Item PGQ
This Item was Sold on 25 September
2020 for $135
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This is a very early traditional boomerang made by the Janetzki Brothers. The design is almost identical to the Hawes M-17. Sometimes, the Janetzki Brothers used blanks made by other boomerang manufacturers. I think this is a copy of the Hawes M-17 design instead of a painting over a Hawes M-17 because Lorin Hawes pressed his logo into the reverse and I don't see any evidense of this on this traditional. The art depicts an Aborigine stalking a kangaroo and there is additional art on both tips. This boomerang is in mint condition. Brother Brian Thomas inherited this boomerang from the Janetzki Brothers after their death and then Brian's collection was sold off after his death with the proceeds going to the Fred Hollows charity foundation that was managed by Brian before his death. On the reverse side of the elbow, the Janetzki Brothers painted a white dot. They did this on only a tiny percentage of their boomerangs. The white dot indicates that this is one of their favorite boomerangs for throwing. The other white dot shown in the photo is one of my collection tags. This boomerang has been in storage since I purchased it in 2005.
The Janetzki brothers (Les & Arthur) made some of the finest competition and sporting boomerangs in the 20th Century. Les & Arthur made very few boomerangs and they were almost never sold. Instead, they were given away as gifts to other throwers that they met at tournaments. Les & Arthur Janetzki were Vaudeville performers in the early 1900s. After they retired in the 1960s, they started making and throwing boomerangs at their home in the town of Albury, Australia. They were senior citizens when they started to make and throw boomerangs and they continued with their boomerang hobby until their death nearly three decades later. Les would construct his own plywood by laminating packing box boards together, shaping the airfoils and sanding them smooth. Arthur would apply the art work. When they were done, they had a wonderful flying piece of art with legendary performance in events such as Accuracy, Consecutive Catch and Australian Round. These boomerangs worked so well that they were nicknamed the "Rolls Royce" of all boomerangs and upon the suggestion of Brother Brian Thomas, they started painting the initials "RJR" on the reverse side of the elbows in the 1980s with "RR" representing "Rolls Royce" and "J" representing "Janetzki". Owners of these fine boomerangs have been reluctant to sell them. Janetzki boomerangs can still be found in the throw kits of the most seasoned competitors as well as in the best collections. Premium Janetzki boomerangs can sell for hundreds of dollars and some of the finest examples have sold for more than $1,000! |
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