Item TB22
This Item was Sold for
$350
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 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 wereVaudeville performers in the early
1900s. After they retired in the1960s, 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! The "Skippy" is one of the more collectable Janetzki
models. The brothers were the first to come up with this
undulating U shape. It flew very well and others copied it
for their own use. This boomerang does not have the "RJR" on
the underside. Instead, it has "Skippy" written with a hot
poker. It is unusual in that it has both painted and
pyrography art, a rare combination. This boomerang was
probably made in the late 1970s. It has two sets of crossed
spears and a goanna lizard painted on the upper surface with
pyrography boxed art near the tips. Pyrography art on a
Skippy is very rare and this is their signature that this
boomerang was made with weights embedded internally, but not
visible from either surface. This is one of the finest
Skippy boomerangs that I have ever seen. It is in excellent
condition and is a very fine and rare collectable. This boomerang is from the estate of Brother Brian
Thomas. This is one boomerang that he would never let out of
his collection before his death. The sales of this boomerang
will benefit one or more charities that provide relief to
the victims of the 2004 Tsunami Disaster in South-East
Asia.