Barnacle motorist's ashtray.
Barnacle are perhaps best remembered - at least by people who have actually heard of the name - for their suction tax disc holders, and I've several myself. They did however produce a variety of other motorist's essentials, all designed to make the motor-car just that little bit more agreeable for the gentleman and lady motorist. The suction ashtray was just such a gadget. Designed to fit to either a dashboard or the inside of a fixed windscreen, it was produced for many years. Earlier this year I found a Barnacle ashtray produced in Bakelite, and while I don't partake of the weed myself it now adorns the interior of a pre-war Morris.
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While the basic suction ashtray was a handy addition for the cheroot- or cigar-smoking automobilist, pipe smokers - quite a common breed at the time - may well have opted for the item shown below - the Barnacle Pipe Smoker's Ashtray. Not only did it include the tray for one's ash, a spring clip positioned beneath it would hold one's pipe securely for those brief, fresh air, moments, when filling the interior of one's saloon with fresh air rather than a cloudy smog of pipe smoke was required. Handy indeed, and a snip at 7s 6d direct from the manufacturer - E.W. Puckert Ltd, of Bensham Lane, West Croydon. To add to its beauty, rather than being produced in Bakelite, this metal version was offered in Nickel-plate. Due to its weight, especially when loaded with the pipe of choice, the Pipe Smoker's Ashtray relied on two screws to secure it onto the dashboard, rather than suction.
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While smoking nowadays is frowned upon by many, especially within the closed confines of a motor vehicle, in the 1920s and 1930s it was a common pastime, and many's the Austin, Morris, Daimler and Hillman (for instance) that had its upholstery forever tinged with the aroma of pipe smoke. If anyone can provide a photo of just such a gadget in use today, I'd like to add one to this page please.
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Find more near-forgotten motoring goodies in the gadgets and accessories corner of OCC.
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