A R Archer 2016 Bone Lace Bobbin Catalogue

E d i t i o n 3 7

Finest Quality Bone Lace Bobbins

A R Archer Ltd

2017

NEW FOR 2017

FREE P&P ON ALL UK

ORDERS

Catalogue of Bone Lace Bobbins

Makers of finest quality bone lace bobbins for over 30 years.

All bobbins are hand made.

Bobbin Index……………..……….. 2 - 3

Bobbins………………………………....4 - 16

Inscribed Bobbins……………...……17

How to Order……………….…………..18

Bobbin-a-Month Club……………19

Hours of business: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

Combe Lodge

Suckley

Worcester

WR6 5DR

Tel 01886 884135

Email [email protected]

www.ararcher.com

or www.ararcherltd.co.uk

Registered Office: Combe Lodge, Suckley, Worcester. WR6 5DR. Company Number 4516394 Cardiff All designs copyright A. R. Archer and Ben Archer 2017

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

2

A

Angel’s Fishing Rod 12

Acorns 5

Anemone 13

Apples 5

Apple Blossom 6

Apple Rings 7

Apple Tree 7

Autumn 13

B

Ba Ba Black Sheep 15

Baby Bobbin (Pink or Blue) 17

Baluster 11

Beach Huts 11

Bees 8

Bellflower 4

Bluebells with Babe 13

Blue Paradise 8

Brambleberries 5

Busy Bees 9

Butterflies 8

C

Californian Poppy 7

Caterpillars 8

Centrepiece Mauve 9

Centrepiece Aqua 9

Cherries 5

Cherry Blossom 6

Cherry Rings 7

Cherry Tree 7

Christmas Baubles 9

Christmas Candle 9

Christmas Cracker 9

Clematis 4

Clematis Niche 7

Cocktail Rings 7

Column Clematis 6

Column Rose 6

Column Sweet Pea 6

Column Wisteria 6

Cottage Garden 5

Cranesbill 13

D

Daffodils 4

Daffodils with Babe 13

Daisy Print NEW 8

Daydream 4

Dizzy

Dizzy in Pink NEW 11

Doctor Foster 14

F

Forget-me-Not 4

Four Leaf Clover 9

Foxgloves 4

Foxtrot Pink 4

Foxtrot Blue 4

Freesia 13

Frieze 4

Fuchsia 4

G

Genie 10

Grapes 5

H

Hickory Dickory Dock 14

Himalayan Poppy 7

Honey 4

Honeysuckle with Babe 5

HM Coronation

Commemorative 16

HM Diamond Jubilee 16

HM QEII 90th 16

HM Sapphire Jubilee NEW 16

HM The Longest Reign 16

HRH Prince George 16

HRH Princess Charlotte 16

Humpty Dumpty 14

I

Icelandic Poppy 7

Incy Wincy Spider 14

Indian Summer 8

Initialled bobbins A to Z 17

Inscribed bobbins 17

Iris 4

Iris with Babe 12

J

Jack & Jill 15

Jack and the Beanstalk 14

Jasmine Niche 7

Joy 11

K

King’s Lattice 10

L

Ladybirds 8

Lavender Bush 12

Lighthouse 11

Linum 11

Little Bo Peep 15

Little Boy Blue 14

Little Miss Muffet 14

Lupins 4

M

Marigolds NEW 5

May Blossom 6

Mermaid 10

Mixed Spray 6

Monday’s Child Set NEW 10

Monday NEW 10

Tuesday NEW 10

Wednesday NEW 10

Thursday NEW 10

Friday NEW 10

Saturday NEW 10

Sunday NEW 10

Moonlight Emerald NEW 8

Moonlight Blue NEW 8

Moonlight Gold NEW 8

Moonlight White NEW 8

Mother ‘n’ Babe with

Bellflowers 13

Mother ‘n’ Babe with

Clematis 13

Mother ‘n’ Babe with

Fuchsia 13

Music Notes 5

O

Oxeye Daisy 13

P

Pansies 4

Passion 9

Paw Prints 17

Pears 5

Pear Rings 7

Pear Tree 7

Bobbin Index

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r . c o m

3

Q

Peas 9

Pincushion Flower 12

Pink Paradise 8

Pitter Patter (Pink or Blue) 17

Plum Tree 7

Poppet 11

Poppies 4

Poppies with Babe 12

Potpourri 11

Primroses 12

Purple Print NEW 8

Pussycat, Pussycat 15

Q

Queen’s Lattice 10

Quince Blossom 6

R

Rainbow 5

Rapunzel 15

Reflection Yellow 10

Reflection Mauve 10

Rhapsody Red 9

Rhapsody Mauve 9

Roses 5

Rose Niche 7

Rose Print NEW 8

Roses Around the Door 11

Row, Row 15

Rub a Dub Dub 15

S

Serenity 4

Snowman 10

Snow Woman 10

Special Anniversary Bobbin

16

Spray of Lavender 6

Spray of Lilies 6

Spray of Roses 6

Spring Garden 4

Spring Showers 4

Spring 13

Standard Fuchsia 12

Standard Lilac 12

Standard Magnolia 12

Standard Rose 12

Strawberries 5

Summer 13

Summer Breeze:

Pink 12

Lilac 12

Blue 12

Gold 12

Sunflowers 5

Sweet Autumn 13

Sweet Bellflowers 11

Sweet Harmony 11

Sweet Pea (Blue) 6

Sweet Pea (Pink) 6

Sweet Pea (Red) 6

Sweet Pea (Violet) 6

Sweet Pea Profusion 9

Sweet Rosie 11

Sweet Springtime 13

Sweet Summer 13

Sweet Tulips 11

Sweet Winter 13

T

Tapestry 4

Temptation 8

Three Blind Mice 15

Treehouse 11

Tumbling Tomatoes 9

Tulips 5

Tulip Print NEW 8

Tulips with Babe 12

U

Up, Up and Away 11

V

Vase 5

Verdant 4

Violets 5

Viola Tricolour 13

W

Welsh Poppy 7

Wildflower Drift 5

Wild Garden 5

Winter 13

Wisteria Niche 7

Wrap Around 11

Almost every bobbin in this

catalogue is available as a

Honiton.

Please mark any order

accordingly.

HONITON

BOBBINS

HONITON

BOBBINS

Past Designs

Bobbin Index

Bespoke Bobbins

Should you require a

bespoke design, inscription

or both please don’t

hesitate to contact us for

an informal chat. We are

always happy to look at

individual design require-

ments.

Plans are afoot this

year to display many

of our past designs on

our web site and

make them available

to order.

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w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

4

From left: Lupins £22.40 Daffodils £18.65 Clematis £18.65 Forget-me-Not £19.45 Iris £21.95

From left: Fuchsia £18.65 Foxgloves £22.70 Poppies £20.65 Bellflower £18.40 Pansies £21.50

Rai

ndr

op

s in

sid

e

From left: Tapestry £24.70 Frieze £24.70

From left: Spring Garden £23.35 Spring Showers £28.55 Verdant £25.95

From left: Foxtrot Pink £25.55 Foxtrot Blue £25.55

From left: Serenity £24.55 Daydream £24.75 Honey £27.85

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

5

T e l 0 1 8 8 6

Gra

pes

insi

de

From left: Tulips £19.30 Acorns £19.25 Sunflowers £19.55 Roses £18.65 Violets £21.70

From left: Apples £18.50 Pears £18.50 Cherries £19.15 Strawberries £26.35 Grapes £29.15

From left: Brambleberries £28.15 Rainbow £19.55 Music Notes £20.65

From left: Honeysuckle With Babe £29.25 Marigolds £29.25

From left: Wildflower Drift £31.45 Vase £28.20 Cottage Garden £28.30 Wild Garden £28.60

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w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

6

Columns

Sweet Peas From left: Sweet Pea Blue £20.95 Sweet Pea Violet £20.95 Sweet Pea Pink £20.95 Sweet Pea Red £20.95

Blossoms

From left: Quince Blossom £27.75 May Blossom £27.75 Cherry Blossom £27.75 Apple Blossom £27.75

Baby bobbins inside

From left: Spray of Roses £18.60 Spray of Lilies £18.60 Mixed Spray £21.35 Spray of Lavender £18.60

Sprays

From left: Clematis Column £24.60 Wisteria Column £24.60 Sweet Pea Column £24.60 Rose Column £24.60

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w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

7

Poppies From left: Californian Poppy £29.95 Himalayan Poppy £29.95 Welsh Poppy £29.95 Icelandic Poppy £29.95

Niches From left: Rose Niche £32.85 Clematis Niche £32.85 Jasmine Niche £32.85 Wisteria Niche £32.85

Baby bobbins inside

The Orchard From left: Cherry tree £28.75 Pear tree £28.75 Plum Tree £28.75 Apple Tree £28.75

Fruit Rings From left: Apple Rings £23.75 Pear Rings £23.75 Cherry Rings £23.75 Cocktail Rings £23.75

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

From left: Moonlight Emerald £24.50 Moonlight Blue £24.50 Moonlight Gold £24.50 Moonlight White £24.50

8

From left: Bees £23.20 Butterflies £23.20 Caterpillars £23.20 Ladybirds £23.20

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

Floral Prints From left: Rose Print £24.10 Purple Print £24.10 Tulip Print £24.10 Daisy Print £24.10

From left: Blue Paradise £25.95 Pink Paradise £25.95 Indian Summer £32.50 Temptation £28.55

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

From left: Christmas Baubles £24.70

Christmas Cracker £26.20

9

From left: Sweet Pea Profusion £34.50 Passion £29.65 Busy Bees £34.60

Bee

s in

sid

e

From left: Tumbling Tomatoes £31.45 Peas £31.45

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

Christmas Candle £32.50 Front & side view

Swee

t p

ea r

od

in

sid

e

From left: Rhapsody Red £27.40 Rhapsody Mauve £27.40

Centrepiece In Mauve or Aqua £26.95

Four Leaf Clover £32.80

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

10

From left Queen’s Lattice £43.40 King’s Lattice £43.40

Genie £38.60

Mermaid £37.75

Snowman £29.95 Snow Woman £29.95

Wea

rin

g a

Bac

kpac

k

Monday’s Child...

Monday’s child is fair of face,

Tuesday’s child is full of grace,

Wednesday’s child is full of woe,

Thursday’s child has far to go,

Friday’s child is happy and giving,

Saturday’s child works hard for a living,

But the child that is born on the Sabbath day is bonnie and blithe and good and gay.

£33.50 each

From left: Reflection Yellow £30.20 Reflection Mauve £30.20

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w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

11

From left: Sweet Bellflowers £32.50 Sweet Tulips £30.70 Pot Pourri £26.75 Wraparound £32.30 Poppet £30.70

From right: Linum £33.85 Baluster £27.05 Sweet Harmony £30.40 Joy £30.40 Sweet Rosie £34.60

From left: Dizzy in Mauve Dizzy in Pink £35.65

From left: Lighthouse £34.60 Up, Up and Away £42.95 Roses around the Door £41.75 Treehouse £38.35 Beach Huts £37.25

Litt

le p

ers

on

insi

de

Litt

le p

eop

le in

sid

e

Litt

le p

ers

on

insi

de

From left: Poppies with Babe £29.95 Iris with Babe £28.45 Pincushion Flower £30.20 Tulips with Babe £29.95 Angel’s Fishing Rod £27.05 Lavender Bush £27.90 Primroses £30.40

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

12

With baby bobbin inside

From left: Standard Magnolia £31.25 Standard Rose £31.25 Standard Lilac £31.25 Standard Fuchsia £31.25

From left: Summer Breeze Pink £31.25 Lilac £31.25 Blue £31.25 Gold £31.25

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

13

With baby bobbin inside Sweet Seasons

Four Seasons

From left: Spring £25.75 Bees inside

Summer £25.75 Mouse inside

Autumn £25.75 Apples Inside

Winter £25.75 Snow inside

From left: Sweet Springtime £30.70 Sweet Summer £30.70 Sweet Autumn £30.70 Sweet Winter £30.70

From right: Mother & Babe with Fuchsia £31.45 Cranesbill £30.40 Viola Tricolour £31.45 Oxeye Daisy £31.45 Daffodils with Babe £26.60

From left: Mother & Babe with Clematis £31.45 Mother & babe with Bellflowers £31.45 Freesia £29.35 Bluebells £31.45 Anemone £26.90

Front and side view

Incy Wincy Spider £35.45

Incy W

incy S

pid

er

Clim

bed u

p t

he w

ate

r spout,

dow

n c

am

e t

he r

ain

and w

ashed p

oor

Incy o

ut.

Out

cam

e t

he s

un a

nd d

ried u

p a

ll t

he r

ain

In

cy W

incy S

pid

er

clim

bed u

p t

he s

pout

again

.

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

14

Dr Foster £40.90

Hickory Dickory Dock £38.60

Little Miss Muffet

£39.95

Dr

Foste

r w

ent

to G

louceste

r in

a s

how

er

of ra

in,

He s

tepped in a

puddle

r

ight

up t

o h

is m

iddle

and n

ever

went

there

again

.

Hic

kory

Dic

kory

Dock a

mouse r

an u

p t

he c

lock

The c

lock s

truck o

ne t

he m

ouse r

an d

ow

n,

Hic

kory

dic

kory

dock

Little M

iss M

uff

et

sat

on a

tuffet

eating h

er

curd

s a

nd w

hey,

When d

ow

n c

am

e a

spid

er

who s

at

dow

n b

esid

e h

er,

And f

righte

ned M

iss M

uff

et

aw

ay.

Hum

pty

Dum

pty

sat

on t

he w

all, H

um

pty

Dum

pty

had a

gre

at

fall,

All t

he k

ing’s

hors

es a

nd a

ll t

he k

ing’s

men,

Could

n’t p

ut

Hum

pty

togeth

er

again

.

Nursery Rhymes & Fairy Tales

Little Boy Blue £36.85

Gold

en e

gg insid

e

Little B

oy B

lue c

om

e b

low

your

horn

, The s

heep's

in t

he m

eadow

the c

ow

's in t

he c

orn

. But

where

's t

he b

oy w

ho looks a

fter

the s

heep? H

e's

under

a h

aysta

ck fast

asle

ep.

Will you w

ake h

im? N

o,

not

I -

for

if I

do,

he's

sure

to c

ry.

Humpty Dumpty £29.35

Front and side view

Jack & The Beanstalk £42.95

Front and side view

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r . c o m

15

Jack & Jill £33.55

Row, Row £39.10

Rub-a- Dub Dub £41.95

Pussycat, Pussycat £41.95

Rub-a

-dub d

ub,

thre

e m

en in a

tub a

nd w

ho d

o y

ou t

hin

k t

hey

be.

The b

utc

her,

the b

aker

the c

andle

stick m

aker

all p

ut

out

to s

ea.

Pussycat,

pussycat,

where

have y

ou b

een,

I’ve b

een t

o L

ondon t

o v

isit t

he q

ueen.

Pussycat,

pussycat

what

did

you t

here

, I

frig

hte

ned a

mouse f

rom

under

her

chair.

Row

, ro

w,

row

your

boat,

gently d

ow

n t

he s

tream

, M

err

ily, m

err

ily,

merr

ily life is b

ut

a d

ream

.

Ba b

a b

lack s

heep h

ave y

ou a

ny w

ool, Y

es s

ir, yes s

ir t

hre

e b

ags

full.

One for

the m

aste

r and o

ne f

or

the d

am

e a

nd o

ne for

the little b

oy

who liv

es d

ow

n t

he lane

Jack &

Jill w

ent

up t

he h

ill to

fetc

h a

pail o

f w

ate

r,

Jack fell d

ow

n a

nd b

roke h

is c

row

n,

and J

ill cam

e t

um

-bling a

fter.

Little B

o P

eep h

as lost

her

sheep

and d

oesn’t k

now

where

to fin

d t

hem

, Leave t

hem

alo

ne a

nd t

hey w

ill com

e h

om

e,

Waggin

g t

heir t

ails b

ehin

d t

hem

.

Little Bo Peep £43.30

Thre

e b

lind m

ice,

Thre

e b

lind m

ice,

See h

ow

they r

un, see h

ow

they r

un,

They a

ll r

an a

fter

the f

am

er’s w

ife,

Who c

ut

off t

heir t

ails w

ith a

carv

ing k

nife,

Have y

ou e

ver

seen s

uch a

th

ing in y

our

life

, As t

hre

e b

lind m

ice.

Ba Ba Black Sheep £38.35

Rapunzel £39.95

Front and side view

Three Blind Mice £34.60

Front and side view

Front and side view

Front and side view

View of all 3 sides

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

16

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

Illustrated is the Golden Wedding bobbin. Silver, Ruby and Sapphire are also available. Inscribed with two first names and two dates with appropriately coloured text with matching floral decoration. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need to talk over your requirements.

£29.95

Special Anniversary Bobbin

From left: HRH Prince George £32.50 HM Queen’s 90th £31.45 The Longest Reign £31.45 Sapphire Jubilee £31.45 Coronation Commemorative Bobbin £34.90 Diamond Jubilee £34.60 HRH Princess Charlotte £32.50

Royal Commemorative Bobbins

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

17

Sp

ac

e f

or

full

na

me

an

d d

ate

- r

em

ain

ing

sp

ac

e is

fill

ed

with

fo

ot

prin

ts

A B

Illustrated below are just some

ideas for inscribed bobbins. If you

have your own idea for an in-

scribed bobbin please don’t hesi-

tate to contact us for an informal

chat.

If you would like to order one of

the designs below please be sure

to write the text you would like

clearly on the order form.

We do our best to fit all inscriptions

onto a bobbin but please bear in

mind that the more text there is

the less room there is for decora-

tion. If you’re in any doubt please

contact us for a chat about your

requirements.

Baby Bobbin Pink or Blue £29.95

C

A £26.35 B £26.35 C £26.35 D £26.35 E £26.35

E D

Pitter Patter Pink or Blue £26.20

Initial Bobbin £21.50

Sp

ac

e f

or

on

e f

irst

na

me

an

d o

ne

da

te (

esp

ec

ially

lo

ng

na

me

s m

ay

be

a p

rob

lem

– p

lea

se c

on

tac

t u

s if y

ou

are

no

t su

re)

An

y in

itia

l fr

om

A

to

Z in

th

e

style

illu

stra

ted

.

Inscribed Bobbins

Sp

ac

e f

or

a p

et’

s n

am

e a

nd

/or

da

te -

re

ma

inin

g s

pa

ce

is f

ille

d w

ith

pa

w p

rin

ts

Ple

ase

sp

ec

ify t

he

co

lou

r yo

u w

ou

ld lik

e

Paw Prints £26.20

18

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r . c o m

Waiting Time For Standard Orders

We make every effort to get standard orders made in a timely fashion. However, we

do have pre-existing commitments to Bobbin-a-Month Club orders which take up a

considerable part of each month. Consequently this leaves only a certain amount of

time available each month to make standard orders.

Over the past years our waiting time has been as low as 8 weeks and as long as 14

months! We will of course endeavour to give you an approximate delivery time

when you place an order but please be aware, with every part of the production

process relying on one pair of hands, it is simply not possible to calculate a reliable

long term dispatch date.

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

To place a standard order and make payment:

by phone: just ring with a list of the bobbins you would like and you can either send us a cheque or

make a card payment over the phone. Call: 01886 884135.

by mail: fill out the enclosed order form and return it to us enclosing a Pounds Sterling cheque or fill in

the card payment section. Send it to A R Archer Ltd, Combe Lodge, Suckley, Worcester WR6 5DR

by email: We are happy for you to send an order via email but we cannot accept sensitive card

information via email. Please use either conventional mail or the telephone for your card details.

Tel: 01886 884135

Payment Types: We all major cards and UKP cheques made payable to “A R Archer Ltd”.

Shipping: All UK orders = free P&P

International orders = up to £175 = £6.50 Orders over £175 = free (All orders insured)

Prices for Standard Orders: All standard orders will be charged at the prices in force at time the order is placed.

Guarantee & Returns Policy

1) You may cancel your order at anytime within the first 14 days of placing your order.

2) If you wish to cancel your order after this time please contact us as soon as possible and we shall endeavour to meet your request. Please be aware that all bobbins are made to order – once an order has entered the production process (usually 14 days prior to despatch date) it may not be cancelled.

3) Notification of faulty goods should be made within three days of the goods being received. All goods supplied by us are warranted as being suitable for the purpose for which they are designed, under fair conditions.

Our liability under this warranty will be limited to the replacement and free repair against goods acknowledged by us to be faulty, providing such faults have not been caused by your misuse, negligent handling or improper care of the goods.

4) If you do need to return any goods, please remember to wrap the package securely as it may not be possible to offer a refund or replacement on goods which have been damaged in transit.

Should you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01886 884135 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. You can email us at [email protected] or via the website.

How to Place an Order NEW FOR 2017

FREE P&P ON ALL

UK

ORDERS

19

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w w w . a r a r c h e r l t d . c o . u k

Bobbin-a-Month Club

How it Works

The Bobbin-a-Month Club is very simple - all that’s required is a minimum order of 12 bobbins.

You may distribute your bobbins in any way you wish, two one month and one the next for exam-

ple. Every month when we send you your bobbin(s) we will also enclose a payment request slip

for the following month’s order. You can either send payment in the form of a Pounds Sterling

cheque or complete and return the card payment form that will be attached to your request

slip.

At times we do have a waiting list to join the Bobbin a Month Club and we will advise if this is the

case and the anticipated waiting time when your order is received.

Free P&P Postage and packing is free on UK orders.

International Orders postage: For International orders of two or more bobbins per month postage

is free. However, on international orders of one bobbin a month we will charge the postage cost

in force at the time of dispatch less the cost of our standard UK postage.

In the event of an international order going missing we will send a replacement BUT any future

order will either need to be insured at the customer’s expense or the risk of loss is assumed by the

customer.

Pricing Policy for Bobbin-a-Month Club Orders

Any Bobbin-a-Month Club orders that bridge the price review on January 1st each year will

benefit from receiving the first 3 month's orders of the New Year at the previous year's prices. We

always endeavour to keep any price increase to a minimum.

To join the Bobbin-a-Month club please fill in the enclosed order form and send it to us

either:

by mail: send it to us enclosing a cheque or fill in the card details for your first month’s bobbin(s)

to: A R Archer Ltd, Combe Lodge, Suckley, Worcester WR6 5DR

by email: We are happy for you to send a Bobbin-a-Month Club order via email but we cannot

accept sensitive payment card information via email. Please use either conventional mail or the

phone for your card details. Email: [email protected]

by phone: just ring with a list of the bobbins you would like and you can either mail us a cheque

for your first month's bobbins or make a card payment over the phone. Call: 01886 884135

T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5 T e l 0 1 8 8 6 8 8 4 1 3 5

w w w . a r a r c h e r . c o m

A R Archer takes its name from my father Anthony Archer. An accomplished and much respected crafts-

man, he spent many years making furniture before then making the slightly unusual transition to becoming

a maker of chess sets. These he sold around the world but, being before the days of the world wide web,

getting known was an expensive and far trickier affair than it is today. It was during these years that he

learnt the fine turning skills that would later serve him so well as a bobbin maker.

He turned his talents to bobbin making in the late 1970’s after a chance enquiry from a customer in his

shop. Within three months of making his first wooden bobbin he had to start a waiting list and it was only

shortly after this time he embarked on making his first bone bobbin. Within a relatively short period of time

the demand for bone bobbins far outstripped that of the wooden bobbins and, turning to the exclusive

production of bone bobbins, the business was in need of an extra pair of hands. It was at this time that my

mother Susan Archer joined the business and took on the role of preparing the bone blanks and then

painting the engraved bobbins. By the mid 1980’s there was a waiting list of two years and the only way of

hoping to get a bobbin sooner was to find them at one of the half dozen or so lace days they attended

every year. I know these were times that both my mother and father thoroughly enjoyed but sadly in 1990

my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness which left him unable to work with almost immediate ef-

fect.

It was at this time that I stepped into the breach and took on the rather daunting challenge of working to

my father’s standards. I had grown up around the tools of his workshop and when I left school I spent many

a happy hour being taught the finer points of turning. In the last couple of years of his life he taught me the

skill of freehand engraving which, little did we realise then, was rather sadly in the nick of time. We were

fortunate that my father was with us for a further year and in this time I also had the benefit of being able

to use him as the ultimate quality control for my work. In early 1991 my father died and I carried on the

business as a partnership with my mother until the mid 1990’s when she decided it was time to hang up her

paint brush and devote more time to her life long passion of gardening. I now run the business with my wife

Vicky who, between looking after our two children, keeps on top of all the administration.

In these nearly thirty years that I’ve been running the business the advent of the digital age has changed

the world of the craftsman in many ways, not least by giving many of us international exposure via the

internet. However, I like to think that if my father were to walk in to my workshop today he would be able

to recognise every tool in front of him. He was a great believer in taking the very best skills and techniques

and developing them to achieve new and exciting things. With the

increased pressure the digital age has brought to move to more auto-

mated means of production my ambition is that the words “hand

made” should always be synonymous with the best of what is possible

and combine skills and technique with innovative design.

I hope this brief history of the business is of interest and helps explain

how Archer bobbins came about, who my father was and how I fit

into the picture. I hope you enjoy this catalogue and if you have any

comments or feedback please get in touch.

About A R Archer

20

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Published Feb 2017