CASH IN THE ATTIC

EVERY week TOBY WALNE gives the low-down on the value of forgotten treasures that may be gathering dust in your attic.

THE 50th anniversary of the first flight of the supersonic jet Concorde this month is attracting investors to related collectables.

The plane continues to hold a fascination among aviation fans despite being taken out of service 16 years ago. This is thanks to its distinctive pointed nose and top speed of 1,334 miles per hour – twice the speed of sound.

Conran-designed stainless steel cutlery sets used on Concorde – knife, fork and two spoons – now sell for £50 – while a china cup and saucer fetch £60. You can toast the Anglo-French plane with a crystal flute used to sip champagne on one ne of its three-and-a-half hour transatlantic flights for £40.

Fans can tuck themselves in at night with a Concorde flight blanket for £100 or play at being a host or hostess at home with a £200 metal galley container.

Freebies given to VIP customers – such as a flight certificate signed by the captain, napkin rings, a pair of cufflinks, above, or pen – often sell for at least £100.

Investing in a piece of the plane is a far more expensive pursuit. A sale in 2003 – the year of Concorde’s last flight – saw an 11ft 6in section of its nose cone sell for £327,000. In the same sale, a pilot’s seat went for £29,500 and a speedometer bearing a reading of its Mach 2.02 cruising speed for £65,500.