#1
I learned to shoot trap with a 'black diamond' Winchester 97 that resided in my grandfather's garage/workshed hung with his Russian shaska brought back from the allied expeditions supporting the white Russians post WW1. I received the sabre but sadly the shotgun was destroyed in one of our fires. It was owned by Clark Gable. His last wife Kay was my mother's cousin and he'd drive over from Encino to shoot quail and Conejos with my godfather Jack Oakie and grandpa Jack. 'Uncle' Clark left it behind once and never retrieved it, entering the hospital after filming his last movie with Eli Wallach and M Monroe " she makes a man proud to be a man" when some Hollywood reporter claimed she was erratic. Aunt Janie later told him off after her death with some rather blue language when he claimed she was upset those rumors may have stressed Gable physically on set leading to his heart attack.
I was thinking about this and wondered if perhaps Douglas and Matt or our other collectors have any pieces with known history?
I don't mean occupational mugs with Mr Gindlesburger the farrier, but known ownership, even if just some WW2 soldier's name and serial?

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#2

Restitutor Orbis
(07-08-2017, 07:27 PM)KAV Wrote: I learned to shoot trap with a 'black diamond' Winchester 97 that resided in my grandfather's garage/workshed hung with his Russian shaska brought back from the allied expeditions supporting the white Russians post WW1. I received the sabre but sadly the shotgun was destroyed in one of our fires. It was owned by Clark Gable. His last wife Kay was my mother's cousin and he'd drive over from Encino to shoot quail and Conejos with my godfather Jack Oakie and grandpa Jack. 'Uncle' Clark left it behind once and never retrieved it, entering the hospital after filming his last movie with Eli Wallach and M Monroe " she makes a man proud to be a man" when some Hollywood reporter claimed she was erratic. Aunt Janie later told him off after her death with some rather blue language when he claimed she was upset those rumors may have stressed Gable physically on set leading to his heart attack.
I was thinking about this and wondered if perhaps Douglas and Matt or our other collectors have any pieces with known history?
I don't mean occupational mugs with Mr Gindlesburger the farrier, but known ownership, even if just some WW2 soldier's name and serial?

I'm inclined to think they do. With the kind of collections (I assume) those guys have, there's got to be something with a very interesting background, hope they and many others would chime in.

Btw, I'm a fan of Clark Gable, thanks for the share.
#3
My memories are few but fun. He was always impeccably dressed, loved to laugh and I sat in his lap for a brownie photo while gramps built him chicken coops. The San Fernando Valley was still heavily agricultural and everyone had a garden and some form of livestock. He had this crazy idea of selling eggs called 'KING EGGS' with a crowned egg logo- a joke on himself. There were still Basque shepherded flocks and a law still on the books gives them right a way on the streets when changing pastures. I remember being stopped on Ventura BLVD in Jack Oakie's red buick convertible with sidemounts and he's muttering ' now that's a real job, not this movie BS' and laughing about being late because of a herd of sheep. Clark had all kinds of mementos from his early days with the same note attached in beautiful handwriting " just to remind you Gable" and he often said if it hadn't worked out he'd be a truck driver somewhere.
Now my area is home to many people famous for being famous and little else. Scott Baio got mad at me in traffic one day for not running a stale yellow light. " Do you know who I am?" I replied : I know who you aren't" flipped him off and turned right.

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#4

Restitutor Orbis
(This post was last modified: 07-09-2017, 11:02 AM by Aurelian28.)
(07-08-2017, 11:41 PM)KAV Wrote: My memories are few but fun. He was always impeccably dressed, loved to laugh and I sat in his lap for a brownie photo  while gramps built him chicken coops. The San Fernando Valley was still heavily agricultural and everyone had a garden and some form of livestock. He had this crazy idea of selling eggs called 'KING EGGS' with a crowned egg logo- a joke on himself. There were still  Basque shepherded  flocks and a law still on the books gives them right a way on the streets when changing pastures. I remember being stopped on Ventura BLVD in Jack Oakie's red buick convertible with sidemounts and he's muttering ' now that's a real job, not this movie BS' and laughing about being late because of a herd of sheep. Clark had all kinds of mementos from his early days with the same note attached in beautiful handwriting " just to remind you Gable" and he often said if it hadn't worked out he'd be a truck driver somewhere.
Now my area is home to many people famous for being famous and little else. Scott Baio got mad at me in traffic one day for not running a stale yellow light. " Do you know who I am?"  I replied : I know who you aren't" flipped him off and turned right.

Very fascinating. Ala Marcus Aurelius, with his servant whispering in his ear to remind him he was only human. You have a very interesting life, Kav. That's for sure. Clark Gable.

Don't know who Scott Baio is. But man Clark "Rhett Butler" Gable.  Happy2
#5

Member
Detroit
(07-09-2017, 11:01 AM)Aurelian28 Wrote: Don't know who Scott Baio is. But man Clark "Rhett Butler" Gable.  Happy2

Charles in Charge is what I remember him from.

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- Jeff
#6

Super Moderator
(07-09-2017, 01:09 PM)wyze0ne Wrote:
(07-09-2017, 11:01 AM)Aurelian28 Wrote: Don't know who Scott Baio is. But man Clark "Rhett Butler" Gable.  Happy2

Charles in Charge is what I remember him from.

I also remember him as Chachi from Happy Days

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#7

Member
Northern Arizona
KAV, provenance is something I wish I had a better handle on. I have a number of outstanding razors that must have a rich history, yet that information is almost never passed on. I know one of my razors was purchased in 1960 by a beautician about to take her practical exam and thought she might need the razor. She didn't so the razor went into a drawer for 57 years until it was sold to me. Not a very sexy provenance to be sure. I am afraid that with the increased interest in wet shaving, straight razors have become a commodity like pencils. And no one cares where a pencil came from or who's teeth marks are left indented in the wood.

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Dan
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
#8

Merchant
Arizona, USA
Thanks for thinking of me Kav! I do have some (what I find interesting) pieces, but the history is lost to me...aside from my grandads Aristocrat, but that's just an heirloom. Matt however has more than a few in his collection with some great stories attached!

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“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” ~ Carl Sagan
#9
Kav, I think this is the type of thread you are looking for.This was posted before you became a regular here. I was limited on what I could find, but Cincinnatus really rounded out the story for us. Incredible information he provided and it makes me smile every time I use it.

https://damnfineshave.com/thread-tell-yo...-s-history

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#10

Posting Freak
(07-09-2017, 01:27 PM)HoosierShave Wrote:
(07-09-2017, 01:09 PM)wyze0ne Wrote:
(07-09-2017, 11:01 AM)Aurelian28 Wrote: Don't know who Scott Baio is. But man Clark "Rhett Butler" Gable.  Happy2

Charles in Charge is what I remember him from.

I also remember him as Chachi from Happy Days

Carved out a career being a slightly irritating second fiddle. Had a Happy Days spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi - predictably short run.

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