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 | BOAC Giro Direction Indicator - Manufactured by Sperry and marked on dial serial no. B1143-37, so we are assuming it takes back to 1937. The 0-360 degree scale is operated by a control to the front and interestingly the transfer applied to the top of the case states BOAC Croydon Repair, so it appears was originally fitted to a pre-war airliner. The front of the dial has been repainted and it is sold as a collector's item. Width of dial 4.5" (12 cm)
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| RAF Coastal Command Irvin Flying Jacket - A very original example with the collar hood fully intact and crisp yellow paint to increase visibility for rescue purposes. The jacket is fitted with the original Lightning zips in good working order with the sleeve zips having King's Crown and AM marks. The leather is in generally good condition but with some very neat patch repairs to the right arm. The interior fur retains a strong golden colour, although it has had some attention from the moth as have the cuffs and waistband area. The leather hanging strap is in place and while no label is fitted, the jacket is a small size but would make an excellent display example of this increasingly hard to find variant on the RAF Irvin.
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| Battle of Britain Officer's Presentation Lamp - This unusual decorative oil lamp is engraved to the front "Presented by Group Captain N. C. Odbert Wyton October 1948. The lamp which is solid silver carries a Birmingham hallmark and is in generally good condition, although it has a small ding to the front. Norman Cyril Odbert joined the RAF in 1927 and in May 1940 took command of 64 Squadron at Kenley flying Spitfires and is recorded as "One of the Few". He survived the war and remained as a regular in the RAF retiring as a Group Captain in 1957. RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire was a bomber base in WWII and we understand Group Captain Odbert was the CO at this station and perhaps presented the lamp to the officers' mess as a retirement gift. Original items directly relating to B of B pilots very rarely come on the market and it was touch and go if this lamp joined our own modest collection! Length 6" (14 cm).
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| RAF Ice Bucket - Featuring the King's Crown, RAF and laurel leaves to the chromed top with a wooden barrel and ceramic interior. A shield is applied to the front, although this has never been engraved. The chrome finish is a little worn in places with the underlying brass showing through but still makes a great display item and no doubt has seen many a pink gin for the chaps in the officers' mess. Measures 9" (21 cm)
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| Royal Naval Air Service Trench Art - Carved in the form of a sabre with RNAS initials to the grip and a metal albatross applied to the blade. Manufactured from polished hardwood, probably reclaimed from a damaged propeller or wing strut. The Royal Naval Air Service was formed in 1912, but was merged with the Royal Flying Corp in 1918 to form the RAF. A unique souvenir from the early days of military aviation. 31 cm (12").
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| Propeller Tip Picture Frame - While we have seen many such examples of Trench Art over the years, this one is in a class of its own. The front of the blade has been hand carved featuring a plant in flower to the tip and a further example to the bottom with a central cut out with scalloped edge to enable a picture to be displayed. The rear is plain and carries a support for table display. The blade appears to be mahogany and is a standard laminated construction. It just requires the new owner to add a suitable photograph or painting to the glazed aperture. Almost certainly dating from WWI period. Measures 13" (34 cm)
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| RAF GQ Parachute Pack & Harness - The pack is nicely labelled confirming type B Mk 19 and RAF Stores ref. 15A/946. This also carries a GQ acceptance stamp and dated 4th October, 1960. The pack also carries a further label marked GQ Parachute Assembly Back Type Mk 26A stores ref. 15A/917. The canopy is enclosed and while we have not been able to inspect it, it looks to be complete. The set also includes a full harness with quick release buckle and D ring release mechanism and cable. Other than the bungees being missing, the set appears complete and would complement an RAF display representing 1960's air crew. On offer as a collector's item and certainly not warranted for its original purpose!
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| DH 82 Tiger Moth Elevator - While we do not normally get involved with airframes, we just had to have this one! This item was recently discovered in a shed where it has lain undiscovered for many years. Judging by the canvas colour, we assume this to have been from an RAF Tiger Moth. It carries a label detailing serial no. DHLA/R/DH R/E/1657 and below drawing no. U1974 and 199. NO16. On the rear of the elevator is the stencil LH which we presume to mean it is from the left side. A further stencil reads DPD 752 and we speculate this could indicate a manufacture date of July 1952. The canvas is in good taut condition, although as the item comes with no paperwork, is for sale purely as a wall piece, but seeing the excellent condition in the right hands, it could possibly be made airworthy again. Measures 54" (138 cm).
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| Planisphere of Air Navigations Stars - This ingenious device is attributed to Flt. Lt. Francis Chichester RAFVR who later gained internation fame sailing around the world and subsequently receiving a Knighthood. He was clearly qualified in his subject having won the Johnston Memorial Trophy for Air Navigation in 1931. The instrument was designed to help air cadets (and others)in learning to identify the stars required for navigation. The book contains two rotating planispheres showing the various constellations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is named to AC.I Drew. J. E. and numbered 12989429. It appears to be in good working order and while we do not know the date of publication, clearly after 1931 and the retail price was a hefty 2 shillings and 6 pence!
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| Sidcot - Ref. 22C/856 Size 5 - this was issued with our suit 1651. Excellent original condition, all zips AM stamped and working - hard to fault.
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| RFC Message Streamer - An original and scarce example in first class condition. The streamer features a small pouch to one end in which a lead weight would have been placed together with a message and this would have been dropped from early aircraft to allied troops to pass on messages. Prior to the age of radio signals, this was the only way airmen could communicate with ground based personnel and used extensively during WWI to pass on information such as enemy troop positions, strength or activity. The blue, yellow and red coloured segments are still vibrant with no sign of moth or other damage. An extremely attractive item from the very early days of aviation. Measures 58" (147 cm)
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| WWII Trailing Weights - designed to assist in rolling out and retrieving external radio transmitter wire. A.M. stamped 6D/526 Mk IV. This item is in mint condition and is the first time we have been able to offer for sale.
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| USAAF B3 Flight Jacket - WWII. This original jacket has a great patina and original label confirming contract date 1942. Interestingly, it has a period replacement zip manufactured by Dot and A.M. stamped! Size marked at 36" (92 cm) but seems to fit significantly bigger. We are told this jacket was used on the Monte Carlo Rally in the early 1950's.
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| LKp N101 'Netzkopfhaube' Flying helmet - A classic helmet favoured by Luftwaffe fighter pilots and this is the desirable first pattern wih provision for attaching the two point oxygen mask. The net section is in exceptional condition and the dark brown leather receiver housings exhibit just minor service wear. A long wiring loom and 4 pin plug is fitted together with early round Bakelite covered throat microphones. Inside is as you would expect and reflects the condition of the exterior. Original manufacturer's label with code bxo, indicating the helmet was made by Deutsche Telephonwerke und Kabelindustrie AG, Berlin. It is complete with ink stamp Gr59. The interior perspex receiver covers are still in place and in good condition. In summary, a desirable early example that would sit happily in any collection.
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| USAAF B3/A3 Flying Suit - An interesting modified set with the jacket having an additional left zip pocket. Aluminium eyelets have been added to the collar and waist straps. The label has been cut in half, probably done when the jacket came out of service. The original zip has been replaced by a period Lightning example. The jacket and B3 trousers both have a leather tab with painted name R.E.Benedict, who we assume was the original wartime owner and could not doubt be researched. The A-3 flight trousers are nicely labelled to Perry Sportswear Inc. Newburgh, New York. They are fitted with original braces and the leather is in good condition with a period reinforcement patch fitted in the seat area. The main zips are in poor condition and have been sewn closed to enable the suit to be displayed realistically in a collection. We estimate the jacket to be around a 38" chest (97 cm), whilst the trousers are marked 40R.
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| 2nd Tactical Air Force BLA Tankard - Solid silver tankard with fine engraved crest named to 83 Group Main and below an eagle flying above a shield featuring a sword, a bee and a reverse swastika. Below the shield is the legent 2nd Tactical Air Force BLA. While the hallmarks are slightly rubbed, they appear to date the tankard to 1944. It has received a few knocks over the last 64 years but this is more than made up for by the fine engraving to the front. We have not had the opportunity to research this item.
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| RFC Napkin Ring - A scarce and extremely decorative silver Royal Flying Corp napkin ring. This is engraved to the front with the RFC initials and above No. 1 Squadron April 1912. This squadron was formed on 13th April, 1912 at Farnborough by redesignating 1 (Airship) Company, Air Battalion and Royal Engineers and represents the first squadron in the newly formed Royal Flying Corp. The inside of the ring is feintly stamped silver but no hallmarks are present.
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| Negretti & Zambra Vane Anemometer - Numbered on the silvered dial 6352 and below Air Meter to 100, 000 feet. The main scale reads from 0 to 100 with the 3 subsidiary dials counting hundreds, thousands and ten thousands. These fine instruments were designed to measure air speed by operating the fan for a timed period and the linear reading on the dials multiplied by the area of the duct will give the cubic measurement. The instrument is supplied with a Lowne Instruments London fitted leather case and comes complete with a recalibration certificate dated 1982. The instrument appears to be in good working order, although we are selling as a collector's item only. A beautifully engineered instrument by one of the most famous names in scientific instruments who sadly are now no longer in business. Fan diameter 2.75" (7 cm)
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| RAF Irvin Flying Jacket - On offer is an original RAF jacket dating to 1945. We purchased it directly from the family of the original wartime owner and it has never been offered on the collectors' market before. Despite the late war date, this is a high quality large panel example as opposed to most later examples which were a bit like a patchwork quilt! The reason for this is that it was originally a heated jacket issued to bomber crews. The wiring loom and plugs were removed post war like so many but this has been extremely well done. We have had the main zip replaced due to damage with a replica Lightning example while the sleeve zips are the original Dot manufacture. The exterior leather has normal service wear and a very nice patina. The collar details are all correct as is the waist belt and of course no pockets are fitted! Inside the jacket carries an original broad arrow marked and dated label and while the size is no longer discernable, it appears to be a 40"-42" chest. It features the characteristic short fur lining of an early jacket and other than one repair patch to the inner storm flap, is really in top condition. While we hesitate to offer originals for regular wear, this one used with care, could well be strong enough for the occasional outing
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| Skyway Flight Goggles - A classic example of US made American Optical flight goggles, named on the nose bridge to the manufacturers Skyway. These would be commercial flying goggles dating to the inter war period 1920 -1940. The black painted frames are in exceptional condition as are the rubber face pads which show no sign of the normal perishing. These are stamped 6885021-2. The black painted frame indicates the goggles were manufactured by Ficher Spring Co. and were patented. The clear perspex lenses are in clear condition as is the back strap which retains good elasticity. An excellent display set of pre war commercial flying goggles which were designed to accept standard Air Corps lenses. This set was recently worn by actor Martin Kemp for a photo shoot to tie in with his recent appearance on the TV show 'Dangerous Adventures for Boys'.
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