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    bob62

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    Everything posted by bob62

    1. Greetings Gentlemen, As usual I have stumbled across this thread as a very occasional member, though as usual it is great to read some excellent posts and pick up on expert advice and opinion. What raised a smile and prompted today's response was the post and pic from 'Nightbreak' (as you will see from my pics, it's almost a 'Spot the difference' competition, with positioning etc and not staged!). A number of these Christ Hospital staffs were produced, and if you visit the Christ Hospital web page you will see the attached photo (open to share) of a number of their staffs or wands that are in their museum!, I have also seen another in the very finest of collections of an acquaintance!. As for posting a pic of my favourite truncheon, I have been debating this for the past 30 mins and still can't decide!
    2. My main reason for logging in today really is to bring the following piece to the thread, that I also acquired last week. It seems to sit well with the topic and is very similar to G's example (that He lists as 1 of 5). It is made of Oak and measures 17 1/4" in length with a circumference of 4 3/4" at the thick end!. Double stamped MP with crown above in the usual manner and bearing some scratched initials that seem to be M H I or M I I I. This of course could have related to an officer or even been the result of a child's vandalism!. Either way an interesting piece, that happened to be encrusted with grime when purchased for what was a very good price!.
    3. Great information there Alan, thank you. Further to my above on the P.O.H.G. stick, I was fortunate enough to acquire a William 1V Parker stick last week that is absolutely identical in every dimension to the former (bar a 2mm longer band at pommel end over which leather strap would have sat! and obvious difference in shade of handle as referred to previously). This will no doubt help correlate approx date etc. I have attached a pic just for interest.
    4. Thank you Mike, and yes, you guessed correctly that I was the lucky bid winner of the P.O.H.G. truncheon, that incidentally I had been watching since it's first listing, but it was the above thread that further piqued my interest and spurred me on to purchase!. I have attached a few pics as per your request, albeit lighting conditions here in London are atrocious today, so if you or any other members for that matter require more I will endeavour to oblige. You will see the passage of time and normal Police work of smashing windows and knocking on doors, have taken their toll on this stick, but it still retains a good amount of its original condition and detail (note the number 55 on the reverse just above the handle!) to sit happily in any collection ( a very light clean and polish always does the trick, and you will for instance see the difference in respect of how the handle butt looks in comparison with the auction house listing's, and hopefully answers one of your questions Mike!?). Alan Cook, as you mention does have an example in his most excellent book (which I quite frankly view as a Bible on the topic!) and he also gives details of this public office and shows another style of such! A similar example as mentioned, also appears in E.R.H. Dicken's book of 1952 (The History of Truncheons). Interestingly Dicken asserts that these were in fact produced by Hiatt of Birmingham and distributed by Parker who stamped their mark on to the butt end!, for my part I have just lined up ten parker sticks alongside it on the dining table to look for clues!, all I can say is, there appears to be a very faint difference in the handle shape that would have been directly under where the leather strap would have affixed, but this is tenuous and really needs the interjection of 'Expert' opinion!. Dicken also mentions a similar P.O.H.G. example on display (at that time) at the Horniman museum, Forest Hill, S.E. London. It doesn't show at this time on their website, although a number of interesting truncheons do. I phoned them this afternoon and I am now going through the correct channels to ascertain if they have it in storage to view and then photograph!.. watch this space, but don't hold your breath!.
    5. Greetings fellow members and collectors. I firstly apologise for joining this thread somewhat late, as I have always used this site as an occasional means of interest and education, watching from the wings so to speak and now breaking cover as seems appropriate, in response to what is the most enjoyable and informative thread!. Amongst my humble collection (pic1), and first of the early Met truncheons, incidentally purchased about 30 years ago!, is a plain mid wood shade example, 17" in length, 5 1/2" circumference at the top, double stamped and identical to Mike's example above, with a name written neatly on it's side in black faded paint, possibly 'Sawteel' (see what you think!?) and retaining it's original price tag of £20! and dated 1880/90 by the dealer. My reason for showing that example is really as a means to allow comparison with my second and more interesting piece (pic2). Whilst the dimensions are similar, they are certainly not exact, 17 1/2 in length and 4 3/4" circumference at top, but what you may expect from simply made pieces that we agree were made on mass and 'on the hurry up'. Again it is double stamped MP with crown above and in the very same distance as the first example. My main point for bringing this to your attention is the addition of the painted ' VR', Crown and date of what best looks like 1868 (i feel the 6 being more likely than a 8, but feasible this too could be an 1888 example! and stand to be corrected!, with time, knocks and scratches).. Lastly, at least with my posted pics on this entry, is my Met Inspector's example, similar again to Mike's example, in reasonable condition but with paint wear from what could have been from continued rubbing against a leather pouch?... did Inspectors get issued a smaller leather canister type pouch at this time?. My example is stamped on the rear just above the grip with a 'B' over the number 33. My guess B district/division, so Kensington - Chelsea (as it roughly still is, and having served there) with the number being an issue number, as far as I know, Inspectors were not assigned a collar or shoulder number as it is now referred to?. Other pics to follow on due to data issues. Hope the above has added to the mix, and nice to be part of it with kindred Brethren!. Will post more on the topic of the P.O.H.G. truncheon in the next few days! Bob.
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