Count Felix Graf von Luckner on board SEETEUFEL
This photograph depicts Count Felix Graf von Luckner flexing his muscles on board his two-masted schooner SEETEUFEL. Count von Luckner was famous for his physical strength, which he would often demonstrate by bending pennies with his fingers and tearing telephone books in half. It appears that von Luckner and the man on his right are holding pennies and posing for the camera. On 4 June 1938, Brisbane's 'The Courier-Mail' included the following report on page 1:
'CANBERRA, Friday — Count, von Luckner, the man who tears thick telephone books in halves with ease, played one of his favourite tricks when he called on the Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) to-day. He bent a penny with his fingers!
Subsequently he presented it to Mr Lyons, saying he hoped it would be a lucky penny for Australia. Unlike "Popeye," he does not ascribe his strength to eating spinach. 'I live simple and eat primitive,' he explained to-day ...
Incidentally, telephone books were a live topic in Canberra to-day. In the party room to-day Mr Mahoney, the genial Labour member for Denison, found a great pile of Melbourne telephone directories on his desk — all torn across. On top was a message, "With Count von Luckner's compliments." "Countess von Luckner's compliments" were presented on top of a smaller pile nearby. "What wrists they must have," said Mr. Mahoney, while his colleagues had difficulty In keeping straight faces. Some of them had torn up the telephone books for Mr. Mahoney's benefit, for he was the member who asked a question in the House of Representatives this week about the reported destruction of Commonwealth property.'
For more information on Count von Luckner's visit see our blog post 'Espionage and paranoia: The Sea Devil tours Australia'.
This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
If reproduced or distributed, this image should be clearly attributed to the collection of the Australian National Maritime Museum; and not be used for any commercial or for-profit purposes without the permission of the museum. For more information see our Flickr Commons Rights Statement.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection
Object no. 00022968
Count Felix Graf von Luckner on board SEETEUFEL
This photograph depicts Count Felix Graf von Luckner flexing his muscles on board his two-masted schooner SEETEUFEL. Count von Luckner was famous for his physical strength, which he would often demonstrate by bending pennies with his fingers and tearing telephone books in half. It appears that von Luckner and the man on his right are holding pennies and posing for the camera. On 4 June 1938, Brisbane's 'The Courier-Mail' included the following report on page 1:
'CANBERRA, Friday — Count, von Luckner, the man who tears thick telephone books in halves with ease, played one of his favourite tricks when he called on the Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) to-day. He bent a penny with his fingers!
Subsequently he presented it to Mr Lyons, saying he hoped it would be a lucky penny for Australia. Unlike "Popeye," he does not ascribe his strength to eating spinach. 'I live simple and eat primitive,' he explained to-day ...
Incidentally, telephone books were a live topic in Canberra to-day. In the party room to-day Mr Mahoney, the genial Labour member for Denison, found a great pile of Melbourne telephone directories on his desk — all torn across. On top was a message, "With Count von Luckner's compliments." "Countess von Luckner's compliments" were presented on top of a smaller pile nearby. "What wrists they must have," said Mr. Mahoney, while his colleagues had difficulty In keeping straight faces. Some of them had torn up the telephone books for Mr. Mahoney's benefit, for he was the member who asked a question in the House of Representatives this week about the reported destruction of Commonwealth property.'
For more information on Count von Luckner's visit see our blog post 'Espionage and paranoia: The Sea Devil tours Australia'.
This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
If reproduced or distributed, this image should be clearly attributed to the collection of the Australian National Maritime Museum; and not be used for any commercial or for-profit purposes without the permission of the museum. For more information see our Flickr Commons Rights Statement.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection
Object no. 00022968