Hobbs of Barbican letterhead

Hobbs of Barbican were one of the top British racing cycle manufactures of the 30s and 40s (you can read more about them here). Accompanying the auction of one of their frames on Ebay there is a tantalising glimpse of their letterhead, they were noted for their lavish catalogs and clearly had an eye for commissioning graphic design

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I emailed the seller of the frame and he generously supplied this high resolution scan of the letterhead (thanks again Martin). It brings out some of the detail not visible in the low resolution image - like the directors listed under the monogram (click on the image below for the high resolution version).

Kennington Theatre

This Theatre once stood quite close to my flat, and was a significant South London musichall venue (it's a block of flats now, the original building was destroyed in the war).

I love the graphic design of the program:

Magic Posters

Martinka hold regular specialist auctions of magical equipment and ephemera. I've purchased one or two posters from them in the past, they have a new sale (but not too many posters this time). Here are some things that caught my eye:

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Buried in Flames - Marvelo Window Card

Oversize at 28" x 22"

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Houdini Mourning Stationery

Unused letterhead from Houdini with a portrait of him at the corner. Houdini added a black border to his stationary for a while after the death of his mother.

They also have in a separate auction this clipping about the death of his mother

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Chung Ling Soo Stationery

The ornate stationery of Chung Ling Soo with barely enough room left for the letter. Borders in gold leaf. Circa early 1900s.

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Virgal & Julie Panel

Virgil and Julie present the Indian Rope Trick. Circa 1950, printed by W. E. Smith Ltd., Sydney. Approx. 13.5" X 30".

Just a detail of this one - love the mix of 50s modern cityscape and top-hatted magician flying around on his carpet!

Bonhams

Some interesting automobile related stuff from Bonhams:


Aston Martin engine plate (I guess, I've lost the page).


Fiat 600 beach car(?)



F1 1:6 scale wind tunnel model (from 1979)

Bonhams Sale 17185

More Bonhams stuff - I can't resist and as I don't really expect to buy any of these things it's nice to hold them somehow

Sale 17185 - Pictures, including Works by 'Snaffles', Furniture and Works of Art, 6 May 2009

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Lot No: 181

A late Victorian 'W. Hall & Co's' mahogany four drawer shop sewing cabinet

Each drawer with an inset reverse printed gilt title on glass flanked by a pair of brass handles, damaged, losses, 35.5cm.

Estimate: £100 - 150

// loving the typography //

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Lot No: 198

A late Victorian walnut and electroplate mounted three bottle tantalus

With additional side carrying handles (key lacking) 38.5cm wide.

Estimate: £200 - 250

// I love a nice tantalus - designed to prevent the butler helping himself to the whiskey //

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Lot No: 173

A late 19th century Italian Sorrento ware ebonised, amboyna banded and panelled, kingwood, marquetry and line inlaid writing casket

Of upright form, inlaid with panels to the hinged top, front and writing slope top to the base with figures, an elephant and chickens, each within a geometric inlaid border, the interior fitted with drawers, compartments and writing surfaces, s.d., restorations, 41.5cm wide, 35cm high.

Estimate: £600 - 800

Odd images

Some images from my computer desktop - the building is for sale through Southwark Council if you're interested...

The others come from ebay I think.

Bonhams sale

Bonhams have the most amazing stuff on their website - here are some interesting bits and pieces from Sale 16781 - Mechanical Music, Scientific Instruments and the Jeffrey Salmon Collection of Radios

Knightsbridge, 28 Apr 2009

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Philips

type 2634, 1931
with large speaker above micro-window vertical dial, side controls, in raised heptagon brown bakelite case; and a Nora-Radio type W3L in arched bakelite case (2)

Estimate: £200 - 250

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Lot No: 59

Emerson

type 258, 'The Strad', 1939
burr-walnut veneered version,
number unknown, with D shape dial, the famous case in the form of a stylised violin with f holes in the slight domed top, speaker with five-bar raised curved ribs, linier parallel inlay through the horizontal - 10.3/4in. (27.2cm) wide

Estimate: £150 - 250

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Lot No: 49

Phonola desk-top

type 547, 1939, by Livio Castiglioni (1911-1979)
Brown bakelite version, with three push-buttons between the square dial and plaque, twin wheel scales, single-mould raised speaker hood and square-form base - 9.3/4in. (24.8cm) wide

Estimate: £300 - 500

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Lot No: 50

Sparton

rare (English version) Type 517, 'The Sled', by Walter Teague, 1936,
No. 097614, with the main deep blue mirrored glass panels each with bevelled edges, the top with curved front right corner above linier five chrome ribs, etched continuation lines to the front surrounding rare circular type dial with the tuning knob to dial centre, wavelength and volume flanking below, the curved theme concluding to bottom left corner and cracked iced marble painted effect to dark wood trims to sides and three-bar 'sled' runners as base supports 17.1/2in. (44.4cm) wide

Estimate: £1,500 - 2,500

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