Issue 80 Summer 2019

IS THERE NO END .............................

I have recently acquired three items of Old Hall that I had never seen before, one of which is not even in any of the catalogues that I've got!

Firstly, there is something that is part of the range that Robert Welch designed for the SS Oriana in 1959, which they called by the rather charming name of a pastry plate; it is 10" in diameter and 3/4" deep. It later appeared briefly in the mid 1960s as a normal Old Hall item, when it was called a cake plate. As well as the accompanying photo, here is the official drawing of it used within the works. Many thanks to our friend physiotherapist Barry Holmes for unearthing three of these at a local fair; now for the commercial bit, I have two of these available for sale at £10 each!

Secondly is a 3 piece boxed Alveston cocktail set, consisting of a long spoon, a jigger and some ice tongs, all brought out in 1974 i.e. ten years after the introduction of the main Alveston range of cutlery in 1964. I already have the individual items but it is having them in the special box that is the great attraction!

Finally, we have the totally unknown item, which is a beautiful engine turned 8 fl oz hip flask! Note the small arm that attach-es the top to the flask in order to stop it from getting lost when it is taken off and also the plain rectangle in the top left hand corner for engraving purposes. The

backstamp is a 1936-37 one. Not being a connoisseur in such matters, I have been reliably informed that hip flasks are generally used for whisky, rum, gin and brandy!