Cocktail shaker

Stunning object about which there is significant information known which hopefully will help lead players to the information wanted.

Cocktail shaker
case solved
Case number - PHSL : 341
A large 1930s cocktail shaker with an orange compression moulded urea formaldehyde flask and a screw top lid with a metal cover and pouring spout. This item forms part of the Plastics Historical Society (PHS) collection.
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DesignerUnknown - Wanted
ManufacturerDe La Rue for Unknown - Wanted
CountryUK
Date1930 - 1939 (circa) - Wanted
Dimensionsheight 280 mm, diameter 100 mm
Materialsplastic, UF, urea formaldehyde
Methodcompression moulded
Coloursorange, silver
Inscriptionmoulded: "PATENTS PENDING PATENT NO 427237 THE MASTER INCOLOUR COCKTAIL SHAKER MADE IN ENGLAND"
Rights: Images on this site are for non-commercial, educational use only. MoDiP has done its utmost to obtain clearance from all IPR holders before adding images to this catalogue, if you believe that any image has been used without permission please contact us on modip@aub.ac.uk
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23/10/13

Sumptuous orange cocktail shaker (PHSL : 341)

23/10/13

Love it! Sumptuous, luxurious, deluxe, opulent, magnificent, resplendent, gorgeous, splendid, grand...

24/10/13

Finding the patent was pretty straightforward: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&II=15&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=19350417&CC=GB&NR=427237A&KC=A

25/10/13

So we now know that the patent was applied for in 1934 and the applicant was Frederick Edwin Lawson Clarke. Additionally we have been given the following information by Ian Holdsworth, Archivist Librarian of The Plastics Historical Society: 'Thomas de la Rue were plastics moulders. William and Gill were (presumably) plastics products designers and retailers. (I think you are remembering the furniture shop Warring and Gillow). I used to do a lot of work with a famous plastics antique dealer called Gad Sassower. He had a shop in Islington, London, called Decodence. He sold a lot of these cocktail shakers. In 1992 he co-aurthored a book called 'Bakelite' with Patrick Cook and Catherine Slessor. The cocktail shaker appears on page 101 of the book. Gad got the William and Gill retailers name from a shaker he had in the original packaging - similar to the photo attached. Gad now lives in Israel but I emailed him and he confirms the story. I have got some mid 1930s plastics year books and trade magazines in my library. I'll see if the shakers are mentioned.'

25/10/13

Ian Holdsworth, Archivist Librarian at The Plastics Historical Society, also sent this image of a black version of the cocktail shaker and its packaging.

25/10/13

It looks a little like a pint of Guiness

25/10/13

If you do a Google image search for 'incolour Bakelite cocktail shaker' you'll find lots of them in blue, black, orange, red, cream and other colours. There are also pictures of the internal workings and of the wording on the base.

25/10/13

Maybe someone can look for the book mentioned by Ian and post a photo of page 101?

28/10/13

Ian Holdsworth has written further as follows: "I would go with ; Maker: Thomas de la Rue Designer: Frederick Edwin Lawson Clarke Retailer: William and Gill I see no reason to assume that the person filling the patent is not the designer/inventor. If they were doing it on behalf of a company then the company would have their name on the patent. If they were using a patent agent the agent would not be the patent holder - only the facilitator. I have done quite a lot of work on patents. I have never come across one that was taken out in the name of someone that was not the designer/inventor - apart from those that were held by companies. I attach a photo of page 101 of the Bakelite Book. You will have to zoom in somewhat to read the text. Ref; Cook, P., Slessor, C., Contrb. Sassower, G. Bakelite, An illustrated Guide to Collectable Bakelite Objects. Quintet Publishing Ltd. London. 1992. ISBN 1-85076-220-1 Gad sold all his shakers - including the one in the box that I sent you the photo of. Christies sold 5 of these shakers in a sale in November 2007.(Black, white, red, blue, turquoise). On average they fetched £2000 each." And provided this image of page 101.

28/10/13

More from Ian Holdsworth: " It appears from a photo and caption in the December 1934 British Plastics and Moulded Products Trader magazine that the shaker was designed by Messrs Lawson's of Regent Street, London. So we have to make an educated guess as to what was Frederick Edwin Lawson Clarke's relationship with this company. Given the surname one can presume he was the owner (or at least one of the family that owned the company) perhaps with responsibility for filing patents - although it seems very strange that he did not file the patent in the company's name...It seems that Thomas de la Rue were quite proud of their cocktail shaker moulding as it appears in some of their 1935 & 1936 adverts."

28/10/13

So now we need to find out more about Messrs Lawson's of Regent Street and whether Clarke was part of the firm and if so what its role was.

28/10/13

Ian also sent the three images that follow. The first is from the December 1934 British Plastics and Moulded Products Trader magazine.

28/10/13

28/10/13

This one tells us it was in production in 1936.

29/10/13

The patent gives the patentee Clarke's address as 137 Regent Street. Has anyone got access to 1930s street directories? Could that be the number of Messrs Lawson's of Regent Street?

29/10/13

Ralph Kay, Head of R and D for Formica International Ltd and De la Rue between 1968 and 1999, says: The De La Rue head office in 1934 was 84-86 Regent Street so maybe Lawson was acquainted along the street which would be cosy for De la Rue moulding products.

30/10/13

Mine fetched £75 at Sworders auction Sept 2013

09/11/13

You can find it on the Ten Most Wanted website here: http://10most.org.uk/artefact/large-cocktail-shaker

09/11/13

My model I was made about 1955 using BIP moulding material.. could have been melamine

10/11/13

That's interesting, David. What makes you think it is so late because it is melamine perhaps, but you don't sound sure of that...? Susan On 9 Nov 2013, at 22:47, David Harman Powell wrote: >

12/11/13

Susan… the design is very much mid 1930's & the moulds would most likely been around 10 years later for post war production. Pre-war UF……. & 1953 onwards melamine. The flask came into my possession after the close down of BIP stand at Interplas , Olympia , I not sure if it was 1953 or 56. The Product Design Unit at Oldbury BIP undertook all the design of the Group exhibition stands , this was mainly Woody & John Vale , Woody knew the Studio had to maintain a strong image within the Group , following on from the outstanding success in dominating the Horners Awards ,

13/11/13

This is wonderful testimony David and will go into our records. Thank you so much.

13/11/13

More from the indefatigable Ian15.mdx: 'I have found corroboration of Lawson's Regent Street Address - which was in Goldsmiths House 137 - 141 Regent Street. Presumably they had offices in the building. The company registered as Lawson and Raphael Clarke. Hence, presumably, the Lawson Clarke surname - or was Lawson a christian name ?. They were exhibitors at the 1929 British Industries fair.'

13/11/13

And still more form Ian: 'Worth having a look at - http://www.hesterclarke.co.uk/company_history.html which is a potted history of a jewellery company called Hester Clarke - which started life as Wilson and Gill of Regent Street (not Williams and Gill as previously stated). Two sons - Lawson and Raphael Clarke - work for Wilson and Gill from 1924. Lawson is a christian name!'

13/11/13

Hello again, David - I note in an earlier post you say 'BIP moulding material...could have been melamine'. If not melamine, what would it have been? Sorry for being such a pedant...

15/11/13

Hope you received my reply Susan Lambert

15/11/13

Been a busy day, presenting the project at the UK Museums on the Web conference at Tate Modern. Just got back. I'm not sure what you are referring to.... So sorry if I have missed something.

16/11/13

Susan… my reply must be out there, UF, urea formaldehyde.

17/11/13

I'm losing the plot a bit. There was a suggestion from you that the post war version of the shaker might have been made of melamine. Were they though, like the prewar ones made of UF?

17/11/13

Ian clinches it: 'I rang Hester Clarke and spoke to Christopher Clarke – Lawson Clarke’s son. He knew all about the cocktail shaker. From what he told me and what is on their company web site I have put together the following; Wilson & Gill were established at 139 - 141 Regent Street in 1892. Victor Clarke joined the company in 1913 and by 1924 was the sole proprietor. His sons, Raphael and Lawson, joined the company also in 1924. Wilson and Gill was a shop, retailing jewellery and a range of other domestic products including clocks, watches and dressing table sets. Lawson and Raphael established a separate company called Lawson and Raphael (not Lawson’s) to market the products that they designed – as they were not paid very well by Wilson & Gill. , By the early 1930s they seem to have branched out into smoking and drinking accoutrements, hence the table lighters and cocktail shaker, (well, it was the 1930s). It was they that designed the cocktail shaker. Lawson went to the trouble of patenting it as he was more proactive than Raphael. Christopher Clarke has offered to email me a copy of the original sales literature for the shaker and a picture of Lawson. He also has a copy of the original patent documentation. So; Designers – Lawson and Raphael Clarke Patentee - Lawson Clarke Manufacturer – Thomas De La Rue for Lawson and Raphael Country – UK Date - 1934 So we got there in the end – not made easy by the mistakes published in the literature. Moral; don’t believe what you read (especially in books on plastics).'

17/11/13

My post-war model was made of Melamine. pre-war Urea formaldehyde

17/11/13

Got it! Thanks!

18/11/13

Ian has now heard from Christopher Clarke, Lawson Clarke's son. He wrote: 'Lawson Clarke ( my father) was the prime mover in Lawson & Raphael the brother being just there as they worked together in the retail jeweller y business of Wilson & Gill...owned by their father Victor W Clarke. Lawson born 28/5/1901 died 15/8/1989. Raphael died sometime in the late 60' early 70's The Incolor was the greatest success of the inventions..Similarly successful was the Jumbo lighter ( the USP of that was it was the first lighter that did not need the thumb to operate the flint wheel and get dirty. There was also the Bureaugram..a book case with the upper portion being a sloping opening flap..behind which was a quality record turntable... the wireless set then stood on the top of the bookcase ( waist high) to provide the listening output.'. He also sent this piece of marketing material.

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Case notes

Susan Lambert's picture

Large Cocktail Shaker, Case PHSL: 341

 

Patent found, taken out by Frederick Edwin Lawson Clarke, 29 June 1934

24/10/13

HQ staff Blume found the patent applied for by Frederick Edwin Lawson Clarke which is dated 29 June 1934:

Follow this link to the patent.

 

Titled Incolor

25/10/13

Ian15.mdx sent us this image of a black (or is it blue?) version with its box bearing its title.

Cocktail shaker, lower part black, upper part white, with silver-coloured band around and silver cap, standing in front of its original box.

 

Retailed by Wilson and Gill

13/11/12

 Ian15.mdx traced the product to the firm of Wilson and Gill (also of Regent Street) through the website of the Hester Clarke Company.

 

In production by December 1934 and the moulding company is proud of them

28/10/13

Ian15.mdx  provided these images as evidence.

Black and white photograph of an old magazine page showing a cocktail shaker.

British Plastics and Moulded Products Trader, December 1934 (above)

 

 

Lawson and Raphael Clarke traced to the same Regent Street address as the patentee

12/11/2013

Ian15.mdx  has found reference to a Lawson and Raphael Clarke of Goldsmiths House 131-141 Regent Street and that they were exhibitors at the 1929 British Industries Fair.

A page from Grace's Guide showing the registered address of Lawson and Raphael Clarke

(A larger image can be found in the evidence locker.)

 

Designed by Lawson and Raphael Ltd

15/11/2013

 Ian15.mdx has clinched it. He has spoken to  Christopher Clarke, Lawson Clarke's son. This is the story:

Wilson & Gill were established at 139 - 141 Regent Street in 1892.  Victor Clarke joined the company in 1913 and by 1924 was the sole proprietor. His sons, Raphael and Lawson, joined the company also in 1924. Wilson and Gill was a shop, retailing jewellery and a range of other domestic products including clocks, watches and dressing table sets.

Lawson and Raphael established a separate company called Lawson and Raphael (not Lawson’s) to market the products that they designed – as they were not paid very well by Wilson & Gill. It was they that designed the cocktail shaker. Lawson went to the trouble of patenting it as he was more proactive than Raphael.

Subsequently Christopher Clarke wrote to Ian15.mdx as follows: 'Lawson Clarke ( my father) was the prime mover in Lawson & Raphael the brother  being just there as they worked together in the retail jewellery business of Wilson & Gill...owned by their father Victor W Clarke. Lawson born 28/5/1901 died 15/8/1989. Raphael died sometime in the late 60' early 70's. The Incolor was the greatest success of the inventions..Similarly successful was the Jumbo lighter ( the  USP of that was it was the first lighter that did not need the thumb to operate the flint wheel and  get dirty.  There was also the Bureaugram..a book case with the upper portion being a sloping opening flap..behind which was a quality record turntable... the wireless set then stood on the top of the bookcase (waist high) to provide the listening output.' He also sent this early piece of marleting.

 

Larger images can be found in the evidence locker.

 

Beware: copies were produced in the 1950s

13/11/13

 David Harman Powell has provided this image of the cocktail shaker made of melamine that he knows through his work with BIP dates from between 1953 and 1956. Christopher Clarke says that there were no reissues of Incolor and of this example:

'Definitely inferior... a dead give away is the plastics cap... the original is metal and engraved around the inside with 7 rings acting as measures for a good cocktail.

 

Photograph of cream-coloured cocktail shaker standing on a blue table top.

 

Don't believe all you see in print

 

This case has thrown up two pieces of mis-information in print.

  • British Plastics and Moulded Products Trader, December 1934 (see image above) states the shaker was designed by Messrs Lawson's of Regent Street, London, which is incorrect.
  • Williams and Gill in Cook, P., Slessor, C., Contrb. Sassower, G. Bakelite, An illustrated Guide to Collectable Bakelite Objects, Quintet Publishing Ltd, London, 1992, ISBN 1-85076-220-1  Page 101, states that the shaker was retailed by Williams and Gill.

 

Case Solved

 

Title: Incolor

Designer: Lawson and Raphael Clarke

Retailer: Wilson and Gill

Date: 1934

Participating agents: Ian15.mdx and David Harman Powell

In the evidence locker: an image of the page from Grace's Guide, images of an early marketing leaflet, and photographs of the designers.