This was a gift from Le Grand David company to John Davenport when he visited the show with the American magician Frank Lane (Frank Caldwell) in 1983.
John Davenport
In 1982 John and Anne had seven glasses engraved with a demon’s head, based on one of the Davenport demon trademarks. They were to give to people who had been particularly helpful with our researches into the story of the Davenport family. We kept one glass and the others went to Harry Carson, Frank Lane, Peter Lane, Billy McComb, Richard Stupple and Peter Warlock. On the bottom of each glass is engraved ‘CJF Gould 82 Cambs’. CJF Gould was a glass engraver who lived in Fen Ditton near Cambridge.
Bought new by John Davenport when he visited Karlovy Vary for a conference in 1990.
This came from Ivydene, Lewis Davenport’s family home. It used to be in the drawing room next to where Lewis Davenport would sit during the day, when he was no longer able to get about because of his strokes. The table holds fond memories for John Davenport who views it as a Lewis Davenport ‘association piece’.
Binkie has been in the Davenport family, probably since the 1930s or 1940s. Binkie lived at Ivydene, Lewis and Wynne Davenport’s family home. The photograph shows him sitting on the piano (which came from Maskelyne’s) at Ivydene in 1971 when Wynne Davenport was playing the piano for a young Roy Davenport in the drawing room. Binkie’s arms and legs are jointed and, in his youth, he used to growl. As a young child John Davenport was frightened of him – he was too loud and scary!
These are tricks in a matchbox designed and produced by Wittus Witt. Copyright 1991. There are two versions: one with instructions in English and the other with instructions in German. Special thanks are given to John and Anne Davenport for help with the translation.
The bottom right corner includes the information: Copyright 1967 A. Sirkia, Los Angeles. Screened by Royal Screen Craft, Inc. The print was purchased in 1968 when John Davenport spent three months in the USA during a university summer vacation.
Made by Timberkits, UK. The automaton is a wooden kit for home assembly. Each time the handle is turned the pelican crouches down and opens its mouth to reveal a fish. Assembled by John Davenport.
David is a skilled woodturner who has written several books containing woodturning projects. John Davenport contributed to his book ‘Woodturning Trickery’ first published in 2001.
David is a skilled woodturner who has written several books containing woodturning projects. John Davenport contributed to his book ‘Woodturning Trickery’ first published in 2001.
This was an award given by the Cambridge University Pentacle Club for those who had made a worthwhile contribution to this magic club. The higher award is the Silver Pentacle, Ref. no. N315.
This was the highest award given by the Cambridge University Pentacle Club for those who had made a significant contribution to this magic club.