In the world of automobiliana, few objects capture the spirit of the 1960s British motoring golden age as precisely as a Ruddspeed radiator decanter. Produced by Ruddspeed Ltd. in the 1960s, these heavy chromium-plated decanters — each modelled on the radiator of a great marque — were sold by Harrods of London and other high-quality shops and garages across the UK. Ruddspeed They were not novelties. They were serious objects for serious enthusiasts, and they remain among the most sought-after pieces of mid-century automobiliana.
The firm behind them was founded by Ken Rudd, a competition driver sufficiently accomplished that in 1953 he was invited by Donald Healey to understudy for him at Le Mans. Mark Goodger Ruddspeed went on to convert Austin-Healeys, Volvos, Alfa Romeos, and Ford Mustangs, counting Ian Fleming and Bruce Reynolds among their customers. Mark Goodger The decanters were a sideline that became a legend.
This example is modeled on the iconic Rolls-Royce radiator, its vertical louvres rendered in heavy chromium plate with a fidelity that makes the identification instant and unmistakable. The enameled cartouche at the top of the grille carries the interlocked double-R monogram of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce — a badge that has represented the summit of British engineering since 1906. The radiator cap, in the flat screw form characteristic of the Rolls-Royce variant, serves as the stopper for the glass liner within. The backing plate, in black, carries a vertical slot through which the level of liquid in the glass liner can be read — a detail that distinguishes the genuine Ruddspeed from the many copies that followed. The rear is stamped RUDDSPEED LTD (ENGLAND), Registered Design No. 910435.
A piece that belongs equally on a bar trolley, a library shelf, or a collector's cabinet — and one that rewards the eye of anyone who has ever stood before a Silver Shadow or a Phantom and understood what the radiator means.
Condition: Chromium finish very good, with light age-consistent wear. Glass liner present and sound. Enamel badge intact. Backing plate original.
Material: Chromium-plated metal, glass liner, enamel Height: 8 inches (20.3 cm) Maker: Ruddspeed Ltd., Worthing, England Registration: Reg. Design No. 910435 Period: circa 1960
In the world of automobiliana, few objects capture the spirit of the 1960s British motoring golden age as precisely as a Ruddspeed radiator decanter. Produced by Ruddspeed Ltd. in the 1960s, these heavy chromium-plated decanters — each modelled on the radiator of a great marque — were sold by Harrods of London and other high-quality shops and garages across the UK. Ruddspeed They were not novelties. They were serious objects for serious enthusiasts, and they remain among the most sought-after pieces of mid-century automobiliana.
The firm behind them was founded by Ken Rudd, a competition driver sufficiently accomplished that in 1953 he was invited by Donald Healey to understudy for him at Le Mans. Mark Goodger Ruddspeed went on to convert Austin-Healeys, Volvos, Alfa Romeos, and Ford Mustangs, counting Ian Fleming and Bruce Reynolds among their customers. Mark Goodger The decanters were a sideline that became a legend.
This example is modeled on the iconic Rolls-Royce radiator, its vertical louvres rendered in heavy chromium plate with a fidelity that makes the identification instant and unmistakable. The enameled cartouche at the top of the grille carries the interlocked double-R monogram of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce — a badge that has represented the summit of British engineering since 1906. The radiator cap, in the flat screw form characteristic of the Rolls-Royce variant, serves as the stopper for the glass liner within. The backing plate, in black, carries a vertical slot through which the level of liquid in the glass liner can be read — a detail that distinguishes the genuine Ruddspeed from the many copies that followed. The rear is stamped RUDDSPEED LTD (ENGLAND), Registered Design No. 910435.
A piece that belongs equally on a bar trolley, a library shelf, or a collector's cabinet — and one that rewards the eye of anyone who has ever stood before a Silver Shadow or a Phantom and understood what the radiator means.
Condition: Chromium finish very good, with light age-consistent wear. Glass liner present and sound. Enamel badge intact. Backing plate original.
Material: Chromium-plated metal, glass liner, enamel Height: 8 inches (20.3 cm) Maker: Ruddspeed Ltd., Worthing, England Registration: Reg. Design No. 910435 Period: circa 1960
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