Matchbox collection mark of patrons

Press, 18 March 1989, Page 6

Matchbox collection mark of patrons

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

Seafaring visitors to Lyttelton have left a striking mark on the walls of a Lyttelton hairdresser. More than 10,000 matchboxes line the walls, nooks and crannies of an Oxford Street tobacco and barber salon, belonging to Mr lari Wales. The collection provides a fascinating glimpse of the visitors the port has hosted. Mr Wales, aged 63, will retire at the end of the month, the last of three generations of hairdressers in his family. The matchbox collection was started 20 years ago by chance after a visit by Russian seamen from the Antarctic scientific ship, the Ob. t Mr Wales still lias the

original faded boxes sporting Russian script, which heralded the start of the collection. “Some Russian seamen came in for a haircut and when they left they stood a couple of match boxes on a shelf above the mirrors. Then another, client came along and put one on, and another and so on.” Mr Wales’ popularity with Soviet seamen is reflected by nearly a whole wall of boxes. They depict a variety of colourful scenes, including movie stars and winter scenes. One exquisite set of boxes depicts a popular doll puppet theatre exhibition. - No sign of the Cold War approaches this salon. American clients have also left their calling signs, including one-

matchbox with the words “Jimmy Carter” on it. Not being able to decipher the writing on Japanese matchboxes caused consternation for one Japanese customer, until he realised Mr Wales had the boxes upside down. The collection also illuminates historic occasions, such as the coronation of King George V, and later that of the Queen in 1953. Mr Wales is still pondering what to do with the collection after his retirement, as the salon’s owner, the Canterbury Hotel, plans to turn it into, a bottle store. He has no idea how much the collection would. be ftorth but is consider-' ing'selling it.