Bridge For Design October 15

Natural light streams into the master bedroom, a part of the loft gallery space. An optician’s sign hangs above the bed. The pillow on the armchair is from the 1930’s
used as salesman’s samples, that we found in Hawaii when Malcolm
was filming an episode of Fantasy Island.’
“We’d look in the yellow pages for antique shops,” he says, “and over
time we got to know the dealers. We started fairly modestly with icefishing
lures,” he continues. “Kelley is from Minnesota, where they do
a lot of ice-fishing, and I always loved the idea of those guys fishing in
their little huts, freezing and having an excuse to get drunk.”
Then the McDowells turned their attention to mechanical toy cars
from the early 20th century, known as friction toys or ‘hill climbers,’
which move on their own once they are started. As a child, Malcolm
was fascinated with racing cars. He lived near Aintree Race Track on
the outskirts of Liverpool, where the British Grand Prix was held, and
as a teenager he turned the numbers on the manual scoreboard at
the track. He got to know such racing legends as Stirling Moss. Years
later this passion came out again in miniature with the McDowell’s
friction toys.
“We have one of the largest collections in America,” says Kelley.
The little cars and trucks are displayed on shelves placed against the
windows beside the French doors in the house.
With encouragement of actor Oliver Clark, a collector and a family
friend, the couple set about expanding their collections while keeping
their favourite acquisitions. “Kelley has a great eye,” says Malcolm.
“Whenever she calls me on location and says should she buy something
she’s seen, I always say yes!”
100 Bridge for Design October 2015