OHMSS Billfold/Wallet

Gebruder Gumbold

Getting really crazy here....Any takers on trying to ID the OHMSS wallet as used in the Baccarat table scene?
Seems to be of black leather w some sort of gold trim. Could be semi rigid?
Sorry for the bad shots, maybe someone can post some clearer ones, so we can get going with our detective work.
Would it have "JB" initials, or would a spy not want to reveal his name, in case he was under cover?

Thanks for the help!

Now for the real insanity:
How many Pounds was Bond carrying, and can we get repro/prop currency of that era just for fun? Or, were they Francs? Turns out the Atlas in the DBS was "France," so Bond may have carried Francs. I can't tell from the photos, but I bet you chaps can...

Tom GG




Please be understanding, as I am a very, very sick man, and only wish to die someday having the correct OHMSS props with me in my casket. (Maybe a DAF repro...) After the ceremony, my AJB friends can take home the souvenirs that my nephew, and heir didn't already swipe!

Charmed & Dangerous

Hi Tom, fascinating "quest" and also great topic - good luck!

I used to have a similar wallet. It was black leather and the edges had metal trim reinforcements to keep the shape of the wallet. A similar one is here:
http://www.sagebrown.co.uk/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/674bf2654518cd05631788f759af00a4.jpg

And we know the literary Bond carried a Notecase - I started a thread about it some while back:
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/41917/bonds-wallet-or-notebook/

Thee were many wallets of this type and size around during the sixties as well as earlier, and you frequently saw one side was a notepad. The reason for the large size of the wallet is that the currency was much larger - British pound notes and larger denominations were big pieces of paper - they've shrunk considerably over the years. For instance, An old £5 note was 21cm wide compared to the current one which is 13.5cm.
[url]http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/others/£5_note,_bank_of_england.aspx[/url]

It's most likely that Bond would have been carrying Francs, though, exchanged in London before driving down to Dover to catch the ferry to Calais, then that wonderful drive down to Le Touquet (Mrs C&D and I did it a few years back, it still evokes the spirit if Fleming as it's a wonderful drive down). It would have been easy enough to get hold of the currency either via Bond's bank or, probably, "the office". :007) . And of course it's easy enough to but old currency now via eBay or other sites.

God luck in your search, Tom! -{

Gebruder Gumbold

Thanks, C&D
I concur with the idea that he had Francs, as, back in the good-ol-days, I traveled a similar route, via the Channel to Boulogne, then drove like mad thru the Frejus Tunnel into italy, stopping back thru Paris. Had 3 currencies with me.
So...would you have any idea of the dimensions of the old Francs, so I can hunt for the wallet?
Thank you, Tom

ke02eww

Gebruder Gumbold wrote:

Thanks, C&D
I concur with the idea that he had Francs, as, back in the good-ol-days, I traveled a similar route, via the Channel to Boulogne, then drove like mad thru the Frejus Tunnel into italy, stopping back thru Paris. Had 3 currencies with me.
So...would you have any idea of the dimensions of the old Francs, so I can hunt for the wallet?
Thank you, Tom

This is quite a puzzle Tom, and I think you're going to need better screenshots..



Not convinced those are French francs in the screen shot....

http://www.frenchbanknotes.com/france.php?country=France&section=Revalued%20Francs

But the top note could be the 100 Ffc note

http://www.frenchbanknotes.com/detail.php?id=356

Or the post revaluation "new francs" 100 or 500 notes both around in 1969

http://www.frenchbanknotes.com/france.php?country=France&section=New%20Francs


Instead Perhaps could have been Swiss francs 

This would have to be the fifth series of Swiss notes and coins...the pictures and dimensions of the notes are on this excel let wiki link... Just match the images up without the screen shots....

Odds are that bond has 100, 500 and 1000 fr notes ..

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknotes_of_the_Swiss_franc#Fifth_series

Or possibly British pound notes....

http://www.thebanknotestore.com/british/bankofengland/bankofengland3.htm?

Gebruder Gumbold

Great info!
Can anybody help with the screenshots? Andy?
Would love to get it all correct, as I'm going to do the dark navy evening wear...yup, and the ruffled shirt!
Going to wear the ensemble to my college reunion.

Thunderpussy

I used to love " long ago" when buying a magazine for something like
£3.99 looking at its price in lira, it would always be in the thousands ! )

Gebruder Gumbold

Excellent work Stag!
I will get cracking on that appointment....

TP>>>yes, it was amazing what you could buy for Lit 10,000.........A Gelato, if I recall!