Lot 136
A collection of marbles belonging to Sir Barnes Wallis' daughter, Elisabeth Gaunt (now 93). These marbles were famously used by Wallis during his garden experiment in April 1942 whilst developing the conceptual principles behind the Dam Busters 'bouncing bomb'. Of the day Elisabeth recalls "I remember the Easter bank holiday weekend when Daddy came home with a strange device and placed it in front of a metal wash tub that he had filled with water in the garden. He then asked if he could borrow my marbles for an experiment. I was fiercely protective of my marbles but reluctantly agreed, I was very worried in case any of my precious marbles were lost, sadly some of them did get chipped." Elisabeth's late sister Mary Stopes-Roe, also reflected on these formative experiments, recalling "We had this wonderful experiment at our family home, where my father set up the washtub and got a catapult made by his department. He altered the angle of the slant at which the ball was delivered and the distance from the water, and then he bounced my sister's marbles, which she has never forgotten, the fact that they were her marbles." Mrs Gaunt has displayed the marbles over the years at various events and they have always been in her possession.  £20000-30000