SOLD - Vintage Horne Bros No. 188 Speed Skates 5.5, C.1930s, Blk Leather, Spare Blades

Vintage Horne Bros No. 188 Speed Skates 8.5, C.1930s, Blk Leather, Spare Blades

Description

Horne Brothers started out as a tailoring service, but grew into a chain of gentlemans' outfitters with enormous department stores in London, Brighton, Liverpool and elsewhere offering everything a gentleman could need. At one of their stores, a customer could purchase an entire new wardrobe of outfits and accessories, buy sporting goods and get fitted out with all the accoutrements and items he might need during a visit to one of the far-flung corners of the Empire - he could even get his hair cut at one of the inhouse barbers, as The Beatles did at the Liverpool store in 1963, taking the opportunity for a promotional photograph in which John holds a pair of scissors to a terrified-looking Paul's hair. Founded in the 1880s, the company clothed generations of well-to-do chaps right up until the 1990s when, no longer able to compete with cheaper rivals, it closed its doors forever.

These Horne Brothers speed skates are definitely showing their age, but they are clearly of top quality and fitted out with some impressive parts - the leather uppers are the Hornes' own No. 188 Free Fit pattern, but the soles Dominion Uskide items shipped all the way from Canada and the "City" blades were made by Eduard Engels of Remscheid in Germany. This is first-rate, professional level gear, and would have cost a considerable sum.

The leather is scuffed but remains soft and pliable; there is no rot and no holes, and the stitching is still tight and in excellent order. The inners, in soft brown leather, are in similar condition (with a previous owner's name written in them) - it would still be entirely possible to skate in these if desired; the soles are marked and chipped, but are not cracked and remain firmly stiched to the uppers. The 29cm (11.5") blades, which are fixed rather than the hinged clap type more often used by speed skaters today, are unsually thick for speed skating blades and show some surface rust, but could be cleaned up. A second pair of blades, 31cm (12.1") in length and made by Hill & Son of London, are also included and are in excellent condition. The size has long since rubbed off or, more likely, was never printed inside, as the quality of these skates suggests they were tailor-made for an individual customer; however, based on the length of 26cm (10.5"), they appear to be about a UK 8.5.

Due to the nature of this item it is not always possible for us to identify any missing parts.
For this reason we ask that you please check the pictures carefully, as these show everything that is included.

Further Details & Enquiries

This item has been very kindly donated to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

100% of the money raised from this sale will go to the charity.

Our sales team do their best to check each item and ensure that the description and pictures provided are as accurate as possible.

Feedback is extremely important to the charity so if you are not fully satisfied with your purchase please give us a chance to resolve any issues by contacting us prior to leaving feedback.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via eBay messages, we will make sure that your message is responded to promptly, usually within three working days. Messages sent over the weekend will be responded to on the next working day.

If this item is not quite what you were looking for but you would still like to help our cause, please consider providing us with a donation which can be done via our eBay Charity Profile linked below.

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Payment

We only accept payments made through one of eBay's many approved methods. Please make sure to complete your payment within 96 hours of winning an item. Once your payment has been received we will dispatch your item as soon as possible, usually within two working days.

Delivery

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday). If your order is placed after 1pm, the next working day will be considered the first working day for delivery. In case of bank holidays and during the Christmas period where delays are more likely, please allow an extra few days for delivery.

Domestic Delivery

We aim to dispatch orders within two working days. If for any reason there is an unexpected delay in dispatching your order we will make sure to inform you of this as soon as possible.

We use Hermes to deliver the majority of our parcels. If you would like to specify a preferred neighbour, or safe place for the parcel to be left, please leave the details in a message when placing your order.

Some low-value items will be sent by Royal Mail 2nd Class. Some items of higher value are sent by Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery, which requires a signature. If you are not present at the time of delivery, a card will be left instructing you to arrange a redelivery, or to collect your order from the local sorting office.

International Delivery

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For full details please see the following eBay help page: Buying internationally with the Global Shipping Programme.

Collection

Items can be collected from our Retail Hub at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Eastern Counties Leather Industrial Estate, Pampisford, CB22 3EE during our opening hours of 10:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Saturday. If you would like to collect your item please contact us in advance to arrange this.

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Returns

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity uses the eBay Returns system to make the process as easy for you as possible. For full details about the process, and for information on how to begin a return, please see the following eBay help page: Return an item for a refund.

Change of Mind

If when you receive your order you are not completely satisfied, you may return the items to us within 30 days for a refund. Returns will be processed within three working days once the goods have been received by us.

Items must be returned to us in the same condition as they were received by you. This includes, but is not limited to: original packaging, original boxes, packaging materials, manuals, blank warranty cards, accessories and documents. We reserve the right to refuse a return or deduct an amount for lost value where the item is returned in a different condition.

We strongly recommend that you fully insure your package that you are returning, as well as using a carrier that can provide you with tracking information or proof of delivery.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will not be held responsible for returns lost or damaged in transit.

Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the customer to cover any delivery charges for returning an unwanted item.

Incorrect/Damaged Goods

We try very hard to ensure that you receive your order in pristine condition. In the unlikely event that your order arrives damaged or faulty, please contact us via eBay immediately, this will be given special priority and you can expect to receive a response within 48 hours, Monday to Friday. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will cover the cost of domestic return postage for any incorrect or damaged items, subject to the cost of the chosen return method being reasonable. Please contact us before proceeding if unsure.

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