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Spencelayhs of Cambridgeshire
Tel : 07493 123205
Email : Admin@spencelayhs.co.uk
Web : www.spencelayhs.co.uk
Web : www.antiques-atlas.com/spencelayhs/
Private dealer
By appointment only
Cambridgeshire
England, UK
Open by appointment only, please ring or email with all enquiries.
Eric Morecambe’s Rosewood Bang & Olufsen Bookcase
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Description
Sensible offers considered!Probably the most iconic piece of Eric Morecambe’s furniture of all time, his beloved rosewood Bang & Olufsen stereo bookcase, where all his awards were displayed, including an array of TV awards, variety club and his BAFTA!
Eric had the bookcase commissioned by Style fitted furniture Ltd of Southend on Sea in the 1960’s, it was imported in from Bang & Olufsen as it bears labels from Denmark to the rear, it would of then been reconfigured to suit Eric. It is possible it was designed by Jacob Jensen, a Danish industrial designer best known for his work with Bang & Olufsen. You will not see another system like this ANYWHERE….
The upper bookcase unit is designed to be elevated and hung on the wall above the lower unit as Eric had it which can be seen in the YouTube video showing it in his house, there are lights that project down from the bottom of this onto the lower unit.
Fitted out with a Beomaster 1400 radio/amp coupled to a pair of built in Beovox 1500 speakers and his personal preference of turntables, a Garrard Lab 80, it’s even got a BSR McDonald 8-track player, all of which work.
You can see two short videos, both on YouTube, showing it in situ in the area of his house known as ‘The Den’ and another showing the equipment working, this can be found by following this link or by searching Eric Morecambe’s Bang & Olufsen Bookcase stereo and Eric Morecambe’s stereo in situ.
The unit came direct from ‘Brachefield’, his home in Harpenden, England.
Eric had what he called ‘The Den’ a working area of his best room in the house, he’d sit at his writing desk penning new scripts and ideas and this very bookcase adjacent to his desk would of been a very important part of his everyday working life.
His scripts were held in the filing cabinet to the lower left section and his collection of Vinyl (Des O’conners greatest hits) were housed in the two lower compartments specifically for records.
After his untimely death in 1984 at the age of 58 the house and everything of Eric’s was kept just as it was for another 41 years by his beloved wife Joan until her passing in March 2024.
As one can see in the image of Eric with the bookcase behind him the shelves were crammed with his favourite books, the three F’s ‘Football, Fishing and Fotography’ as well as his bird watching books, comedy books and Morecambe & wise scripts and literature.
The photo of Eric in the frame on the stereo will come with the unit, the frame was in fact one of Eric’s from his home.
The unit is now 60 years old and will show wear and tear commensurate of age and use by Eric but it is generally good will only a couple of knocks to the bottom corners.
Amazingly it even has the original polystyrene protection it came with when new still on the right hand side of the lower cabinet, this will be left on so the new custodian can decide if they remove it or not, (the rosewood beneath must look stunning?)
Measurements:
Base 203cm Wide
Bookshelf 203cm wide x 153cm H
It would be advisable to have the electrical equipment serviced, as one can see in the video it is working, but with anything vintage no guarantees can be given in regard to its reliability.
Logistically it will require professional removers with a tail lift vehicle as it is incredibly heavy.
Not only is this a very rare survivor system but a true piece of history.
One can only imagine Eric relaxing, pipe in hand whilst listening to his favourite music.
The unit can be viewed in Cambridgeshire and is for collection only.
We are happy to work with and assist your own couriers.
In situ video acknowledgement to Jim Spencer ‘Rare book Auctions’
DateRetro
Codeas1111a225
Price £6995.00
€8441.57
$8842.38
The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 20/FEB/2025.
Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.StatusFor Sale SellerSpencelayhs of Cambridgeshire Telephone07493 123205Non UK callers :+44 7493 123205 Emailadmin@spencelayhs.co.uk
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Conversion rates as of 20/FEB/2025.
Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.StatusFor Sale SellerSpencelayhs of Cambridgeshire Telephone07493 123205Non UK callers :+44 7493 123205 Emailadmin@spencelayhs.co.uk
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