Item TB03
This Item was Sold for
$585
Other collectable boomerangs for sale can be found on the
Collectable , Hardwood
and Art Boomerang web links.
Historical Pricing information for this item and similar
collectable boomerangs can be found on the Boomerang
Pricing Guide
The Janetzki brothers (Les & Arthur) made some of the
finest competition and sporting boomerangs in the late 20th
Century. Les & Arthur made very few of these fine art
boomerangs and they were never sold. Instead, they were
given away as gifts to other throwers that they met at
coompetitions, mainly in their home town of Albury, in
Australia. Les & Arthur Janetzki wereVaudeville
performers in the early 1900s. After they retired (1960s),
they started making and throwing boomerangs. They were
senior citizens when they started the sport of boomerang
throwing and they continued with their boomerang making and
throwing until their death nearly three decades later. One
brother would construct the boomerang by laminating packing
box boards together, making his own plywood, shaping the
airfoils and sanding them smooth. The other brother 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 the boomerang world and at
Brother Brian Thomas' suggestion, they started painting the
initials "RJR" on the resverse side of the elbows with "RR"
representing "Rolls Royce" and "J" representing "Janetzki".
Owners of these fine boomerangs have been resilient in
keeping them within their own throw kit and collection. When
they are sold, they almost always sell for hundreds of
dollars and some of the finest examples sell for more than
$1,000! The "SKIPPY" boomerang is the most original design made
by the Janetzki brothers. Others have copied this undulating
"U" design and made modifications for their own product
line. "Skippy" is also the most valuable of all Janetzki
boomerangs. This is one of the finest Skippys ever made.
This is an early example with the word "Skippy" painted on
the underside of the elbow instead of letters "RJR". Two
pairs of crossed spears and a shield are painted on the
upper elbow along with additional Aboriginal artwork on the
blades. This boomerang has been used and it came out of the
Janetzki's personal throw kit. There is no noticeable
damage. This is an exceptional collectable.