This is an example of the ‘Frisbee’ type of throwing disc which is still popular for throwing between people in parks and open spaces.
Toys and games
This once popular toy is a flexible metal spring that can be persuaded to walk down a flight of stairs, merely by starting it off on the top stair. This example is a Merit product by J & L Randall Ltd. Made in England. British Patent No. 630702. U.S. Patent No. 2415012.
The manufacturer and country of origin are not known. Once the possession of Cambridge magician Claude Perry.
Gus and John Davenport built an OO gauge model railway in the 1960s. Once built, they tired of watching the trains go round, and so looked for other things to add to the layout. On one side of the layout was a cliff covered in nothing other than clumps of grass on the cliff face. This seemed the ideal spot to build a funicular, and that is what they did. I have included it on this website for personal reasons, and on the basis that a home made funicular is certainly a novelty! A film of the layout made by magician Harry Baron is also in the collection.
New Origami models throughout the year. Produced by Accord Publishing Ltd., Denver, Colorado. Printed in China.
This is a magnetic toy. The magnet in the base allows the diamonds to be joined together in strange shapes.
Growing up in the Davenport family, Gus was surrounded by magic performances and the manufacture and sale of magic. Fortunately, he embraced it. This short article describes Gus the man and the personality and skills that led him to particular styles of performing.
Some relate to magic or magicians. For example De Vere, and there are three versions of The T. Nelson Downs Palming Coin: one version has no word under the wrist, another has the word FOREIGN in that position, and the third has the word DEMON there.
This cleverly designed ball changes colour when it is thrown in the air. It achieves this by flipping its shape in midair. Made in China. No. 2181. Imported by Ackerman Group PLC.
When wound up the crab does a very convincing sideways walk waving its claws.