The Northern Echo reports two championship wrestling belts are going up for sale at the Ripon-based saleroom of Elstob and Elstob on Saturday 24 July, starting at 10am. Viewing will take place from 22 July to 24 July. Bidding can also be made online and by telephone.
The first is a late Victorian 9 carat gold and silver champion’s belt awarded to the great Cumbrian heavyweight wrestler Hexham Clark. The belt dates from 1898 and has a central embossed silver panel set with a gold heart-shaped cartouche, surrounded by olive leaves and berries tied by a ribbon. It measures approx. 90cm long and is expected to reach between £1,000 and £1,500.
The second is Louis Brook’s international bantam weight championship belt crafted by Henry Charles Kerly, London, in 1908. It comes in a display case together with a black and white photograph of Brooks in 1909 wearing the belt and carries a guide price of £1,500-£2,500.
Ruslan?
Thanks Ruslan.
Hack, this is what I meant. Joe Smith Promotion's Belts.
Belts like very rarely appear for sale, the prices put on the belts give some indication of not just their value but their collectability.
Do these belts come up often? Are they collected?
Thanks for making this post Hack, appreciate. The L. Brook belt is Joe Smith Promotions champion belt from early 1900s, it was the same promotion as the belt which in 1971 Ted Betley gave to Steve Wright.