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21 Nov 2009, San Francisco and Los Angeles |
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23 Nov 2009, 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco |
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24 Nov 2009, Chester |
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24 Nov 2009, Chester |
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24 Nov 2009, Chester |
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24 Nov 2009, Chester |
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24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
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24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
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24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
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Shooting Star: Groundbreaking Missile Guiding System Sold At Bonhams
http://www.bonhams.com/scientific
The Early Technology Sale took place today at Bonhams Knightsbridge, with an extensive collection of pieces curated by Michael Bennett-Levy. The highlight of the sale was the 'Block III' aeroplane missile guiding television monitoring system, sold for an outstanding £36,000.
The missile guiding device was secretly manufactured by RCA for use during WWII, 1944-45 and was the WWII prototype of the cruise missile system.
B17 bombers were fitted with a television camera in the nose, stripped out and filled with explosives. Two pilots took off from an airbase in the UK in the B17 and just before the plane left the mainland switched on the camera and the remote control and bailed out. The B17 was then guided towards its target by a 'mother' plane, flying between ten to twenty miles in the rear, using the navigator's television.
Two of the B17's blew up in practice runs when the pilots switched on the television camera, probably due to the high voltage sparking and firing the explosives. One of the pilots killed was Joe Kennedy, the elder brother of President JFK who had been due to return to the US but volunteered to join what had been described as a "dangerous operation".
Michael Bennett-Levy comments: "In the final stages of WWII beginning in 1944, the US devised a television system with the idea of using a B17 bomber filled with explosives to be guided by remote control to crash on to specific targets such as submarine pens at Saint-Nazaire."
The overall sale was extremely well received, with 90% of the 758 lots sold, including a unique collection of pre-war televisions and the first road skates. The sale total was an impressive £683,384.
Parts and ephemera from LEO II the world's first commercial computer reached £8,400. This computer, of which there were 13 made, was created by Lyons in May 1958, was sold to Stuart & Lloyds steel makers and was the first purchased computer to be used in the world of the new technology.
The diverse collection collected by Michael Bennett-Levy included clocks, barometers, toys, silent films, typewriters, microscopes, gramophones, globes, wireless sets and televisions – brought together through their rare or pioneering status.
Amongst the exceptional pieces was an unequalled collection of 26 pre-war televisions. Of the estimated 500 still surviving in the world, this represented a considerable proportion.
Catalogues are published on our website (www.bonhams.com/us) and may be ordered (£10) on 01666 502200 or subscriptions@bonhams.com
Enquiries on 0870 0273622
For more information please contact Charlotte Hastings or Rosie Kempson at The Communication Group on 0207 630 1411 or email
ftarrant@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk/ rkempson@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.
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