RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 12

RANDOM REMINDER

ELIZABETHIANA

Strange isn’t it that Victoriana and even Edwardiana should fetch such high prices in the sale rooms these days. Had we only foreseen the demand we would, when younger, have assured ourselves of a comfortable old age by thoughtfully removing those porcelain pulls from every convenient place we visited. We would never have thrown out that ghastly old brass bedstead nor would we ever have disposed of that 1923 Baby Austin we thankfully quitted back in 1949 at one three-hundredth of its present market value. We would have filled the basement and the spare room and the garage with rocking chairs, antimacassars and china rolling pins. Still, we can allow the young now to profit from our experience. So our advice is: save Elizabethiana like mad now and live like a

king in A.D. 2000. Still, there is a rub.

What exactly will the smart young men and women value 30 years from now? It will hardly be a black and white television set for, the price of colour sets being what it undoubtedly will be, the old steam set will be with us for a long time. LPs aren’t likely to be hot sellers either, indeed one of the most depressing sights in recent years is a recorded music maniac trying to dispose for money alone his unsurpassed collection of 78s. No modern car seems likely to last 13, let alone 30 years and anyway, we have it on good authority from a man called Fred that there won’t be any petrol left for surviving relics by then. Anything made of plastic is out too — it’s indestructible and may be an abomination to our grandchildren. There are, of course, books, but will anyone be able to read then?

Possibly the Ferrymead boys have invested most

wisely. Before Stephenson the world existed without trains, but what an existence it was — no smoke, cinders or chugging, a

world without romance, excitement or ambition for small boys. Well, the wheel has gone full circle and life is pretty tasteless without steam trains. But in 30 years or so the United States will just about empty Fort Knox to buy a slice of Ferrymead. Still, there is one artefact that is within the reach of everyone’s purse. It is likely to be scarce and valuable for its use, from our observations, is declining rapidly. It is small, bright and attractive, has many uses, is made of durable stuff and won’t, the makers assure us. tarnish o- rust. Our advice then is to hoard them, stuff them in safe deposit boxes and stow them in strongrooms, though not in mattresses What are they? Why, silly, razor blades.