Lot 1539

Description

Vintage vesta case, with a few wax matches inside, made in nickel silver, around the centre is leather covered and on one side is a coloured photo of the arms of Southend-on-Sea and above is the name Westcliff-on-Sea, one of its suburbs; plated steel machine turned cigarette case by Ste-Vel; scarce vintage fountain pen in rolled gold, c1920s, marked "Swan Pen" Mabie Todd & Co New York, Made in U.S.A., Patent Jan 19, 1915; one nacre cufflink; also vintage miniature books, includes The Story of Robert Burns and the Land of Burns by The Rev. J.C.Carrick, undated, (6x8.5cm), 160pp; Moments with Robert Burns, London. Humphrey Milford, undated (6.9x10cm), unnumbered pages, approx 60pp; Gems from Lorna Doone by R.D.Blackmore, undated, (6x8.8cm), 127pp; Maurine by Ella Wheeler Wolcox, undated (6x9.4cm), 230pp, inside fly page marked, 'Ruth, May 29th 1918'; Spons' Tables and Memoranda for Engineers by J.T.Hurst, 12th edition, 1902, (4.8x6.8cm), 278pp, title page stamped 'F McKeahnie/ Neer 70 Hay' and on other side is written, 'F McKeahnie/Enmore'. The last book with one corner of cover missing, the second last with some foxing the rest with only an occasional spot of foxing, fine - very fine. (9)

Frank McKeahnie was the son of a prominent, pioneering pastoralist from 'Aberfoyle' at Yarra near Goulburn, NSW. After leaving school he was apprenticed to the engineering trade at Goulburn. In 1925, he purchased, Sydney Machine Co, based at Botany Road, Waterloo, not far from Mascot Aerodrome, as it was called at that time. Frank was a qualified pilot with the NSW Section of the Australian Aero Club.



In Jan 1932 Frank McKeahnie was elected as a member of the committee of the Australian Aero Club (NSW). In the same year he presented an Essex truck, used for towing aeroplanes about the 'drome, to the Aero Club (NSW). He was also president of the air tourney committee for the Lady of the Air Tourney held at Hargrave Park at Liverpool, NSW, an airfield which opened in 1930. It was closed in about 1945.



In November 1934 Frank McKeahnie once again was the Aero Club's representative when three aircraft, three pilots and an instructor were sent from Sydney to Bombala to assist in celebrations to greet the King's son, HRH Prince Henry, when he visited the area. In 1935 he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Aero Club. Vendor advises that Frank McKeahnie piloted one of the planes that flew over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on its official opening day but this has not been confirmed.



Other items belonging to Frank McKeahnie were auctioned in Noble Numismatics Sale 113 (lots 863, 870, and 891).