus on a very vocal minority. I know it doesn't seem that way, what with Trump having taken the Republican nod, but....only 23% of registered voters are registered Republicans. Republicans ARE a minority, and as we all know, not even all Republicans like him. And even if you take into account groups who usually lean toward the Republican side, Republican STILL only comes to about 39%, by the way.
I think that MOST people in the country, especially most people who are not part of that Old Guard group, are perfectly okay with the US not being the center of the universe, with tolerance, with equality and diversity, with multicultural experiences, etc. I also think that you are in part reinforcing the narrative of the ignorant white racist American with this blog post, even though I don't think that was your intention, so I'm stepping up to tell you:
This American may have experienced white privilege in her life, but she is not racist. She is not afraid of other cultures. She is not afraid of other peoples. She has and does and is RIGHT NOW passionately fighting for equality for everyone. She is not afraid to stand up and say to her own country and her own countryfolk, "These things are wrong, and we must stop doing them."
So please, Jason, do not be part of the problem, even accidentally, even poorly phrased "That isn't what I meant." That's what you WROTE. That's the message you're sending.
And you are wrong.
"ten years ago there was FAR more cultural diversity in movies than there is today"
FAR demands a few really compelling examples ...
V: "perfectly okay with the US not being the center of the universe,"
That would be closer to the essential message of the Trump campaign so far; not at all Clinton's "we are the world" attitude.
Colavito is correct that Americans in general fear to enter a mature, proportional stage of development realizing a larger world with radically different dreams and values abound. If it's indeed "white Americans in particular" then it's just a reflection on the sad reality that the political and cultural aristocracy (not to mention the Hollywood one) is still dominated by white. In my view it's therefore completely irrelevant and even misleading to call it a "white" problem. It's merely the American problem and in terms of the current political stage, it would be "Democrats in particular" suffering from this form of universal Atlantism. Within the current two-bit political landscape changes will be painful but it's Trump (but not his party) who represents at times the ugly waking call of individualization as a nation. Same process is visible in the UK and everywhere else in Europe. These are major cultural shifts, not just one single demagogue's dreams.
crainey
Whether its Trump or Lovecraft, racism always has similar themes across time and cultures. I agree with V that Trump is largely white privileges' last gasp. I just hope those numbers that put them in the minority hold valid when the election comes.
Alaric Shapli
Thank you, Jason. That was the most well-thought-out discussion of Lovecraft's racism I've ever read (even if it was written as a response to someone else's take on the topic).
Or, to be more exact, discussion of the way his racism impacted his fiction.
Titus pullo
Given our cities are not burning I think unlike the 60s racial resentment today is pretty much a theme pushed by the Marxist multiculturalists who have infected academia the media and govt and not society at war..at least not yet. Thus white male power privilege is such garbage. Who is white anyway? I'm guessing u mean the various waves of European North African and middle eastern people who immigrated to America. Italians viewed themselves as their own ethnicity as did poles Russians and so on. The term "white" became the code word for irrational attacks since the 69s. Notice what ever other"group". Is given caps and an identity (Afro American, Asian American, Hispanic and so on then u have "white"). Gosh I wonder why? I come from the melting pot view not the Balkanized multicultural view that views everything based on group identity and not the individual. So called "white males". Have been used by the statists as the bogey man so they can get elected and enrich themselves not by the value of what they produce but by extortion and intimidation. Just like they accuse the evil white males( who in this theme are white Christians never Jews which again shows the academic nature of this crap from the 60s) if doing. My grandparents immigrated from Italy, both my grandfathers died during the depression (ones buried in auburn ny) and both my folks served in wwii. My dad worked in a factory and my mom at basically a Walmart at night. I was lucky to come of age in the 80s where college scholarships where given on the basis of merit not race. Trump isn't the cause of the hate. The progressives started this bs and now they are going to get what they have warned about for years, an American identity movement(whites refer to themselves as Americans by the way not white). I had hoped for an America based on the individual and freedom of association and commerce. Instead we get polemics on guilt and of course the soon to come punishment right?
What happened to Zhang Yimou? Back in the late 80s and early 90s he was doing some really meaningful work. After that it's been gaudy kung fu extravaganza after gaudy kung fu extravaganza ---- and now ... Matt Damon versus dragons?!
Presumably like, say Paul Greengrass, he's realistic about what pays his bills.
Although in many ways innovative and forward-thinking, Lovecraft was nevertheless still a product of his times, reflected in his interpretation of the world. We see something quite similar with Mark Twain. On the other hand, Trump's expressed world views (-who knows what he really thinks!) are rooted in a bygone era which apparently a segment of the population steadfastly hangs on to.


Ringwood State Park, Box 1304, Ringwood, NJ 07456 201-962-7031.
over the Tappan Zee bridge; US 87; US 287 south; in 15 miles get off at the exit for Route 23 (Butler) heading north; turn around via the U-turn system at LaRue Road; turn at the first right for Green Pond Road; turn left onto Jacobs Road; at the T-intersection, turn left onto Timberlake Road and drive .3 miles to a small parking area on the left just before hitting the Winnebago Boy Scout Reservation.
Mixed oak-hardwood forest and swamp hardwood forest communities, and rare species habitat.
This park is left undeveloped. But the old continuance of the Timberlake Road is the main trail. It heads north. There is a side trail on the left that heads southwest to someone's back yard and pond.
There appear to be old mining holes on the sides of the trail. Lots of signs of activities of off-terrain vehicles. An quite a bit of dumping of garbage, including a refrigerator and televisions.
The Farny Highlands Trail Network is a greenway that links large undeveloped areas -- a state park and natural area, two wildlife management areas, watershed lands, county and municipal parks and private lands. The planned Farny Highlands Trail Network will consist of 50 miles of hiking trails that connect with the 150-mile Highlands Trail.
Currently, the Network consists of 3 hiking only trails.
1) The 19-mile Four Birds Trail travels from Hibernia north, along the west side of the Split Rock Reservoir, to Route 23.
2) The Split Rock Loop Trail connects with the Four Birds Trail and circles the east side of Split Rock Reservoir. This trail is closed until the State DEP develops a management plan for the area.
3) The Beaver Brook Trail is located in Jefferson Township. The trail travels through the new Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area, beginning at Berkshire Valley Road, and connects with the NY-NJ Highlands Trail in Mahlon Dickerson County Park.
The Record (November 21, 1997) carried an article on the Farny Highlands Trail Network. Voters in Morris County approved a grant to preserve thirty acres along Kinnelon Road as part of the Farny trail. Hikers using the 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail now can easily extend their walks into the Farny Highlands.
The county built a five-mile footpath called the Pyramid Mountain Connector to link Split Rock Reservoir to Pyramid Mountain and connect it to three other local trails.
3a. going north on the Four Birds Trail takes you past Green Pond; you can then go east to Charlottesburg Reservoir; south to Farny State Park and Split Rock Reservoir along the Split Rock Trail; and then hook up with the Four Birds Trail coming around from the south.
3a. going south to Route 80 and then turning northeast to Mt. Hope Lake and then north to hook up with Split Rock Trail.
4. You can go around Split Rock Reservoir and then east to hook up with the Buck Mountain tract, go farther east through the newly acquired 30-acre Picone tract, farther east to Rock Pear Mountain; and then to Pyramid Mountain/Turkey Mountain.
So you can walk all the way from Route 23 to Turkey Mountain.


June 16, 2015 June 18, 2015 Summerita Rhayne Book spotlighthistorical fiction, Indian historical romance, Kamboj Princesses Saga, medieval fiction., The Eligible Princess.
King Kartikeya needs a bride. The more blue-blooded the better for him. Princess Lakshaya must marry to please her family. She is sick of being rejected by suitor after suitor. She must not fail this time.
But what when she finds that King Kartikeya is not who she thinks he is? Can she still go ahead with this marriage? Set in Early Middle Ages in India, Book 2 in the Kamboj Princesses Saga follows Lakshaya in her journey to discover the passion of her life and love. Find adventure, intrigue, history and romance in this sensual historical fiction, Book 2 in the Kamboj Princesses Saga.


text:
Элеонора Елена Португальская (, ; ,  — , ) — дочь португальского короля Дуарте I, императрица Священной Римской империи, супруга императора Священной Римской империи Фридриха III.

Биография
Принцесса Элеонора Елена родилась в семье португальского короля Дуарте I и его супруги Элеоноры Арагонской. Девочке не исполнилось ещё и 4-х лет, когда её отец скончался от чумы и на трон Португалии взошёл её 6-летний брат Афонсу V. Несмотря на то, что опекуном при несовершеннолетнем короле в завещании Дуарте значилась его жена Элеонора, придворная знать не подчинилась воле покойного монарха и выдвинула в опекуны брата Дуарте I, Педру. В ответ на это вдовствующая королева, взяв с собой дочь Жуану, бежала из королевской резиденции Альмейрим и нашла убежище в укреплённом замке Крато. Другая её дочь, Элеонора в это время была тяжело больна и потому осталась в Альмейрим. Регент Педру осадил замок и вынудил Элеонору Арагонскую бежать за пределы Португалии. В то же время он очень заботливо обошёлся с её дочерьми, своими племянницами, назначив им воспитателей из знатнейших родов страны. Так, принцесса Элеонора воспитывалась в семье де Кастро, графов де Атогуя. Когда Афонсу V достиг своего совершеннолетия и пожелал править самостоятельно, его дядя Педру не захотел добровольно расставаться с властью регента. Между отрядами, поддерживавшими Афонсу V и Педру соответственно, произошло сражение, в самом начале которого Педру был смертельно ранен стрелой. После этого Афонсу V занял окончательно португальский престол. Как и его дядя, он был поддержкой для своих сестёр.

Сватовство Фридриха, будущего императора Священной Римской империи к португальской принцессе продолжалось довольно длительное время. Идея такого брака первоначально принадлежала Изабелле Португальской, тётке принцессы Элеоноры (и сестры Педру), которая была замужем за герцогом Бургундии Филиппом III. Также посредником при заключении этого брака выступил дядя принцессы Элеоноры по материнской линии, король Неаполитанский Альфонс Арагонский, один из самых могущественных государей Средиземноморья. Именно в Неаполе проходили все переговоры по устройству этого брака. Сюда Фридрих, придававший большое значение внешности невесты, прислал в 1448 году своих послов и художника, который должен был написать «правдивый» портрет принцессы Элеоноры. Уже из Неаполя послы с художником прибыли в Португалию. Здесь в это время произошла та смена власти, при которой погиб Педру, однако это не сказалось на португальской позиции в отношении брака Элеоноры и Фридриха. Тем не менее, несмотря на то, что сообщения послов и портрет невесты нашли одобрение у императора, окончательного ответа он не давал — пока не появился новый претендент на руку Элеоноры Елены, сын французского короля. Тогда к ускорению заключения свадебного соглашения пришлось подключиться папе римскому Пию II. Окончательно соглашение было составлено в Неаполе. Невеста приносила с собой приданое в размере 60 тысяч гульденов. 50 тысяч из них передавались в распоряжение Фридриха, а 10 тысяч полагались на переезд невесты. Соответственно Фридрих должен был в империи передать жене земельные владения стоимостью в 60 тысяч гульденов.

Путешествие по морю из Арагона в Италию, где должны были встретиться принцесса Элеонора и Фридрих, прошло в исключительно тяжёлых условиях. На свадебную флотилию нападали пираты, и её корабли были рассеяны штормом. В результате распространились слухи, что принцесса в пути погибла. Элеонора встретилась со своим женихом в Сиене в ноябре 1451 года, и 16 марта 1452 года состоялось их венчание папой Николаем V в Риме. Через 3 дня после этого король Германии Фридрих IV был коронован как император Фридрих III. Свадебные торжества прошли под эгидой дяди Элеоноры Елены Альфонса V Арагонского в Неаполе (второе имя — Елена — дал Элеоноре Фридрих).

Начавшаяся достаточно счастливо и радостно семейная жизнь вскоре превратилась для Элеоноры в настоящее мучение. Привыкшая к шумным развлечениям, танцам, балам, играм и охоте, она не находила в своих увлечениях никакого отклика у супруга. Совместными были у них только общее отвращение к алкоголю и набожность. Элеонора родила в этом браке шестерых детей, из которых лишь двое выжили. Императрица, постоянно баловавшая и откармливавшая их огромным количеством сладостей и пряных португальских блюд, косвенно повинна в смерти по крайней мере троих из них. Фридрих же, обычно мало вмешивавшийся в семейные дела, взял на себя воспитание оставшихся Максимилиана и Кунигунды, назначив им рацион из простых овощей и фруктов, которые он сам выращивал в саду; пили же дети исключительно воду. Дети воспитывались в спартанских условиях, Элеонора же тосковала по тёплой, солнечной родине. Вдобавок Фридрих, вечно находившийся в долгах, вскоре после прибытия в Вену отправил на родину сопровождавший Элеонору эскорт из 80 рыцарей и 40 придворных дам, позволив остаться только одной камеристке (которая в Винер-Нойштадте скончалась через год). В то же время Элеонора Елена обладала стойким характером и железной волей. Когда во время народного восстания император с семьёй был захвачен в плен жителями Вены и им пришлось питаться собачатиной, кошками и даже крысами — Элеонора была той, кто поддерживал силу духа как у детей, так и у своего безвольного супруга.

Скончалась Элеонора Елена Португальская в возрасте 32 лет от дизентерии.

Дети
 Кристоф (1455—1456)
 Максимилиан I (1459—1519), император Священной Римской империи.
 Елена (1460—1461)
 Кунигунда (1465—1520), супруга баварского герцога Альбрехта IV
 Иоганн (1466—1467)

Предки

Примечания

Литература
 Sigrid-Maria Größing, AEIOU — Glück und Unglück im österreichischen Kaiserhaus, Verlag Amalthea, ISBN 978-3-85002-633-8

Германские королевы
Женщины XV века
Умершие от дизентерии

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Home/Punk Poster/Adam & The Ants: Prince Charming Album Promo Poster-1981
Adam & The Ants: Prince Charming Album Promo Poster-1981
Offered is an Original 50x50cm September 1981 CBS Promotional record Shop Poster For Adam & The Ants Album Prince Charming.
Kings of the Wild Frontier brought Adam and the Ants massive popularity in England, and it brought enormous pressure for Adam and guitarist Marco Pirroni to stand and deliver another slice of dynamite. The first single, the punchy horn-laden "Stand and Deliver," suggested that they were up to the task, but when Prince Charming appeared in late 1981, it was pretty much universally panned and it still stands as the weakest record from Ant's classic period. With its ridiculous song titles and cover photos, which suggest that the Ants were moving away from Native Americans and toward pirates, it's hard not to view it as a descent into camp, yet Adam claims in the liner notes for Antbox that he believes that Prince Charming is "a very serious record based on very classical, historical themes." That may be true on certain tracks, but it's hard to see where "Mile High Club," "S.E.X.," "Mowhok," and "Ant Rap" fit into that scheme, but he's right about the intent — this is a markedly different record than Kings, intentionally so. The group have not only moved on in image, they've also left behind their signature Burundi beats while upping the cinematic qualities inherent in their music. So, "Five Guns West" and "Mowhok" are given neo-spaghetti western backdrops, while eerie guitars, mariachi horns, and trilling vocals underpin "That Voodoo." There are a lot of little details like that to dwell on in the production — "Picasso Visita el Planeta de los Simios" sounds absolutely terrific — but apart from "Scorpios," "Stand and Deliver," and the cheerfully ludicrous "Ant Rap," the songs just aren't there. Kings had style, sound, and songs, while Prince Charming simply has style and sound — which, in retrospect, isn't all that bad, but it's also not hard to see how it sparked a backlash at the time.
"adam & the ants"
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Jam- The Gift USA Album & Tour Poster-1982
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My desire as a healthy lifestyle coach for women is to empower you to know how to live without guilt or confusion, but with real freedom and true confidence. Part of that lifestyle includes the ability to enjoy your vacation without worrying about your nutrition and fitness!
I have found two essential keys to help you enjoy a guilt-free vacation.
1) A first key is that before we leave, the best thing we can do for our health and wellness is to develop a plan of action!
The worst thing we can do is be unclear on our plan for our nutrition and fitness while on vacation. Traveling takes us out of routine, never fully knowing what each day may bring. It takes us out of our structured eating and working out.
Having no plan at all will leave us anxious and rattled. We will end up fighting a losing battle against ourselves.
For example, I used to go home with the mindset that I needed to keep the same workout and nutrition habits as I did in Phoenix. This plan and mindset always left me with more guilt than peace while I was home. I would get anxious if my parents did not have the food I ate, or the right fitness equipment or the correct weights. I was fighting a battle I thought I was equipped to handle.
Now, I make a plan.
Before I left to Washington State, I decided beforehand that I would give myself grace, not guilt. My workouts would not be scheduled. My nutrition would probably be off, and my sleep would most likely decrease. I was able to enjoy my vacation with freedom to focus time on my friends and family, not food and fitness.
When I go home for vacation now I have a DELIBERATE mindset. I know I might get a workout in one day or not at all. I will eat whatever is available at my parents house, and most likely not get enough sleep. But guess what? That is ok! I have made a conscious decision to go off my familiar, everyday, accustomed norm when I am on vacation.
I have decided that I am going to workout when my body feels like it, whether it be in the morning, evening or not at all. I have decided that I am going to eat what feels good to my body with what is available and I am going to eat dessert and stay up too late making memories.
2) The second key is knowing you have a healthy routine to come back to.
The framework you created that knows how to get back on track with your nutrition and fitness. The framework that knows which steps to take the following week to get rid of the bloating, to fit back into your favorite jeans again, or how to achieve a good night's sleep.
Our daily routine gives us structure, security, and clarity to live out a healthy lifestyle, so that when we fall out of it, we know exactly how to get back into it.
If you struggle with a daily routine that helps you create a lifestyle of happy and healthy, I would love to come alongside you to help you build yours so you can enjoy guilt-free vacations!
Newer PostFour Years Ago Today. The Day I Conquered Fear.


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Barkers
HS Security
Airport & ports
Retail & Industrial
Finishing Process
We're really proud of our rich history and heritage. Take a look at our timeline below and see how Barkers came to be.
Wilfred Barker established W. H. Barkers and Sons. It began life by engineering equipment for the mines and coal fields that had sprung up following the Industrial Revolution. Tipplers, coal breakers, feeder retarders, turntables, decking plant and vibrator screens were commonly manufactured products.
As Barkers' mining products enabled coal supply – the primary energy source at the time – we were deemed a protected industry during WWII. As such, many employees were not drafted and stayed on at Barkers to help Britain keep its lights on and support the war effort from home.
W. H Barkers and Sons Engineers became a Limited company.
We specialised in mining equipment for many years. Here is Gordon Lovatt, a Fitter in the 60s, assembling products.
We supported the full mining industry infrastructure, including the transport of coal. These are winches engineered by W.H Barkers and Sons, pictured on a ship anchored on the River Tyne.
A poignant picture showing a washbox we made for Rawdom Colliery. The man you see is Stan Underwood, otherwise known as Rabbit. Other than serving his country, he worked for Barkers his entire career.
A coal breaker we made for Tilmanstone Colliery – just one of a wide network of mines which dotted Kent for most of the twentieth century.
This is a gantry for the pits leaving our site. In later years, a conveyor belt would have been used to move coal.
Coal mining gradually became uneconomical, and by the 1980s, the industry was in decline. Barkers is honoured to have serviced this transformative industry for so many years. In the early part of the decade, we diversified our products and began manufacturing palisade fencing and railings. At the time we also produced rollershutter doors and weed screens for the Environment Agency.
After 1986, we only repaired machinery and manufactured replacement parts for the mines.
W. H. Barkers and Sons was acquired by Hill and Smith Holdings Plc. W. H. Barkers and Sons had started manufacturing crash barriers for Hill and Smith Limited so when the opportunity arose Hill and Smith Holdings brought manufacturing of their products back within the group.
To meet demand for our fencing products, we opened our galvanizing plant here in Staffordshire. This marks a significant change in the identity of Barkers and the breadth of our product offering.
We formally ended our mining work in the mid-1990s – but we'll never forget our roots and the industry that we were an integral part of for so long.
We celebrated the millennial year in style by becoming Barkers Engineering on 4th July, 2000.
Shortly after our change of name, we extended our operation with the opening of our powder coating plant here in Staffordshire. This type of finishing was growing in popularity and as such, we were experiencing significant demand. We have been able to offer our unique end to end service from our single location ever since.
Mesh fencing was introduced into our range as it begun to increase in popularity.
We secured the perimeter of a mineral mine in Papua New Guinea. It was testiment to the success of the project that we were later asked to secure another mine for the same client in the Dominican Republic.
Our projects took us to Australia where we secured the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, which consisted of 26 races over 14 events which were held in all states and the Northern Territory of Australia as well as New Zealand. We manufactured a temporary fencing solution that could be transported and used across all events. The same year, we manufactured palisade to secure Perth Zoo and mesh for Perth Airport.
Following the commencement of the decommissioning process of Bradwell Power Station in 2002, 1,000 metres of StronGuard™ was deployed around the Magnox Power station to secure the perimeter during the care & maintenance program which lasts circa 100 years
4000m of our SecureGuard358 was installed around the Port of Calais in support of Eurotunnel and the French authorities helping to prevent migrants hoping to gain unauthorised entry to the United Kingdom.
Despite the economic down turn, we invested £500,000 in 2 new robot welders and a laser machine, in order to increase capacity, ensure the highest quality and speed up production.
We formed HS Security, a group of companies within Hill and Smith Holdings who manufacture products for the security sector. Our range now encompasses all steel fencing. We have secured sites all over the world such as mineral mines in South America and Papua New Guinea, where the Bank of England prints its money, a V8 supercar circuit in Sydney, Perth Airport and James Madison University in America.
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Zenith El Primero 410
Angus Davies reivews the limited edition, Zenith El Primero 410, a watch containing the legendary self-winding El Primero fully integrated chronograph movement. This particular model includes a full calendar and moon-phase indication.
This detailed review of the Zenith El Primero 410 includes live images and specification details.
As I held the new Zenith El Primero 410 in my hands, it felt reassuringly familiar. Like many admirers of chronographs, I have owned a Zenith timepiece containing the legendary movement that oscillates at 5 Hz. Foolishly, in a moment of madness, I sold my cherished Zenith a few years ago, an action I have since come to regret.
This new Zenith El Primero has a similar quality to a brand of clothing I often select, Gant. I know the clothes fit me, are invariably to my taste and deliver excellent quality. Whenever I seek new clothing, I frequent the Gant store on Regent Street, London. There is often something new to catch my eye but, whilst the designs may be current, the clothes proffer reassuring familiarity. I know what I am buying.
The Zenith El Primero 410 may be one of the latest models from the Swiss watch manufacture based in Le Locle, but contained within its handsome case is a familiar friend to watch lovers, the El Primero movement.
El-Primero, a brief history
The El Primero is said to be the first self-winding chronograph, hence the name. While some brands may dispute this, one attribute, which cannot be argued, is the aesthetic appeal of this calibre. It was beautiful back in 1969 when it was launched and has captured admiring glances ever since.
For those readers unfamiliar with the El Primero, it took seven years to bring to fruition. It was a fully integrated movement, self-winding, equipped with a date and tachometric scale. The architecture of the movement accorded a perfect tri-compax dial layout. The high frequency calibre, oscillating at 36,000 vph, necessitated special lubricants to prevent undue wear of the escapement. This frequency allowed the chronograph function to deliver accuracy to 1/10th of a second.
Buoyed by the success of the reception accorded to the El Primero 3019 PHC in 1969, Zenith decided later that year, to equip the calibre with triple calendar and moon-phase indications. This movement was initially called the El Primero 3019 PHF, but its name subsequently changed to the Calibre 410.
Ironically, the history could have been very different. In the midst of the "quartz-crisis", production of the El Primero ceased. Charles Vermot, an engineer working for the company at the time, chose to store the tools and drawings necessary for El Primero production, preventing them being destroyed. A few years later, under new ownership, and thanks to Vermot's actions, El Primero production recommenced.
El-Primero – robust and reliable
The column-wheel is the purists choice when it comes to chronographs. However, they are very complex and costly to produce. Zenith has shown over its long history that it has had the prowess to deliver this complexity in a robust and surprisingly more affordable format.
Reliability has never been an issue with the El Primero and its faultless operation is well-known. Moreover, a number of other brands have chosen to use the famous El-Primero movement, most notably Rolex in their Daytona model. Rolex subsequently replaced the El-Primero with its own in-house movement, a move driven by a wish to make all its calibres in-house, rather than any failing of the El Primero. In fact, Rolex Daytona models containing the El Primero movement are now much sought after and highly prized by collectors.
A fitting tribute
It is 45 years since the El Primero was born and the brand has chosen to mark the legend of this model with the release of a 500-piece limited series, presented in stainless steel and aptly named the Zenith El Primero 410.
Measuring 42 mm in diameter, the sizing of the watch will appeal to modern tastes, but it has a classical note which should retain eye-appeal for decades to come.
The silver-toned dial has a sunray finish which is beautiful and sits perfectly at ease with the stainless steel case material. The applied and faceted indexes are rhodiumed and detailed with luminous material which, in combination with the matching hour and minute hands, pleasingly shimmer in ambient light. Indeed, it is this charming interaction with the light, which is one of several successful elements of the design language.
A 30-minute chronograph register is positioned at 3 o'clock, a 12-hour counter is located at 6 o'clock and a small seconds display resides adjacent 9 o'clock. This triumvirate of subdials, seem perfectly positioned, neither too near the centre of the dial, nor to close to the hour track. Moreover, they are snailed, providing a comely contrast with the aforementioned sunray finish.
Nestled within the 12-hour counter and displayed via a crescent shaped aperture is the moon-phase indication. The disc responsible for delivering the display, decorated with two moons, is driven by a "59-toothed wheel" corresponding to two lunar cycles (2 x 29.5 days).
The date is positioned between 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock, a detail in common with many, but not all, El-Primero models.
The lengthy list of functions is completed with a day and month display located adjacent 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, as well as a tachymeter scale delivered around the circumference of the dial.
Despite delivering much information, the dial does not unduly overwhelm the wearer. However, I would concede that some other Zenith models, such as El Primero Striking 10th, have less busy dials, courtesy of fewer functions. The potential buyer may wish to consider whether they need the additional functions of the 410 or would prefer a simpler dial display of an alternative El Primero model. I must say though, I don't bemoan the notion of choice, something Zenith seems to provide in abundance.
As I looked at this watch, adjacent Lake Geneva, a wonderful view lay in front of me. Yes, the lake is very beautiful, but I refer to the view of the movement, visible via the exhibition caseback.
The oscillating mass is open-worked and decorated with Côtes de Genève motif. The blued screws and the perlage are further testament to the quality of the movement. However, an aspect I particularly like is the visibility of the gear train and levers which, sadly, are often hidden from view.
This is a superb watch and it reminds me of a former horological love. Whether this would be my chosen model from the range remains unanswered. I discern much merit in the 410 but, conversely, see many other models in the Zenith catalogue that also appeal to me. Ultimately, like the Gant store on Regent Street, I know Zenith has much to offer and it is my familiarity with this Swiss brand which will inevitably lead me back to its charms.
Model: Zenith El Primero 410
Reference: 03.2091.410/01.C494
Case: Stainless steel; diameter 42.00 mm; height 12.75 mm; water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and caseback.
Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds; date; day; month; moon phase indicator; chronograph; tachymeter scale.
Movement: El Primero 410, self-winding movement; frequency 36,000 vph (5 Hz); 31 jewels; power reserve 50 hours; 390 parts.
Strap: Brown alligator strap with rubber lining, presented on a stainless steel deployant with triple folding clasp.
www.zenith-watches.com