Your stories

April 2008

We’ve all heard the saying ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’.

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

“Making 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...”

“I 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.

“They're working usable instruments. Sid's body is an old mahogany office desk. It’s bound in leather with studs and chains - a tribute to Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols.”

When challenged about whether this piece of “junk” was actually a business, a stunning revelation came about what they’re actually worth.

Listen to the interview, via the link below.

“It's a proper business - they've sold in Harrods department store in London…

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

“The Hard Rock Café in London have got five!

“They paid £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.

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

Listen to the interview, via the link below.

“Then 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.)”

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