While browsing Ebay one day, I happened to run across an interesting auction featuring some Pomeranian memorabilia. It was difficult to make out much detail in the photo. I bid, and was pleasantly surprised to win. A few days later, my treasures arrived. Imagine my excitement! I had some Tauskey original photos as well as some other memorabilia which at one time belonged to Viola G Procter and her sister, Melba Procter Boynton. I began searching for information on them.  

 

Inside the Pomeranian Review for Jan-Feb ’98 was an article written by Derial Jackson on “Radiant” Poms. Viola and Melba Procter were sisters from Gloucester Massachusetts. They were prominent exhibitors and breeders of Pomeranians in the era between the first and second world wars. These ladies had imported many dogs from England. “Radiant” was the kennel name used by Viola Proctor. She also used the prefix “Starbright” in her earlier years in Poms.

 

A subsequent issue of the Review printed an article on the English “Perivale” kennel, which was a source of some of the information for this article. Another reference source was “The Popular Pomeranian” by Mrs. E. Parker and the New York Times online article archives.

The auction contained a pewter plate with "CD, CDX, UD" printed on it. I wonder which dog earned this plate. Placed into a folder was this artist’s rendition of Champion Sherwood Starbright II; this dog was reportedly Viola Procter’s first Pom. There is a photograph of Miss Procter, wearing a fur coat and holding this dog, in Mr. Jackson’s article on “Radiant” Poms. Ch. Sherwood Starbright II was sired by Endcliffe Brilliant Sunset X Brilliant Sun Bonnet, and was born in 1912.

The New York Times has an online report of the American Pomeranian club’s specialty show, held at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1922, the year prior to this photo. “Pall Mall His Majesty” (bred by Elsie Blum and owned by Mrs. Andrew Rose) was awarded the prestigious Best of Breed; “Starlight Princess Sonia” (pictured above with Melba Procter) won Winners Bitch and Best of  Opposite Sex. Both Pall Mall His Majesty and Starbright Princess Sonia were sired by Ch. Sable Sun.  I am unable to find information on Endcliff Sunspot, but this dog was shown in the specials class in 1923. “Pall Mall Red Atom” (owned by Mrs. Vincent De Meo) was Winner’s Dog. Mrs. De Meo’s “Pall Mall Sunbright Jetta” was reserve Winners Bitch. “Pall Mall Sunbright Teddy”, (also belonging to Mrs. De Meo) was Reserve Winners dog. According to the New York Times article about this 1922 specialty, there were 99 entries within the 80 different classes!

 

 In the American Bred class, “Sherwood Starbright” and “Sherwood Twinkle” (both owned by Miss Procter) placed 2^nd and 4^th respectively.

 

“Twilight of Pomona” also placed first in several classes; a very influential dog in his day, who was the sire of Mrs. Matta’s famous winners “Little Emir”, “Little Rajah”, and “Little Ra”.

Although this newsphoto misspelled her name as “DeMayo”, this is actually Mrs. Sarah  DeMeo, an exhibitor with multiple entries. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the American Pomeranian Club when it was first incorporated in New York.

 

I have been unable to determine the relationship, if any, between Pall Mall His Majesty and Pall Mall Riverleigh (pictured above).

Little Emir was a sensational winner in his day; Reserve winner at his first show, which happened to be the national specialty; Best of Winners at Westminster KC, followed by an all breed BIS at his third show, and on his first birthday, at his fourth show, he completed his championship with another BIS. For three years he was the top winning Pom, undefeated in the toy group with 23 group firsts and nine all breed BIS. He also won Best in Show at the prestigious Morris and Essex show in New Jersey in 1929.

The two photos above are Ch. “Perivale Golden Bracket”. Miss Procter imported this dog from Mrs. Langdon-Thomas’ Perivale Kennel.  “Golden Bracket” won  Best of Breed at Westminster in 1930. He is by “Mist of Gold Image” out of “Radcliffe Queenie”, and goes back to Minegold and Dara lines. Golden Bracket was bred to Ch. Radiant Candida, a daughter of Sealand Career, to produce Ch Radiant Robin. Perivale Golden Bracket was the grandsire of Ch. “Salisbury Sensation”, a big winner in the 1930’s; with 24 Bests in Group, three Bests in Show (all breed) and also won Best in Show at a Toy group show. Golden Bracket was also the grandsire of Ch “Perfection of Emrose Hill”, a gorgeous dog who won Westminster Best of Breed in 1937.

 Ch "Perivale Wee Memento" was the son of the English Ch. "Perivale Memento". "Perivale Memento" was the grandsire of Ch. "Woodfield May King", who in turn was the sire of Ch "Sealand Moneybox". Perivale Wee Memento was thus a cousin to "Sealand Career and Sealand Moneybox. He was the sire of Radiant Tiny Memento.

 

The dam of Perivale Wee Memento was Perivale Red Shadow, who was also the dam to "Bonny Ideal".

 

Moneybox and Career were very closely related: Career's sire "Woodfield Diamond King" also produced Moneybox's sire, "Woodfield May King". Both dogs share in their maternal line "Ofleda Daintiness", who was the great-granddam of Career and the grand-dam of Moneybox. Daintiness in turn was a granddaughter of "Flashaway of Dara". The tail male line of Career and Moneybox also traces to Flashaway of Dara; he can be found top and bottom of both these pedigrees.

 

Mrs. Matta made Moneybox widely available at stud, and he can be found in most all of our American pedigrees.

 

Sealand Career and Perivale Golden Bracket are behind Sahib’s Little Ginger, who was bred to Dixieland’s Shining Gold to produce Little Timsun. Both Career and Moneybox are found woven into the pedigree of the much acclaimed Aristic Wee Pepper Pod.

 

It is heartwarming to see the love that these early fanciers had for their Poms, that they cherished these precious treasured items until the end of their lives.  I hope you have enjoyed this stroll through some of our breed’s past history.