Oh the memories ...
Working with this ashtray took me back, way way back (yes I am a bit "dated")
In my early years as a Kiwi bloke, (the 1970's) I would walk past these very same ashtrays sitting on a stand in the Lounge Bar (we skipped the Lounge Bar as it was far too classy for a young lad) and go out into the Public Bar with the mates. Put a little of the golden brew (Speight's Draught Beer) onto the round table table top (I think they were Formica) and sit an ashtray in the beer (lubrication). Using a cigarette as a "pointer" it was time to play "spin the ashtray", each person taking turns spinning the ashtray and whom ever the pointer stopped at had to "skull" their glass. Messy game (while spinning, the ashtray would tend to fling out beer everywhere!) but fun - these were the days when smoking was not banned inside a hotel of course, in fact sometimes the smoke was so thick it was hard to see anyone else at the table (or was it the beer?)!
This ashtray probably wouldn't suit such a game (even if it was permitted these days) because it is VERY heavy, very poor "spinability".
Ex Hotel Lounge Area Ashtray
No clue about who made this ashtray as there are no manufacturer markings or ID marks
I strongly suspect it would have been a local (Australian) manufacture being circa 1950's
Solid metal - Brass alloy (with a high Chromium content, this gives a Golden Glow to the Brass)
Sand mold casting
Two parts, top section and base
I obtained this ashtray many years ago from an old hotel that was closing down, I actually had two but the other has already found a new owner.
Suitable for table top OR fitting to the top of a suitable ashtray stand - we used to have the stands but as it was such a beautiful Oak twisted timber stand, another person grabbed these immediately, leaving us with the ashtray only.
MEASUREMENTS:
100mm x 100mm (top) 88mm x 88mm (base) because the walls are sloping slightly outwards, sits 55mm high.
The Brass walls are 4.75mm thick with a "recessed lip" around the top to secure the top section in place.
WEIGHT: 750g (The way "they" used to make things - solidly)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Clean
PARTIALLY buffed up (by hand, NOT with a machine - let me tell you this is tough going but I like the "hands on" approach)
The new owner can either continue buffing it up or let the natural patina take over
NO dents or other markings at all, just the distinctive air gaps left behind from the sand mould used - this is pretty typical of metalware made using this technique.
Over time, the "shine - Golden Glow" of the metal will fade (just buff it up again if you wish) so I have placed both pieces into sealed clear plastic to extend the time that the metal remains "Gold like"
