Hammacher Schlemmer celebrates its 150th Anniversary. In honor and recognition of the company's longevity and history, New York City Mayor Rudolf Giuliani renames the block on 57th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue "Hammacher Schlemmer Way."
The film "Titanic", a fictionalized account of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, dominates the 70th Academy Awards. Nominated for 14 Academy Awards, it wins 11, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Director, tying Ben Hur (1959) for most Oscars won by a single film. It is also the highest grossing film ever, and the first film to surpass one billion dollars in sales.
Imported from Europe exclusively for Hammacher Schlemmer, The Only Gravity Defying Rotating Globe is not only suspended in mid-air, but it spins continuously. A magnet within the globe, in combination with a generator positioned above it, creates opposing forces that cause the globe to hover above its display stand. It sells for $2,499.95.
The cover of our 150th anniversary catalog is graced by The Bertazzon Venetian Carousel, a full-size fully-functional carousel that seats twenty. Evoking the charm of 18th century Venice, this carousel offers an Old World design complete with hand-rendered scenes of Venetian landmarks. Its six jumping horses, five rocking horses, and two chariots are all hand painted and the revolving platform is varnished, solid hardwood. Because each carousel is hand-built to order, it requires five months for construction. The carousel sells for $150,000.
