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Placefinders |
Flat peg placefinders
The FLAT PEG is the traditional shape of a placefinder and it is the most popular as it is easy to read , slips comfortably into the pocket and the pegs are easily withdrawn from the wallet. This latter consideration is important as obviously the shoot starts in the morning when it can be quite cold and cold hands do have a habit of dropping pegs on the ground!
In the larger sizes it is easy to read the numbers and it surprises me how many shoot captains stress the importance of the number size and therefore the ease with which the number can be read. I am afraid it is a fact that driven shooting is largely the domain of the gentleman of a certain age and with that age comes the reading glasses - which are never in the pocket when it comes to the draw! With this in mind we now make sets of pegs with extra large numbers.
A. CASEIN Peg Placefinders.
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I started making these 25 years ago and I have sold many hundreds to shoot captains wanting something a little more upmarket than the small £10 variety that all the gunshops sell. Ivory casein is a great substitute for the real thing, it is now only made in Italy. Ivory casein is a totally natural product , it predates Bakelite - it is made from milk and the process takes about 6 months. Ivory casein has striations just like ivory and it polishes beautifully so this is the perfect material from which to make pegs. We make our casein pegs in one size only - 50mm long by10mm wide and 2mm thick. They are a good size to take hold of and the black numbers are 6mm high so they are easy to read. We engrave SIX and NINE to avoid to usual confusion when numbering 10 or more. |
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We sell these placefinders in sets of 8, 10 and 12 . The wallets are all made from fine Morocco leather and lined with brushed pigskin. We usually have about 100 wallets in stock in several colours, black is the most popular but we also stock sea green, claret, mid and light brown and dark green. We can block the wallet with initials or the name of the shoot.
Casein Placefinders 8 Peg - £70 plus Vat Casein Placefinders 10 Peg - £75 plus Vat Casein Placefinders 12 Peg - £80 plus Vat
B. BONE placefinders
My stock of flat peg bone placefinders is now running low , but I still have a few sets left for the connoisseur. These are made by Bill who is a fifth generation ivory worker and they are a labour of love. Unfortunately Bill is now the wrong side of 90 years so my supply stock is finite. The sizes of the numbers are proportional to the peg size, but I do have a few sets of the large bone peg with extra large numbers - 13mms high ; the usual height being 5mms.
Bill has made three sizes of pegs for us, these are the sizes.
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Small peg size - 42 x 8 x 1.5mm Medium peg size - 45 x 10 x 2mm Large peg size - 56 x 10 x 2mm Most of the wallets in stock are in black morocco, but we do have a few other colours, please ask. Small Bone Placefinders 8 peg - £90 plus vat Small Bone Placefinders 10 peg - £110 plus vat Small Bone Placefinders 12 peg - £130 plus vat Small Bone Placefinders 14 peg - £150 plus vat Medium Bone Placefinders 8 peg - £110 plus vat Medium Bone Placefinders 10 peg - £125 plus vat Large Bone Placefinders 8 peg - £150 plus vat Large Bone Placefinders 10 peg - £200 plus vat |
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ROUND peg placefinders
We make five types of round peg placefinders three in bone and two in casein.
A. The ROXBURGHE placefinder is beautiful and much favoured by collector /users. The pegs are individually turned from bone , which is then engraved and then highly polished. These detailed, skittle shaped pegs are 40mm long and 5mms in diameter. From time to time we change the detail on each set of pegs and the overall effect is very pleasing. Each peg is located into its own socket in an African blackwood spar so hiding its number,this makes the peg easy to draw out and the whole is enclosed in a handmade morocco case.
The only problem with this placefinder is availability, I do have a few black morocco sets left, but I fear they are irreplaceable.
Roxburghe placefinder - 8 pegs - £200 plus vat Roxburghe placefinder - 10 pegs - £250 plus vat
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B. The LOTHIAN placefinder is very similar to the Roxburghe but it lacks the blackwood spar. The skittle shaped pegs locate into small leather sockets within the wallet. The absence of the spar makes it kinder to keep in the pocket after the draw as it is not rigid. Other than the spar, it is exactly the same as the Roxburghe. Lothian placefinder 8 pegs - £170 plus vat Lothian placefinder 10 pegs - £220 plus vat |
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C. BONE placefinder pot.In very limited supply over the years these pots have proved very popular , but I now have only three left and that will be the end of an era. The pots are all turned out of bone and then highly polished, the bases have an insert of African ivory wood which after seasoning is pink in colour. This inlay is in the centre of the skittle holes and really sets off the bone and the pegs. The pegs are the same skittle shape as the above and the top has a slow screw which fastens the top to the bottom. These are the tour de force of the ornamental turners art. Large bone pot with 10 pegs £600 plus vat Medium bone pot with 8 pegs £500 plus vat |
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D. CASEIN placefinder pot.
I had to find a replacement for the bone pot so I looked to one of my favourite materials casein and we now make pots in much the same way as the bone ones except bigger. This new pot in ivory casein looks very similar to bone and many people have assumed that it is bone. It looks and feels like the real thing and in itself is a really great object, except that it is much cheaper! The skittle shaped pegs are very well shaped and the pot screws together with that same slow screw but in addition we have added a barley corn pattern to the top of the pot just as we used to do with the bone pots many years ago.We also have plain pots for those who prefer them unadorned.
Casein placefinder pots 8 peg - £180 plus vat Casein placefinder pots 10 peg - £195 plus vat
E. CARTRIDGE placefinder pot.
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We have taken the casein pot from above and very carefully made cartridges from red casein to fit the pot. The size and detail of the cartridge is exactly the same as a 12 bore cartridge and we have made an exact replica. The head is made from solid brass and then fitted with a copper cap ( turned from a boat rivet ) which slots into the primer socket. How about that for detail! Each cartridge is numbered on the side at the top which is hidden in its slot on the base. For an extra £40 we can engrave the name of your shoot on the side of each cartridge or for £20 the name of your shoot around the outside of the base. Your shoot captain will love it, buy one of these for your shoot and I am sure that you will get the best spot for the rest of the season! Cartridge placefinder pot 8 pegs - £200 plus vat Cartridge placefinder pot 10 pegs - £225 plus vat |
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F. The BIG Pot
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This is a brand new product ( Sept 09 ) which I have designed in line with a request for an easily read large peg placefinder. My guess is that this is the largest placefinder ever made; it has pegs 110mms long and 18mms wide, the numbers are 15mms high so the only thing missing from it are the numbers repeated in braille. It is made from ivory coloured casein and I designed it as a hall table piece. The eggcup shaped container has a base 100mms in diameter and including the detachable top the piece stands 140mms high - wow! It is highly polished and looks very much like ivory; it is my intention as a variation to add to the top of each peg ( at the side ) a single silver thistle to show the origin of the man who gave me the idea. Big pot placefinder - 10 pegs - £300 plus vat Big pot with 10 silver thistle embellished pegs - £400 plus vat |
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Silver Placefinders
I have been making placefinders for more than 20 years and my range of 6 types has been a success. Over several years at Game Fairs interested people have spoken to me about their collection of placefinders and they are clearly proud in particular of the silver ones.These have always intrigued me and I think that the beautiful Asprey types are a real joy and I am always filled with covetous thoughts. Quite innocently I ask these collectors which placefinder in particular they normally use and almost invariably the answer is none - because they are too fiddly for cold hands and friends cant read the small numbers!
I have also made silver placefinders using old ivory and whilst having a lot of fun collecting the silver, getting pegs cut and polished by old Bill, it was obvious that they just were not really practical for every day use. So I set about designing a decent ' collectors ' placefinder that hopefully would have the wow factor as well as being practical for those with perhaps cold hands and whose eyesight isn't what it used to be! I also had in mind the Lady who might be shopping for a gift for the oft quoted man who has everything!!
So the design had to be impressive, solid silver, de luxe, with big numbers which should be very easy to read, the body had to be easy to hold and the pegs should allow cold hands to easily grasp and pull them out.
The result you can see in the photos and I am delighted to report that it has been very well received - indeed the first one that arrived ( it took four months ) was sold that day.
MARLBOROUGH PLACEFINDER
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My Northumberland placefinder has been very well received so I thought I would add another upmarket placefinder to the range. Beauty lies in the beholder but I think the Marlborough is my most elegant design yet , measuring 10 cms long by 6 cms high the box is a perfect practicable size with pegs that are very easy to read. The solid silver box is Hall marked and contains 10 ivory casein pegs, each of which is square in the body then tapered to round and finishes with a nice sphere on top, very tactile and the four sides of each peg is engraved with its number making it very easy to use. Inside the box there are permanent ivory casein spacers to keep the pegs upright. The outside of the box is engine turned with a blank cartouche on one side and the lid opens fully to allow for easy peg selection, the inside of the lid is gilded as you would expect. |
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This is a very desirable placefinder and has drawn considerable praise - a great big birthday present.
Marlborough Placefinder ( 10 pegs ) - £920 plus vat
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THE NORTHUMBERLAND placefinder stands 65mm high by 100 mm long by 30 mm wide and weighs 220 grms of hall marked solid silver. The body of the placefinder is engine turned with one side having a blank cartouche for engraving. The inside of the lid is gilded and a piece of green baize fitted to cushion the peg finials. Opening the placefinder is the best part as the pegs are then shown and what pegs they are - 60mm long by 8 mm in diameter, these are the largest and most beautiful pegs I have ever seen in a placefinder. The numbers are large - 6 mm high and they are repeated on the back so that there is no mad hunting for the number. |
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The peg is made from my old favourite - ivory casein, this looks just like ivory but it is not. This natural substance ( made in Italy, from milk ) cuts well and takes a polish just like ivory. The tops, bottoms and finials are all deeply plated with lustrous 22 ct gold.
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The FINIALS are interesting - there is a choice of six! I found the finial moulds under a bench in Sheffield and I dont think they had been used for 25 years, they are the perfect size for my purpose. Whilst 5 of these finials are ornate, we also have a classical orb finial for those of simpler tastes, we can also supply plain casein pegs - innocent of any gilding. The Choice of Finials
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At present we have the Northumberland in 10 peg size, but to order we will make sets with 8 and 12 pegs. We supply a velvet bag with each box, which should keep the scratches at bay.
Should you be interested in seeing a Norhumberland I should be happy to send one out to you.
Price:
10 peg size with gold finials - £980 plus Vat.
10 peg size, plain - £675 plus Vat.
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The SUTHERLAND placefinder is also a new design, but as the box is made from EPNS and the pegs are plain casein ( same size and shape as the Northumberland pegs ) it is much cheaper than its big brother the Northumberland and hopefully brings a really interesting placefinder into the financial realms of most shoots who want to start the day with style. The box when closed, measures 65 x 45 mms and is 75mms high. It is not engraved or engine turned but nicely polished with a bead running around the base of the lower part. The top is not hinged - it is a push fit, but comes off easily and the pegs are arranged in three rows. The pegs are 60mms long and 8mms in diameter with the numbers engraved twice ( opposite sides ) on each peg, the numbers are 6mm high . These numbers are very easy to find and read even without reading glasses. |
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I hope the result is a practical, stylish silver placefinder with pegs that are easy to draw and read at a modest price.
Sutherland Placefinder 10 pegs - £295 plus Vat
VINTAGE SILVER PLACEFINDERS.
I love old silver placefinders made in a time when great workmanship was the norm and in particular the engravers work was not stinted. I list below my current stock of placefinders but please consider that I only have one of each.
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A. An hall marked 8 peg upright silver box with the most exquisite floral hand engraving, the back is engraved with exactly the same pattern as the front, but without the cartouche- empty as you can see. The pegs are casein and the numbers are engraved on two sides of the square pegs. It measures 50 x 80 mms and 6mms thick. The lid is spring loaded and closes with a satisfactory snap, about 1930. Price £575 plus vat |
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B. This is a slightly larger case measuring 60 x 85 mm and 8mms thick. This case is solid silver , but not hall marked and I suspect Indian in origin. The prominent relief engraving of a mystical figure is on the front only with the back remaining plain - the back has got several dings . There are 10 casein square pegs and they have numbers engraved on two sides of the four square pegs. The top is a push fit to the bottom and there is a small chain connecting the two. Price £395 plus Vat |
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C. This is a smallish flat peg placefinder in solid hallmarked silver, the flat envelope shaped box contains 10 casein pegs engraved with old English numbers. The lid of the box is spring loaded and snaps shut to keep the pegs safe. The box measures 80 x 45 mm and is 5mm thick. The hall marks are clear and I think they date it ti the 1920s. Price £350 plus vat |
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D. This placefinder is the traditional Calling Card shape, hall marked inside and contains 10 old ivory pegs. It has a well executed monogram on the left hand side, which adds a bit of character. Size 80 x 40mms by 5mm thick this box is slightly curved to sit nicely inside a waiscoat pocket. The box and hinge are all in good condition - about 1900 I would guess. Price £250 plus Vat |
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E. This is a different shape of placefinder. It is a Georgian flat box that is gilded inside and when opened the false floor is spring loaded so the pegs rise as the box opens and they are the withdrawn from the box. When closed the lid pushes the floor down and the lid snaps shut! It is a heavy box about 1880 and measures 65 x 65mm by 8mms deep and the 8 large casein pegs are numbered in gothic style.
Price £625 plus vat
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F. This beautiful box was made in 1904 from solid rose gold and has 8 old ivory pegs. On both sides it is covered in the most elegant engine turning and the skittle shaped pegs were made by a real craftsman. The box is as new with a superb spring loaded hinge which functions perfectly and shuts with a nice clunk. It measures 45 x 45mm by 5 mms thick and although small it is my current favourite . Price £975 plus Vat |
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G. This is a plain silver card case type placefinder, there are no initials or engraving so that I have had it polished and it looks wonderful, but the hall marks on the lid have worn a little, but the hallmarks on the body - inside - are perfect. It has 10 old ivory flat pegs and the body is slightly curved to fit the waistcoat. I think it is from the 1930s. Price £250 plus Vat |
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H. This is a large envelope shaped solid silver placefinder with 10 matching large casein pegs. The front is nicely engine turned with a blank cartouche and the back is plain with a few small dings . The inside has a royal blue lining and the top is spring loaded to prevent the pegs escaping, this case is well hall marked but the condition is used - perfectly servicable with no real faults other than age and superficial marks from use. The size is 100 x 70 mms by 5mms thick. Price £350 plus vat. |
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I. This placefinder looks a bit like cigarette case, but is not and never has been . I think the photo gives a good impression, again the box is solid silver with 8 large casein pegs, it is largish at 65 x 80mms by 8mms thick. The pegs are large and very easily read. Price £275 plus Vat |
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