Cocktail shaker
Stunning object about which there is significant information known which hopefully will help lead players to the information wanted.
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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Designer | Unknown - Wanted |
Manufacturer | De La Rue for Unknown - Wanted |
Country | UK |
Date | 1930 - 1939 (circa) - Wanted |
Dimensions | height 280 mm, diameter 100 mm |
Materials | plastic, UF, urea formaldehyde |
Method | compression moulded |
Colours | orange, silver |
Inscription | moulded: "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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Case notes
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.
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.
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 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.
Don't believe all you see in print
This case has thrown up two pieces of mis-information in print.
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.