Thursday, 22 May 2014

Car Boot finds 2.

Car boot season is again under way and the recent good weather has brought out some half decent finds,
I acquired this little lot a weekend or so ago;



Overall shot of; 4 wool ties c 1950, 2 walking canes, 1 'alpine' walking stick, 1 c 1950? jug and one Ofrex stapler c1950?



close shot of jug, stapler and walking stick/ badges

 

The four wool ties consisting of one, Tootal( second down), one 'Four In One'(bottom), one 'Duggie'(top) and one unknown maker made for local retailer Bray bros of Chesterfield and Sheffield(second from bottom).


close up of British made jug and 'Ofrex' stapler


stapler detail


baseplate of stapler details


stapler press button detail


2 suitcases, one 'Globetrotter' and one unknown British made


Globetrotter logo on side of case


Globetrotter 'Legge' lock detail


Globetrotter leather handle and snap latch detail


inside of  c 1950? Globetrotter case, this needs a quick wipe out but little else.

inside detail of c1960? British suitcase


'Chenney' patented expanding latch and hinge detail










Thursday, 1 May 2014

Vintage S.G Brown type F earphones

A recent car boot find that I simply couldn't pass up, I've very little interest in electrical items but these were just too good to leave on the stall, especially at £4!


I've no idea if they still work as I've nothing in the house that takes a large 'jack plug',they are however immaculate and appear never used?

They date from the mid 1920's onwards and are I believe 2000 Ohms.










Obviously they were worn by a Lancaster bomber crew-member involved in the 'Dam Busters' raid, at least that's how the guy on the stall sold them to me!

Here's a couple of links for more information. 

  





Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Vintage TWA Shaving mug

I bought this a while ago at a local antiques centre, I saw it as I was just about to leave and the £5 asking price convinced me that I needed it!
You don't see that many advertising mugs, country scenes, flowers, trains, steam engines, sports and country pursuits ones yes but advertising ones especially aircraft/airline not very often at all, whether it was available on board or at airports I don't know but I like it a lot,,,,it has some surface crazing but no chips or cracks.







Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Vintage wrist watches

I've collected old wrist and pocket watches for quite a few years now, generally I prefer pre 1950 items but do have a few classically styled post 1950 example but my interest wains with the introduction of the quartz watch.

I don't often buy watches now as I have one or more of each 'type' I have an interest in....however on occasion and when the price is right I will buy a watch...or two!

These two are such items, both bought for a couple of quid each....neither work but both are in stunningly good cosmetic condition which is everything!

You can buy a watch working and that is great however the vast majority will need a service and many, many 'overwound' watches need little more than a service to get them going again as the old oils gum up over the years and stop the watch from functioning correctly or at all.

These two however need a little more, the Apex needs a new mainspring which I will get put in with a service and the 'Ingersol' watch has a few mechanical faults but the 'pin lever' movements are fairly easy to find so replacement should be easy and cheap!

A couple of things to look for in a watch is does the second hand 'tick' when the watch is gently shaken if so the balance wheel is good, also worth seeing if the hands set ok too, it is also important that the dial is in good condition as it is very expensive and difficult to match the dial when getting it restored.

Here are the watches;


Both together, roughly 32mm across the dial including winder




The Deco inspired Apex with it's swivel lugs, blued steel hands and sub second dial at the bottom of the dial/face



The back view with it's stainless steel rear cover


and cover removed showing the very clean and again deco inspired movement


The Swiss 15 jewelled movement


The Ingersol 'BIJOU'


With front cover removed showing the excellent dial condition again with a sub dial and blued steel hands.


The chrome plated rear cover would more than likely date this to the 1930's


The beautiful dial in excellent condition.


The movement with cover removed more than likely made by Theil brothers of Thuringia.




Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Wilkinson Sword Empire Razor set

I acquired this Wilkinson Sword Empire Razor set recently for a song, in very good original and virtually unused( if ever) condition, here's a few photographs as it arrived; 



The oak box in very good condition but much in need of a clean and polish.



And it's contents, on pigskin strop in silver plated holder, silver plated 'Empire' razor, box of unopened unused blades, card lid insert and instructions for use and care of strop.



Removed from box, blue velvet lining is in excellent condition.



The 'unopened' blade box,



And it's contents.



The razor before cleaning.



Box after a clean, sand and polish



And it's contents



The internals showing blade holding arrangement



And it in blade release position




With blade released ready for removing



Makers marks to rear of head assembly



Blade packaging front and rear



And advertising insert for 'Zero shaving cream' 




Outer advert



And advert 'blurb'



Front of instructions



And rear



Strop after re-dressing in it's polished silver plated holder