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A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 1
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 2
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 3
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 4
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 5
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 6
Various Properties
Lot 38

A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine,
English, 1920's,

Instruments of Science and Technology
15 September 2021, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £4,462.50 inc. premium

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A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's,

the gauge face signed STUART, restored to exhibition standard and working condition by K.N. Townsend in 1984, the 5-inch vertical steam engine with ball-bearing crankshaft and unique cast aluminium casing, bore 0.75 inches, stroke 0.625 inches, the boiler with original brass fittings and pressure gauge, with original propeller, racing prop and prop-shaft, the engine affixed to a slate base with brass plaque, presented in a brass-bound and glass showcase and baseboard, together with a timber toolbox and leather folder containing operating instructions,
13 1/2in x 29 1/2in x 12 1/2in (34.5cm x 75cm x 32cm) in case

Footnotes

Known as the 'Stuart B.B. Steam Plant', the engine was specially developed for tethered hydroplane racing and straight speed trails. Due to the enormous pressure exerted on the aluminium engine casing, the casing was prone to shatter the engine to self-destruct entirely. It is therefore extremely rare to find surviving engines with the casing intact, with the present Lot thought to be one of seven known examples.

Additional information

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Original Superman 'Flying Costume' from the 1978 film 'Superman: The Movie', worn by American actor Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) in the flying scenes of the motion picture. Consisting of red wool cape with sewn-on logo, blue nylon top with sewn-on logo, blue nylon pants, yellow plastic belt and red leather boots. Also included is documentation regarding ownership history, unopened copy of the film (DVD), CD-ROM with catalogue material from Christie's, New York, July 2001, where the costume was last sold, and a color photograph of Christopher Reeve in one of the film's flying scenes. Zip waistband with the costume workshop's handwritten name, 'Nathans-Bermans CR [Christopher Reeve] Fly' ('Bermans & Nathans Ltd', London). The inside of the boots are labelled in pen, 'CR R 4' and 'CR L 4' for Christopher Reeve respectively. Both boot shafts also have remnants of sewn-on fabric labels on the inside. (14 items in total).

DKK800,000 - DKK1,000,000