What to look for in a JA Henckels Zeppelin set

An authentic portable Zeppelin bar set by JA Henckels comes in a classic size of 31cm in height or a compact size of 23cm and can sell for thousands of pounds. It was also made in a giant size of 43cm (17in) but these are rare – one sold at Wright auctions in 2014 for $20,000. Usually nickel or silver- plated, the finish to the main body is sometimes hammered and sometimes smooth. While the main body forms the cocktail shaker, removing the nose cone will reveal an integral strainer and a hip flask with screw cap. Detach the tail to find a corkscrew, funnel and four shot glasses, while the tail forms a nut or olive dish. The undercarriage comes off too and contains four spoons. Also look for the impressed manufacturer’s mark to the tail fin and the words ‘JA Henckels Twin Works, Solingen, Germany’.