麻豆约拍

April 2008

We鈥檝e all heard the saying 鈥榦ne man鈥檚 junk is another man鈥檚 treasure鈥�.

One man has lived by that saying for 25 years. Tony Tomlinson, from Parson Cross came into 麻豆约拍 Radio Sheffield to share his tat and show just how you can create something from nothing.

鈥淢aking a guitar - I see something like car parts... an engine kit... and I think 'that's going to make a nice guitar'... motorcycle parts, spanners, metalwork, recycling...鈥�

鈥淚 can't compete with manufacturers from China so the instruments have to really stand out.

Tony brought an example of his sterling work, also better known as - Sid.

鈥淭hey're working usable instruments. Sid's body is an old mahogany office desk. It鈥檚 bound in leather with studs and chains - a tribute to Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols.鈥�

When challenged about whether this piece of 鈥渏unk鈥� was actually a business, a stunning revelation came about what they鈥檙e actually worth.

Listen to the interview, via the link below.

鈥淚t's a proper business - they've sold in Harrods department store in London鈥�

鈥淭hey sell for considerably more than a normal guitar would. I sold two to one customer in Harrods for 拢19,000. They're also exhibited as artwork in a London stockbroker's.

鈥淭he Hard Rock Caf茅 in London have got five!

鈥淭hey paid 拢21,000 for all five guitars. There are one or two famous people who have them - but in Germany not England. The guitars do go down really well in Germany, Poland, and Eastern Europe.

鈥淚've just come back from Frankfurt where I did the Music Messer - from there I鈥檓 going to do a solo art exhibition in Luxembourg in May (2008).

Listen to the interview, via the link below.

鈥淭hen in Summer Glastonbury Festival have asked me to come along to display the guitars - it fits in quite well with their image (their aim is recycling this year.)鈥�

Louise, Tony鈥檚 wife said that it's a full-time job: 鈥淪ometimes he is working day AND night if there's a show or exhibition coming up. He works very long hours on the guitars."