Good quality compass held within white metal case together with lower collar (not currently tested for silver).

The case top holding what appears to be a 2 - letter monogram of 

 P W.

The compass top, mounted on a hardwood shaft and ending in an old  but  replacement brass ferrule.

Condition

The cane is in good condition for age. Evidence of wear to the cane  but free from breaks or cracks. The compass top lid closes neatly but has the tendency to open a little to easily. This likely due to usage and age.

Measurements

Length: 94cm

Top Diameter of Case : 5cm

A unique, early 20^TH century silver pommel, liquid measuring cane. Suggested use as an alcohol rule for measuring levels in casks . Made by the measuring instrument maker L.Long of London.

Assay for London with what appears to be 1912.  Date letter held but very rubbed.

Measurements on the fruitwood cane are in imperial gallons and marked up to 16 gallons. Original brass & metal base ferrule.

Condition

The cane is in lovely condition for age yet, showing appropriate wear for age. Silver pommel holds a slight ding on the side and very slight silver tear at the bottom collar of the pommel otherwise in lovely condition.

Length :110cm

A very good example of a gadget cane that holds a two-drawer, extending brass telescope. Fruitwood rondel mounted on ebonised hardwood shaft, ending in base metal ferrule. The lower silver collar depicting the Assay for London 1901-1902.

Condition

This is an unusual cane due to the very slim nature of the cane and the telescope.

The cane is in a lovely condition together with the telescope- free from breaks or cracks. The silver collar holds some old nicks to the edges of the collar, but otherwise in very good condition.

Measurements

Cane

Length: 94cm

Diameter Rondel Top: 4.5cm

Circumference Top of Rondel : 14.75cm

Top Shaft Diameter:2.25cm

Base Shaft Diameter:1.75cm

Telescope

Extended Length: 23.5cm

Top Diameter: 1.75cm

Bottom Diameter: 2cm

This is a beautiful gadget cane. The ivory and tortoiseshell pommel unscrews and reveals two red velvet panels, supporting a set of glasses.  These folded down glasses easily pull from the supports.

Holding the tortoiseshell glasses case, pull gently the clip at the side and out pops the beautiful rimmed reading glasses.

The large highly decorated silver collar holds the Assay marks for Birmingham 1902/03. The cane has originally been engraved. However, through wear the only remaining part of the engraving  showing clearly, being the date letter 1908.

The black shaft finished with a horn spacer and what appears to be an ivory tip

Condition

The cane is free from breaks or cracks yet, showing appropriate wear. The ivory, tortoiseshell and glasses are all in good condition free from cracks or chips. The silver collar is all in situe but well used.

Length: 93.7cm

This is a gadget cane with loads of noise.

 Blow into the side pipe area and a burring whistle is produced. The noise fan made from bone. The lower area of the burr walnut veneered pommel finished with an ivory and white metal collar  (tested as silver but not marked) The collar has originally been elaborately engraved but now much has worn away.

The black ebonised wooden shaft holds what appears to be the original brass and metal tipped ferrule

Condition

The cane is in excellent condition free from breaks or cracks yet showing appropriate wear for age. The siren piece does unscrew from the pommel for cleaning.

Length: 94.7cm

A very good quality compass cane set into an ivory case with ivory top. Completed with a lower highly decorated white metal collar.

(not currently tested for silver)

The ivory top holds a carved and stained monogram that is too worn to clearly define.

 The shaft made from what appear to be beech and completed with an ivory ferrule.

Condition

The cane has only one ivory chip on the underside of monogramed compas top that can only be seen when the top is viewed from below the cane or when the compas top has been removed.

The base ivory ferrule holds a minor expansion line, which evidently has been in place for a number of years. Otherwise the cane is in excellent working condition, yet showing the appropriate wear for age.

Length: 94cm

Binoculars telescope in brass and white metal on mahogany shaft with a fruitwood pommel.

Remove the pommel and turn the brace to release. The brass case is then drawn up and out, at which point the case splits into two, revealing the working rear area, of the binoculars. The now two cases are turned back on themselves to form the binocular lenses. The focus adjusted by the middle wheel.

This is a real joy of a puzzle to assemble and then disassemble. The binoculars are surprisingly easy to use and very powerful. The mahogany cane shaft, ending in a horn ferrule.

Condition

The gadget cane is in beautiful condition, free from breaks or cracks.

However, there is wear and an expansion crack to the horn ferrule, which has evidently been there for many years and remains solid.

Measurements

Length: 94cm

Pommel Diameter: 4.25cm

Top Cane Diameter: 2.5cm

Base Cane Diameter: 1.75cm

Victorian Ivory & Silver Floating Compass Gadget Cane ( c1890- 1900)

Good example of a floating compass cane. Mounted in ivory with silver collar and decoration. Silver Hallmarked for Chester but date letter too rubbed to determine year. Mounted on a hardwood shaft and completed with a base metal ferrule.

Condition

The compass, silver and cane are all in good condition for age - free from breaks or cracks yet showing appropriate wear for age.

Measurements

Length: 93cm

Compass Top Diameter: 4cm

Depth of Pommel: 4cm

Diameter Top of Cane: 2.25

Diameter Bottom of Cane: 2cm

Of all the gadget canes, measuring canes are more likely to carry the secret with them in relation to what they are designed to measure. This is one such cane.

The initial view of the cane suggests a normal cow horn crook handle mounted on a bamboo shaft. Looking at the base of the cane there is no recognisable ferrule but a steel and brass measuring gage. This opens up when in use and clips close to the cane side when not in use.

When you turn the cow horn crook and pull – revealed is a measuring cane with brass ferrule on the base.

The purpose of this cane may be for a mortician, possibly a dog measuring cane as illustrated in the text of Catherine Dike ‘Cane Curiosa’ published 1983. Alternatively, a  ‘cattle measurer’. Held to aid the farmer in  obtaining the height, width and length of livestock to determine the weight.

Condition

The cane is free from breaks or cracks but has been evidently well used as shown by the wear on the cane

Length 103cm

.

The cane is made from one-piece ‘black palm’ wood. An exotic wood that has some unusual characteristics.

 Firstly, the colouration of the grain is a dark red brown with distinctive hard black streaks.

 Secondly, when viewing the area where the compass is held, the end grain looks spotted or like a hammered leather effect. It is this end grain, which was highly sought after during the Art Deco period for specialist objects of art.

 Black and red palm wood is an exotic species of wood that is held to be very difficult to work with due to its density.  The style and construction of this cane fits perfectly in  the Art Deco period 1900 – 1930’s

Condition:

Cane: The cane is excellent condition for it's age, free from breaks, cracks or restoration. There is some slight wood chips running down the length of the cane, however only found on close inspection. The base of the cane is fitted with a brass collar.

Compass: the compass is sunk tightly into the wood and is a good working example. Free from cracks, breaks and no evidence of  restoration.

Length: 86cm

Compass Size: 1.4 cm diameter

Width on Top Pommel: 3cm diameter

Base Diameter:1.25cm

A very special slim line  gadget cane

This may be a Briar drinks / tippling cane. However,  a little different from the early 20th Century 'novelty soft wood' type that are more commonly seen.

It is unlikely that the metal drinks holder is original but the drinks flask may be. It is the briar wood and the copper top which makes this cane stand apart in design and strength.

 Finished with the original ferrule.

Condition

The cane is in excellent condition fo age without breaks or cracks. However, the base ferrule holds a side split but is still firmly in position.

Length

88cm

Good working example of a whistle cane made from ivory and wood. Mounted on a black ebony shaft with original brass and metal base ferrule.

Condtion

The cane is in excellent condition for age yet showing appropriate wear and minor expansion lines in the ivory.

Length

85cm

The compass is constructed in brass with the working surface area covered in what appears to be mother of pearl. The Miner’s Brunton Compass mounted on a flame scorched bamboo cane with a solid silver collar (Hallmarked Birmingham- date mark too far rubbed to define)

Condition:

The cane is evidently well used or well shown with a few superficial ‘ding’ marks. There are no evident cracks or breaks to the compass. The shaft of the cane is also in excellent condition.

Measurements:

Length: 94.5cm

This is a very interesting automated gadget cane.

 The woodcarving resembles a bird with pale green glass eyes.

 The lower beak opens on pressing the leaver below the chin.

The head is mounted on an extremely thin hardwood shaft with a traditional Victorian / Edwardian brass and metal ferrule.

 At the base of the head is what appears to be an ivory ring followed by a 4. 5 cm length brass collar.

Condition

The cane is in excellent condition- free from breaks or cracks.

Length: 90cm

A good quality bone Vesta / match holder, completed with a silver collar marked for London 1913. The shaft of the hardwood cane finished with a base horn ferrule.

Condition

The cane is in good condition for age – free from cracks or breaks, yet shows the appropriate wear and bone discolouration for age.

Length: 91cm

Large tusk with cigar cutter mounted on hardwood shaft and finished with base metal ferrule and silver collar hallmarked for Birmingham 1891.

Condition

The cane is in excellent condition for age- free from breaks or cracks, yet showing appropriate wear for age.

Length: 91cm

Semi - automatic petrol lighter with push button action. White metal although holding impressed mark HALLMARKED SILVER on base of lighter. Push the button on the side and the lighter lid lifts at speed.  The button needs to be pushed when closing the lighter.

Top of lighter engraved with TCD.

The lighter is mounted on a square hardwood shaft with what appears to be the original base metal ferrule

Condition

It is evident that the cane has been well used yet free from breaks, cracks or restoration. The lighter has not been tested for flame .

Length of Cane: 93.5cm

This is a beautiful bone & ivory gaming cane. Mounted on a Malacca cane and finished with a silver collar and base metal ferrule.

The body of the games container is made from bone with a top pommel disk made from ivory. The top unscrews to reveal a small pot with two dice. On lifting out the pot the gaming discs are revealed ready for the game to begin.

Condition

The cane is in excellent condition for age – free from breaks and cracks but does show usage wear. The silver collar holds the remains of well-worn hallmarks.

Length: 93cm

This is good early 20^th Century, working example of a harmonica musical systems / gadget cane.

Machine turned silver collar. Assumed as sterling silver although not tested and lacks any silver markings to verify.

Hardwood pommel top holds George V six-penny piece (1910 – 1936)

Condition.

The cane is a lovely example of a harmonica musical systems cane, free from breaks or cracks. All parts of the cane appear original. However, the cane shaft has been cleaned and restored back to original condition.

Measurements:

Cane Length: 94cm

Top Shaft Diameter: 2.75cm

Base Shaft Diameter: 1.75cm