Good Directions

Once again working with ‘G-Enviro’ in Saudi Arabia, Good Directions LTD produced and manufactured 3 Hexagonal bezel clocks for the Middle Eastern company. These clocks had a different brief from the ones previously manufactured. All these dials were to be a simple modern design, but also had to be in a hexagonal shape bezel instead of the standard round style. The design choice here was to allow the clocks to fit in with the existing aesthetic of the structures they were being installed on, which had a honeycomb pattern and design. The clocks were manufactured to be a feature on the structure, which was hiding a radio mast, to stop them being such an eye sore. These Hexagonal bezel clocks were all manufactured in GRP with acrylic dials and came in at a diameter of 1350mm. GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) has many advantages over traditional materials used in architecture and construction, one being the lightweight nature. GRP is perfect for these big installations as it is only 1/10 ...

 Clocks are a key architectural feature in many parts of the world and not just for telling the time but as a symbol of power and importance helping to make buildings stand out from the crowd. It was this exact reason why ‘G-Enviro’ in The Middle East got in contact with us regarding the manufacturing of clocks. G-Enviro is a leading company in Telecom full turn-key projects and manufacturer of traditional and non-traditional supporting structures. As part of the unusual structures they create to mask unsightly telecom masts, they were looking for large clocks to create a focal point.   ‘G-Enviro’ enquired all around the globe for who was the best manufacturer of large exterior clocks and after extensive research they decided that they wanted to work with a UK manufacturer and after discussing their needs with various companies they chose ‘Good Directions Ltd’. Having looked at our selection of clock dials they chose our Skeleton bezel clocks for their traditional style,...

Good Directions LTD had the pleasure of manufacturing three bespoke silver bezel clocks for ‘G-Enviro’, a company located in Saudi Arabia. This was the third time our companies had worked together, with all different styles and sizes of clocks being manufactured to be proudly displayed in the Middle East. This time the design was based upon a clock we had manufactured previously for a golf club in the UK, which was a small 400mm silver clock to go on the first tee. This clock featured traditional Roman numerals on the outside of the dial, but then also had a more modern clock on the inside. The difference here being ‘G-Enviro’ wanted theirs to be 1440mm instead of 400mm. We manufactured 3 of these huge clocks, all to the same design specifications and size. These clocks were to have a dial within a dial design, with a larger traditional clock, with Roman numerals on the outside of the dial and then a smaller modern take on the same clock on the inside, with rectangular chapters. Th...

  Bespoke Clock designed by a pupil. Good Directions Ltd prides itself on its skilled workers and creativity when it comes to creating bespoke and unique clocks. They have always had their finger on the trigger of ingenuity and consistently strive to make beautiful products that you are proud of and will be talked about for years to come. Bespoke designs and allowing you to have creative freedom when ordering items from them is the companies USP and is no more evident than in this clock which was made for Dallimore Primary School. The school ran a competition where the children were asked to design a clock for the school and the winning design was made into reality. Incorporating everyday school items into the clock hands design is what truly separated this design over all the other submissions. The ruler and pencil clock hands were cut out of Dibond, which is an aluminium and plastic composite, making it strong and rigid and eliminating the need for a rib down the middle of th...

   Our Engineers Proudly Showing Off Their Hardwork. Good Directions recently worked in partnership with a Rotary Club to produce and manufacture two identical clocks for the inside and outside of the clubhouse at Chislehurst Recreation Ground.   One of these clocks was situated in the club bar for its patrons and the other is sitting on an a-frame on the roof of the building, both running in time with one another, allowing great visibility from the pitch, ensuring no one misses kick off. The dial situated by the bar is a 400mm square bezel with the clubs’ colour in vinyl proudly on display on the dial, with the rotary logo also present in the middle of the dial. The larger clock on the roof of the establishment is a 900mm square bezel which is sat on an a-frame, also displays the clubs’ colours and Rotary logo in the middle, ensuring synchronisation in time and aesthetics. Both these clocks were additionally fitted with an electric mechanism and a ...

In 2012 local residents in Burley held many fund raising activities to celebrate the Queens diamond jubilee. When all the celebrations were over the Parish Council were left with a small surplus of money and decided to ask the residents what they would like to do with it. T he majority view had a leaning towards providing something permanent for the village, which would mark the Queens Jubilee, be sympathetic to the environment and benefit the village as a whole. The Parish Council gave the community the opportunity to put forward ideas on what shape this would take and the idea of a clock on the form of a village sign was suggested and received popular support. The project has taken place under the leadership of Councillor Neal Martin, who contacted Good Directions to work with local artist Suzan Houching who has been involved in the design aspects of the clock. It was important to ensure that the design was a true reflection of the village and captured the essence of Burl...

New shop front complemented with a custom designed clock Gift Retailer of the year 'Temptation' decided to celebrate winning this year by giving its Amersham store a face lift. Having had one of their stores in Amersham for over 20 years they decided they would like to give something back to the community and designed a large exterior clock matching their corporate style, to take pride of place above the shop front. The beautiful deep green colour used throughout their stores and on their website could be matched perfectly for the GRP clock (as can any colour with a matching BS or RAL code). Gold hands and numerals were chosen for the clock in a clear and simple design to match the typeface used on the shop signage. Clocks are still a very popular addition to any shop front hoping to stand out from the crowd. Clocks always seem to have a magnetism that catches the eye in a way that simply a shop name cannot do. The 'shop with a clock' makes for a memorable pla...

Some weeks ago we were approached by Paul Cook, the proprietor of hair salon 'Hair Concepts' to design and manufacture a feature clock to go on his new premises in Banbury. The building was formerly a warehouse for a wine merchants, which Mr Cook has sympathetically transformed with his team of Architect, builder and shop fitters to recreate a period building typical of Banbury town centre. The clock is now a unique landmark above the shop, appropriately featuring hands in the shape of scissors and the words 'It is hair time' in place of traditional numerals around the clock face. With back illumination behind the dial the clock is highly visible both day and night. In keeping with traditional clocks the bezel surround, although manufactured by Good Directions in modern GRP material in a colour to match the rendering, it is designed to look like raised stonework around the clock. Using GRP instead of stone however means that it can be manufactured to suit the clock size...

It was an exciting moment as many people watched the replacement clock we manufactured for the Royal Borough of Windsor being lowered into the pavement in Thames Street, the exact spot where the original clock had been placed over fifty years previously. Lowering the pavement clock into the ground at Windsor The original clock was installed on May 15, 1950, by former Windsor Mayor and owner of Dysons, Sir Cyril Dyson. Sadly the clock was removed many years ago and its wareabouts is now unknown but the council wanted to re-instate an important part of Windsor's heritage and so approached us to manufacture a replacement. Grandaughter of original clock maker with the Mayor at the unveiling of the new clock Dyson's grandaughter Caroline Fox, whose father Geoffrey Dyson took over the family business until it closed in the 1980s, proudly watched as Mayor Cllr Catherine Bursnall, unveiled the new clock. Mrs Fox, from Maidenhead, said: "It is very emotional, I feel m...

Having manufactured a 3000mm skeleton style clock for a school in Baku we were approached by our agent to come up with design concepts for a new time feature to be the largest clock in Baku, situated in a prominent position on the main route through the city centre used by the President daily. The chosen building was a typical Soviet apartment block with no detail and little character, which was to be refurbished and embelished around the new clock. Having decided on a large 5000mm Skeleton style clock with LED illumination to both the chapters and hands we had to overcome the difficulties in manufacturing and exporting the clock for installation by our client. To ensure the dial was lightweight but strong it was decided to fabricate the chapters in Aluminium box section welded between rolled angle rings. The dial was formed in four pieces with rear bolt flanges for ease of transportation. The hands were waterjet cut in Aluminium with additional strengthening ribs down the ...

Over the last 20 years we have built a reputation for manufacturing large exterior clocks so we were pleased to receive an enquiry to manufacture a very special bespoke exterior clock for a new park in Azerbaijan.   New clock feature in landscaped park in Baku, Azerbaijan  The structure was to be 4m high with a stainless steel clock supported in the middle with green LED illuminated spikes for hour markers and stainless steel LED illuminated hands.   Close up of spike being illuminated with LED's Using the latest CAD programme and 3D design package we provided detailed drawings of the clock feature and supplied photographs of work in progress throughout the project. As the clock was to be exported and installed by others drawings for installation were also provided.   3D design package with installation instructions  The clock feature now takes pride of place in a new landscaped park outside a brand new development, part of a massive r...

As part of an ongoing regeneration scheme across Baku in Azerbaijan we have been working with our agent to design, manufacture and supply large exterior clocks to feature in parks and cities across the region. Artist impression of exterior clock feature Working from an artist impression of what was required we were asked to manufacture two large dials with raised numerals at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 positions with front LED illumination. Clock feature outside new development The limestone structure stands 8.6m high and is positioned in a newly lanscaped park next to a residential area with a 2500mm diameter clock facing in each direction. To see other examples of our clocks in Azerbaijan and other countries please visit our website http://www.good-directions.com/ . Clock feature illuminated at night

The installation of a new clock in Bingham marked the culmination of a competition run by Toot Hill School on behalf of the town council.   The finished clock, designed by 12-year-old Mollie Grice, was unveiled at a special school assembly. Town Crier Peter Taunton announced the unveiling to pupils at the school before heading to Bingham Market Place to tell residents the clock would be installed. Mollie was one of five finalists shortlisted for the chance of having their design turned into a £10,000 community clock, funded by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme.  Mollie said she was delighted with the finished clock and was very proud it would now be centre stage in her local town. “I think it looks brilliant and I’m really excited to let people know it was my design,” Mollie added. The numbers have been laid on using 24-carat golf leaf, a very durable, hard-wearing material. The numbers six and 12 have been replaced with the town council’s Buttercr...

     Winning design by Ela, aged 11  Darrick Wood Junior School wanted an exterior clock to go on their school wall and decided that it would be a great idea to get the children involved, so they ran a competition to see who could design the best clock face. Four children's designs were short listed and then the Headteacher came to us for advice. As the children range in age from 7 - 11 years old it was decided that above all the clock needed to be clear and simple to read. Several of the designs had a leaf theme as every class is named after a tree and the logo for the school is a leaf. However having submitted nine variations, based on the children's designs, for the school to choose from it was decided that the winner should be Ela, aged eleven. Her design was on a clear white back ground, with the school logo in the middle and a pattern of children a...

Pupils at a school in Sussex decided that when they left they would like to give a leaving present that was a thank you to the whole school and would also be of use for many years to come. So the year of 2010 all raised money to be able to donate two large exterior clocks and came to us for advice. The pupils chose two 790mm Classic style clocks in dark blue from our range of standard exterior clocks. Gold leafed Arabic numerals were chosen to make the clocks clear and simple to read, then to personalise the clocks it was decided that the school logo would be sign written above the hands and the year 2010 sign written below. Having an in-house sign facility meant we could not only sign write the dials using special 22 carat gold leaf vinyl but even provide a brass plaque with all 52 of the children’s names on it to be fitted beneath one of the clocks, making us a one stop shop for the whole project. The school was so pleased with the clocks they have come b...

 Good Directions Traditional style clock hand finished with gold leaf  Time certainly does seem to go by faster these days as once again we see the end of the ‘Great’ British Summer Time, winter drawing closer and the arguments for when to change the clocks and by how many hours rears its ugly head again. But for the time being anyway come Sunday 31st October we will have to turn the clocks back one hour, trying to synchronise them all from the kitchen cooker, to the DVD player, but at least it gains us an extra hour in bed, so don’t forget your alarm clocks too. For clocks that are more important than whether we record our favourite TV show, we offer a choice of clock control systems at Good Directions that takes the hassle out of changing the time twice a year and after power failures for those hard to reach clocks. Not forgetting that these can be retro fitted to any of our clocks, so if you are tired of climbing that ladder, give us a call and ask about our ran...

  Good Directions 2.5m skeleton dial clocks   Not just your normal Grandfather clock – this one is 15.1m high, has 2.5m diameter clocks and weighs ten tons.  In twenty two years of manufacturing large exterior clocks we have never been involved with Grandfather clocks but this enquiry was different. The Mayor of the Sabunchi District in Azerbaijan wanted a large clock feature by the side of the road for all to see going to and from the airport and came up with a large scale Grandfather clock design.   The clock case was to be made in limestone 15.1m high and weighing in at ten tons, with the pendulum bob itself being 6m in length plus a 915mm diameter bob at the end. The clocks themselves were 2.5m diameter skeleton style clocks chosen from our standard range fitted in spun bezels and illuminated at night.  This colossal structure is now, we believe, the tallest Grandfather clock in the world. Visit our website to see this and other custom made and s...