Advert Description
Vintage Jack & Charlie's 21 Club spinner token / coin with screwable, plastic, coin-sized, protective travel container (a picture will made available upon request).
This coin was minted in the 1930's, is in very good condition and was given to groups of customers of Jack Kreindler and Charlie Berns at their world famous 21 Club restaurant located at 21 West 52nd Street in Manhattan, New York City.
The obverse side of the token / coin has the letters and numbers:
'JACK & CHARLIE'S
21
West Fifty Second Street'
The reverse side of the token / coin has the letters and numbers:
'ALL RIGHT YOU PAY
"21" '
The 'ALL RIGHT YOU PAY' letters are located within an arrow on the token / coin which, when it has finished spinning, points to which individual must pay for the round of drinks.
The price is exclusive of packaging and postage costs which will be as follows:
Packaging - Jiffy bag (small): £0.25
Postage - UK Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed service for package up to and including 100g (will be delivered by 13:00 the following day): £6.85; or
Postage - Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed service to Europe Zone 1 for Small Parcel up to and including 250g: £15:00; or
Postage - Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed service to World Zone 1 for Small Parcel up to and including 100g: £18.60; or
Postage - Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed service to World Zone 2 for Small Parcel up to and including 100g: £19.75; or
Postage - Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed service to World Zone 3 for Small Parcel up to and including 100g: £19.25.
Provenance:
The coin's former owner, Frederick William John Gale (see picture on this advert), my grandfather on my father’s side (or 'Bill' as we used to call each other), passed-away in 1977.
In 1928, my grandfather joined S. G. Brown Limited as a draughtsman. The company's most well-known product was the gyrocompass.
Due to the significance of the gyrocompass in the early part of WW II, the Admiralty financed an extension to the company premises which the company ran on the Admiralty's behalf. As time passed, relations between the Admiralty and the company soured somewhat and, in 1942, my grandfather was appointed Managing Director of the company, presumably a safe pair of hands with the agreement of both the company and the Admiralty. Given that he made a number of business trips to the U.S. whilst holding this position, It is assumed that this coin was gifted in this period.
In September of 1943, the company's gyrocompasses were used in 'Operation Source', which was an operation by midget submarines called X-craft to attack the heavy German warships Tirpitz, Scharnhorst and Luzow in a Norwegian fjord. The operation succeeded in significantly damaging Tirpitz and kept her out of action for more than 6 months. In November 1944, she capsized in the fjord following heavy bombing by the RAF.
Presumably in recognition of his contribution to the operation in the Norwegian fjord, my grandfather was granted the Dignity of an Additional Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E) in the 1945 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
In 1960, and in association with Bosch corporation, the de Havilland Aircraft company acquired a controlling interest in the company from the Admiralty. Presumably in recognition for his efforts for the Admiralty, my grandfather was granted the Dignity of an Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) in the 1961 New Year's Honours List and became Deputy Chairman of the company in 1961.
In 1962, my grandfather retired after 34 years' service, the stress of myself arriving on the scene in November, 1961 obviously being too much for him to take :o)
Should it be of interest to the prospective buyer, I am happy to provide a picture of his medals and some documents which provide details of his O.B.E. award and his position in the company towards the end of his career.
