This is a lovely example of a pipe gadget cane. The disk top made from tortishell

The internal smoking bowl, screw thread and decoration on pipe shaft made from white soft metal.

 

The collar stamped in lower area with ST.SIL- Sterling Silver. Mounted on a light weight stepped hardwood shaft

 

Condition

 

The cane is in excellent condition – free from breaks, cracks or restoration. The minimal wear indicates it has been a collector’s item that has been well examined and displayed yet never used as a pipe.

 

Length 92.5cm

 

This is a very unique gadget cane. Suggested as being produced in the early part of the 20^th Century. Likely a commissioned rather than a manufactured cane.

 

 

The cane length being a beautiful scorched bamboo. For the hidden secrets one must first unscrew the mahogany pommel top. As the pommel top is gently lifted away, a corked glass water file pops up from the hidden cane chamber.

 

At the mid length of the bamboo cane there is a small brass clasp. Once opened a little brass screw button helps to remove part of the bamboo shaft. Within the hollow of the cane a small, well used paint pallet. The paint pallet firmly fixed into the cane.

 

The final secret held within the gadget cane is sourced at the base ferrule. The lower section cleverly engineered brass ferrule unscrews. On tipping the cane,  out slides three small horsehair bristle brushes.

 

Condition

 

The gadget cane is in excellent condition, free from breaks or restoration. However, the bamboo cane does hold some minor expansion cracks with no effect on the visual or strength of the cane.

 

Measurements:

 

Length: 95cm

 

 

Background History

 

This rosewood folk flute gadget cane is not only unique but steeped in history with a great pedigree in the world of music. With a highly powered eyeglass one can see the remains of the engraved wording on the cane shaft:

Hawkes & Son

Denman Street

Piccadily Circus

London

 

William Henry Hawkes (1830-1900), a state trumpet player for Queen Victoria, retired from service and joined forces with the French bandmaster Jules Rivière.  The company formed in 1865, specialising in military instruments, accessories and sheet music, trading across the British Empire. The closest competitor of the time being  Boosey & Sons.

 

Research indicates that Hawkes & Son expanded into woodwind instruments in the early 20^th Century and further developing by building a factory in  North London in 1925 for the production of musical instruments.

 A merger in 1930 between two competitors created Boosey & Hawkes, one of the world's leading brass & woodwind companies in the 20^th Century.

Changing directions of Boosey & Hawks led the company to sell the instrument division to concentrate solely on it’s music publishing interests in 2003

 

 The flute and shaft made from rosewood, while the pommel formed from mahogany with a silver top decorative button plate (suggested silver - although not tested nor marked as such).

The wear on the makers mark together with the patina on the shaft suggests this cane has been regularly played during its lifetime. The cane has been examined by a musical instrument dealer and verifies that the flute is a working example.

To be played the cane has to be dismantled from the bottom shaft section.

The top shaft section is easily removed for cleaning etc

 

Condition:

the cane is in excellent condition yet showing appropriate wear for age. There is no evidence of cracks, breaks or restoration being undertaken in the past. The metal ferrule on the base of the cane is assumed  to be the original

Length of cane fully assembled: 95cm

Pommel Diameter:3.5cm

Top Shaft Diameter: 2cm

Base Cane Diameter: 1.5cm

An excellent example of a unique systems musical cane for the serious collector.

 

 

This is a fabulous novelty gadget cane. Likely to be of French or Dutch in  maufacture and finished in England during the early 20^th Century. Cleverly designed and constructed. Evidently part wood with what could be meerschaum together with glass eyes.

 

The head of the cane unscrews from the sterling silver collard shaft. Tip the congo cane shaft up and out pops the pipe stem. The pipe stem fits snugly into the rear of the little chap’s head.

 

Condition:

 

The cane is in excellent condition apart from what looks like an expansion crack under the nose and mouth of the cheeky cane top.

 

The silver collar is Hallmarked. However, through wear the only marks faintly evident is the makers mark H&*.

 

The shaft of the cane is evidently well used but nevertheless in excellent condition free from breaks, cracks or restoration.

The base end metal ferrule appears to be the original – worn but firmly in situe without breaks or cracks.

 

Measurements:

 

From Top of Nose to Base Ferrule: 90.5cm

Top of Hat to Base Ferrule: 89.5cm

Height of Pipe: 7cm

 

 

 

Ladies French Lemaire F1  Mother of Pear Opera Glass Cane

The glasses decorated with mother of pearl and brass which is consistent with with the upper supporting cane shaft. The shaft extends and the glasses are moved  over in order to view the opera or theatre event. When the event is over, the extension is pushed down and the glasses are reverted back to the home carrying position

The shaft of the cane made of hardwood and black laquered - ending in brass ferrule

 

Length: 88cm

Condition of Cane:

the cane is in excellent condition- free from breaks or cracks.Evaluation suggests the wood has been re-laquered  at some point, likely to be in keeping with the excellence of the opera glasses. The mother of pearl decoration  is all in place with some minor friction cracks which would have been caused by allowing the cane to drop.

Condition Opera Glasses:

All mother of pearl in tact. The glasses work with ease. The left hand glass has been built up slightly higher with a chrome collar , yet is in keeping with the cane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a unique and lovely systems collector’s cane. The bone handle top unscrews to reveal a little copper and brass acorn shaped container, originally made in Austria as defined by internal marks. One part of which doubles up as a thimble. 

 

 Unscrew the container, tip and out pops a wood and brass topped thread bobbin. The top of the bobbin unscrews to reveal a selection of pins and needles.

 

The solid silver collar is marked for Birmingham. However, the date and maker’s mark is too far rubbed to provide further details. The top of the cane holds silhouette of what appears to be Queen Victoria.

 

Condition:

 

This cane is a fine example of a sewing kit gadget cane. Evidently very well used, as some of the upper bone decoration  is worn with a tiny little chip. The thread of the screw top is all intact and fits firmly to the lower section.

 

The shaft of the cane is darkly polished bamboo, ending in a base metal ferrule. All of which is in good condition free from breaks or cracks,  yet showing appropriate wear for age.

 

Measurements:

 

Cane Length: 94cm

Top Shaft Diameter: 1.75cm

Base Shaft Diameter: 1.50cm

 

 

A very solid and unusual gadget cane in the form of a sporting dog.   

Made from antler horn and carved into a study of a whippet or greyhound and completed with glass eyes. At the base of the dog head carving is held a machine engraved silver collar (suggested silver - no markings evident and not tested). The study is mounted on a beautiful turned hardwood shaft ending in a metal ferrule.

 

When the handle is unscrewed and lifted a corkscrew is revealed.

Condition:

The cane is in excellent condition for its age. The dog handle is solid and free from breaks or cracks but does show the characteristics of aged horn. The corkscrew is solid and straight. The shaft again in lovely condition free from breaks or crack and completed with a metal base ferrule, which is also in good condition

Measurements:

Length: 94cm

Top Diameter: 2.75cm

Base Cane Diameter: 1.75

Length of Dog Handle: 12cm

Height of Dog Handle Inc Silver Band but not including corkscrew: 8.5cm