Chaplin film suit sells for £3,500

The tramp suit worn by Charlie Chaplin in the film that shot him to fame was sold at auction for more than £3,500 yesterday. The iconic scruffy black jacket, waistcoat, trousers and bowler hat was bought by an antiques dealer.

John Cabello now plans to display the suit, first worn by the comedian in 1914, in his Plymouth shop. He already owns the uniform worn by Nazi Hermann Goering.

The 46-year-old, who is not a Chaplin fan, said he has no plans to sell it. 'If it draws people into the shop I'm happy,' he added.

At the same sale, a phone bidder from Texas paid £2,185 for a cane signed by London-born Chaplin in 1952. Both items had guide prices of up to £2,000 before the auction in Plymouth.

The 'Little Tramp' emerged when Chaplin borrowed a suit and found that the boots were too large. He put them on the wrong feet to make them fit. The character rose to fame after appearing in the seven-minute silent film, Kid Auto Races.

The Little Tramp suit has been displayed at the Museum of the Moving Image in London and as part of a European touring exhibition.