Snap Happy!

Rare photographic equipment was the order of the day in Tennants Auctioneers’ Scientific and Musical Instruments, Cameras and Tools Sale on 15^th May, with the top lot of the day going to an Ilford Witness Camera with Dallmeyer Super-Six Anastigmat Lens. Selling for £6,800 (plus buyer’s premium), the camera was one of only 350 made. Also exceeding expectations was a Dallmeyer Dallac f2 85mm, a rare handmade British lens, which sold for £4,800 (plus buyer’ premium).

A good, sought-after guitar - a Gibson Super 400 Custom Archtop - was made all the more appealing by superb provenance. The guitar formerly belonged to legendary American singer-songwriter Carl Perkins, who’s songs, including ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, were performed by such greats as Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. The guitar sold for £4,000 (plus buyer’s premium).

Prepared microscope slides see good levels of interest, but a particularly fine lot comprising 22 drawers of slides by W Watson & Sons, 313 High Holborn in a mahogany cabinet attracted much attention. Sold together with a stereomicroscope for £3,500 (plus buyer’s premium), it is rare to see a fine original example in such excellent condition.

Elsewhere in the sale an extensive Private Collection vintage radios sold strongly, achieving a 99% sold rate for the 67 lots. One of the top lots of the collection was a rare Deutscher Kleinempfanger ‘German People’s Set’, which was permanently tuned to receive Hitler’s speeches that sold for £280 (plus buyer’s premium).

The sale resulted in a total Hammer Price of £57,600 for 232 lots, with an 88% sold rate.

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