Sometimes , in a collectors world, items turn up without provenance…but with a fascinating story, which, by virtue of the teller and the circumstances surrounding the object, makes it all seem to fit…..
Here’s the story of a chair…..yes, a 1930’s office swivel chair…….
It came to light recently in a dry store room at the now defunct, Lasham museum collection.
Delving back into its recent history, I ascertained that Bob Cole, a founder member of the Lasham museum , and ex employee of Hawkers, Kingston, had ‘rescued’ the chair from the design office at the time of the British Aerospace takeover.
Bob had worked alongside Sir Sydney Camm in the drawing office during the 1950’s, and had been present when, after Sir sydney’s death in 1966, Hawkers became part of British Aerospace in 1977.
Determined to save something of the great man, Bob brought Sir Sydney’s design office ‘chair’ to the museum and stored it reverantly, in the store room at Lasham.
It surfaced a few weeks ago ,with its story, but no official provenance.
The story is too simple and honest to disregard, and if anyone could remember, or have a photo of the Hawker design office at Kingston, with Sir Sydney sitting in his office swivel chair…????
This is not an ebay item and will not be offered for sale.
It could however, be offered to a suitable Hawker or Sir Sydney Camm museum/display. All subject to a little provenance……
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th November 2010 at 15:07
Could you deliver it here, Xtangomike, along with that pretty yellow toy Spitfire?:D
I’ll put you up for the night….and you can deliver your other consignment that you have for a nearby address.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th November 2010 at 14:14
It’s just a chair
Brooklands Museum is an obvious choice for the chair as, I believe, his desk is already there.
Very appropriate too as the museum last Saturday, November 6th, celebrated the 75th first flight anniverary of the Hurricane. The same day their own Hurricane was officially unveiled and G-HURI made an impressive fly-by.
By: RPSmith - 9th November 2010 at 11:53
Wyvernfan – by coincidence I was at the President’s Evening of the R-R Heritage Trust (Coventry) and mention was made of The Sphinx Club where RRHT (Coventry) meetings are normally held.
The Armstrong Siddeley Athletic and Social Club must surely be the forerunner of The Sphinx Club. R-R still have a factory at Ansty and RRHT maintain a small workshop there.
Roger Smith.
Sorry for extended thread drift xtangomike. It’s a nice chair with a story and I would agree Brooklands would be a good home for it.
By: Wyvernfan - 9th November 2010 at 09:04
Nice find. Lets hope the provenance turns up.
Several years ago i was given what at first sight looks like an ordinary plate. But on closer inspection it is embossed with the words ‘ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY ATHLETIC & SOCIAL CLUB’.
Presented to me by an ex employee of AS it was one of several used in the old aero engine works at Anstey.
By: BSG-75 - 9th November 2010 at 08:49
I think it is worth investigating and would find a home at Brooklands for certain ?
Lasham did have some gems in the display area, I’ve not seen mention of anything else that has been put on display from them on here. There was a fair bit of Dan Air kit from the old facility at Lasham plus other bits and pieces.
By: piston power! - 9th November 2010 at 08:43
Sorry but it’s just a chair.:eek:
By: ZRX61 - 9th November 2010 at 01:51
Amazing what survives. Donald Douglas’s desk is stashed away in a Hangar at SMO.. 🙂
Sign In
November 9, 2010 at 1:40 am