Owen Clark was a prolific inventor. However. it is not always clear when he claimed an invention whether he was referring to a basic principle, or a new presentation, or improvement to an existing principle.
Postcards
The original photograph was signed by Chapender prior to it being re-photographed and converted into postcard format. There is no message written on the back of the postcard.
The original photograph was signed by Chapender prior to it being re-photographed and converted into postcard format. We do not know the name of the person who sent the card (the handwriting is not obviously that of Chapender), but the message on the front is amusing: As it is such a short time since we met, I have nothing to say except “Don’t Giggle” H. The card was addressed to Miss Nellie Purdy, 68 Mulgrave Street, Liverpool.
The back of the postcard, also illustrated here, is addressed to Mrs David Devant, Hope Hall, Liverpool.
Stanley Collins (1881-1966) ran a concert party in Deal. This is a postcard he sent to Edgar Heyl in 1948. His message on the back reads ‘This was my own Concert Party at Deal for Summer of 1910. Stanley Collins’. This postcard is not in the Davenport Collection. It was available on eBay in 2017 and the photograph shown here is off the eBay website. Edwin A. Dawes, in his book Stanley Collins – Conjurer, Collector and Iconoclast, published by Kaufman and Company in 2002 writes: ‘Entertainments in Deal at that time were in the capable hands of a Mr. Charles W. Collins (no relation of Stanley) who had pioneered the cinematograph in the town and was managing director of Deal and Walmer Amusements Limited’. Although Stanley organised the Concert Party, Eddie makes the point that the Collins of the title of the postcard was Charles W. and not Stanley.
Stanley Collins (1881-1996) became a major figure on the UK magic scene. He gained early success as a Society Conjurer and Entertainer. His story is a fascinating one, told well in the book by Edwin A. Dawes: Stanley Collins – Conjurer, Collector and Iconoclast, published by Kaufman and Company in 2002.
The 2D photograph does not do this card justice. The earth and sun stand out in 3D, and as the card is tilted sideways the clouds which partially cover the planet vanish. Copyright mapcards.net, a company from the Czech Reppublic. www.mapcards.net.
The Victoria and Albert Museum reproduced this postcard from a playbill in their collection. The playbill advertises Rubini at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, where he performed in 1867. It features Rubini’s decapitation illusion. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum.
The card explains how ordinary matches become alive and move at once when placed on this card.
Frame was a contemporary of Harry Lauder. Unlike Lauder, he never became popular in the south of Britain because audiences could not understand his accent. Lewis and Julia Davenport worked with him for two seasons in Scotland: a 13-week Lowland tour in 1907 and a 3-week Highland tour in 1908. Frame’s autobiography is ‘W.F. Frame Tells His Story’.
The postcard shows Lewis with painted-in red thimbles on his hands. The message side of the card (also illustrated) is addressed to ‘Mr Hardeen, Palace Music Hall, Walthamstow, London’. The message reads ‘This week Grand Bolton. Dear Sir, If you have a photo P.C. [post card] of yourself to spare I should be pleased to receive one for my album. Sincerely yours, L Davenport’. The rather faint writing below the photograph of Lewis reads ‘From Lewis Davenport. Dealer & maker of magical apparatus. 30, Riles Rd, Plaistow, E. Send stamp for list of tricks & books’.
Chevalier Thorn was a successful magician and inventor who created illusions such as Noah’s Ark and Dream of the Chalif. Both of these became popular with other headline magicians such as Harry Kellar. The story of Thorn’s very interesting career is told by Paul Freeman in a well-illustrated talk which is to be found on this website here. The German on the postcard translates as An Evening in Dreamland.