Page 49 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

FRESH FROM INDIA
Before Wath & Elsecar Winter & Summer National events organised by Mike Smith, ably aided by Pam Ball, ran the highly successful
Bletchley Winternationals.
Many long time bottlers will recall that futuristic pyramid shaped building wherein were held some of the very best early large Fairs.
shortly before leaving the motorway. The good old AA came to our rescue and headed back up North to ferry my ailing vehicle home. Frank went back with it but you can’t keep a keen bottler down and I jumped out on the roundabout as the AA turned round to hitch a lift to the show. I was picked up by a benevolent father and son duo Ian and Dave Hunter.
gathered, pressing hard to get first dibs. I was lucky to be in the middle at the front.
He cut open the first box and lifted from the top a perpetual Black & White printed tin perpetual calendar. “How much” I asked. “£175 he replied.” Quick as a flash I responded “I’ll have that.”
I can’t recall how I got home but I do remember a brilliant show, picking up loads of stuff for my collection.
But, it was one particular Bletchley which stands out in my memory involving one still quite young Laurence Cooper who had recently set up a small business in Cochin, India, to repatriate English made pottery, glass and advertising items.
At one such Bletchley he duly set out his stall with three very large unopened boxes recently arriving in England. A large crowd
114. BLACK & WHITE WHISKY PERPETUAL CALENDAR. 13 x 9.1ins. Coloured image printed on tin, folded onto card backing with rear stand up flap, front with tin date inserts. Light turquiosey overall background colour with the familiar black & white Scottie dogs appearing to relish the prospect of a wee dram from the full and labelled bottle, with two glasses and a pictorial ashtray on the side table. Superb condition, just minor wear/ marks. 9/10. NR. £220-250+
It was like Christmas, much of what he took out instantly snapped up.
Second box, another tin B & W perpetual calendar. “How much?” I said. He glared back and slowly responded, “£175.” “How much for two?” I quizzed.
I used to travel down with Frank Burgin in the trusty black Morris Traveller and remember well the year it broke down
115. BLACK & WHITE WHISKY PERPETUAL CALENDAR. 9.3 x 11.9ins. Coloured image printed on tin, folded onto a tin backing, tin rear stand up flap and chain. Front with tin date inserts. Main image two Scottie dogs running down a period staircase to their master, dressed for golf, no doubt partaking of a wee dram from the table setting before departing.
116. BLACK & WHITE WHISKY PERPETUAL CALENDAR. 9.4 x 12.9ins. Coloured image printed on tin, folded onto a tin backing, tin rear stand up flap and chain & front date inserts. Two Scotties sat by their masters clubs, club house on top of the hill behind. Some wear/ rust marks. 8.5. NR. £120-150+
I was met with a scowl, and a firm “£350!” Third box and out of the top popped
the best of the tin calendars. The crowd awaited my question “how much?” Clearly tested by my persistence he looked harshly at me and spoke even more firmly, almost fed up, “£175!”
All eyes turned to see my response. I asked “how much for three?”
Laurence sighed deeply, glared back and
in front of everyone asked “can’t you do f***ing maths!”
Quickly I paid for all three but in the crowd were Brian Ashwell and John Clarvis, and one of them, or someone shouted “I’ll give you double for any of those Alan!”
Laurence was not amused.
Ver the decades Laurence has continued to scour the land, the world, sourcing some of the finest items in our collections, and he does have a soft side, sometimes!
Some outer rust marks. 8/10. NR. £120-150+