2. Models & Half Hulls

2.55  CLIPPERSHIP MODEL.   Truly spectacular 19th century model of a 3-masted  clippership.  This period model is of the finest construction.  It was scratch-built featuring a sleek solid wooden hull with realistically planked deck, individual ribs on the inner bulwarks and exceptional copper-sheathing on the hull below the water line.  The many hundreds of individual overlapping copper plates are attached by 11 tiny copper nails each, making for literally thousands of attachment points!  Similarly individual deck planks are laid down and attached by hundreds of tiny nails.  The raised foc’sle has 2 fitted deck posts and the anchor windlass.  Forward of it is the brass capstan.  The deck house, just abaft the mainmast, is realistically planked and trimmed.  It is set into the raised poop deck aft.  The poop deck is surrounded by a wooden railing supported by beautifully-turned individual support columns.  The ship has raked and stubbed wooden masts.  The exterior of the hull above the waterline is beautifully sculpted and decoratively trimmed with two bands of wooden strakes.  Construction of all components is of the highest order and must have taken the skilled maker hundreds of hours to complete. The model measures 29 ¼ inches from stem to stern and has a 5 1/8 inch beam as measured just aft of the splash rail.  It is mounted in the traditional manner on 2 turned brass supports on a solid teak wood base measuring 19 inches long by 5 5/8 inches wide.  This model comes with an equally fabulous “access ladder” with individually pinned wooden rungs.  The ladder is slightly tapered and measures 6 5/8 inches long.  The overall condition of this presentation is virtually perfect, showing genuine age, without a doubt museum quality! Price Request 

2.54  WWII COMBATANT MODEL by FAMOUS MAKER.   Incredibly detailed scale model of the World War II infantry landing craft (LCI-735) executed by the professional model maker Ed Antin as indicated on the engraved  presentation label “LCI(L)-735 Scale = 1/16” = 1’ BY ED ANTIN.”  This museum-quality model is made of wood and brass in the most meticulous manner, showing all minute details of the ship – truly a scale model.  The further one scrutinizes this model the more amazing it becomes!   The ship itself is 10 1/ 4 inches long, 1 ½ inches wide (beam) and 3 ½ inches tall from the waterline to the main mast.  It is housed in its original custom case with mahogany base and Plexiglas covering measuring 14 ¼ inches long, 5 inches wide and 5 ¾ inches high.  Outstanding original condition!  A true marvel of model making.  1195

Ed Antin was an extremely skilled miniature model maker in the 1970’s and 80’s who devised several innovative techniques to improve the makers’ craft.   Examples of his production are rare.

The World War II veteran LCI-735 was laid down by the Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon on January 7, 1944 and was launched scarcely a month later on February 8, 1944, a testament to the industrial might exhibited during America’s wartime production efforts.  She was commissioned on February 18, 1944.  The vessel had a length overall of 159 feet, a breadth of 23 feet and a maximum draft of only 6 feet (for landing troops on the beach).  She displaced 236 tons light and 419 tons loaded.  Her compliment was 4 officers and 24 enlisted, with a troop capacity of 188 men.  Maximum speed was 16 knots.  Armament consisted of three 20 mm cannons and two .50 caliber machine guns.

LCI-735 participated in the invasion and subsequent occupation of the southern Palau Islands from September 6 to October 14, 1944.   For this she was awarded a battle star.  At war’s end she was eventually sold to the National Metal and Steel Corporation at Terminal Island, California.

2.53 EXCEPTIONAL SHIP MODEL. Especially fine museum quality, scratch-built ship model. This hand-made model depicts the most famous American clippership of all time, the FLYING CLOUD. Built in Boston by America’s premier clippership designer, Donald McKay, the FLYING CLOUD was launched in 1851. It is a true to the original representation exhibiting near scale proportions. All of the standing and running rigging is shown in exquisite detail, far exceeding a typical sailor-made model. The dead eyes appear to be made of bone or similar material and the blocks (pulleys) are individually minutely sculpted of wood and brass wire. When in evidence, extremely fine chain was used for the heavy applications. Deck details include chocks, cleats, bitts, 4 capstans, 2 anchors, anchor windlass, 2 cat heads, fife rails, ladders, deck houses, buckets on the deck houses, 2 shuttered hatches, 6 cargo hatches amidships, bilge pumps, scuttle, Charlie Noble, curved deck house, skylight, 3 life boats with oars, starboard side dinghy in davits, animal cage, lovely carved figurehead of an angel blowing a trumpet, steering gear box with ship’s wheel, ship’s bell in belfry, skylight, rudder with post and pintel construction, chain stoppers and a beautiful carved wooden poopdeck railing among others. In the rigging, the masts are realistically portrayed with banding and mast tops rigged with detailed rat lines and spreaders. The yards are intricately rigged with precision detail and back hauls. The ship flies the silk house flag of Grinell & Minturn & Co. from the main mast and the American ensign of 35 stars from the stern boom. The stern is clearly marked:

FLYING CLOUD
----- o -----
NEW YORK

The ship itself measures 34 ½ inches from bowsprit to boom.  The hull is 28 ¼ inches long with a beam of 5 ¼ inches.  The main mast rises 24 ¾ inches above the keel.  The main yard is 10 3/8 inches in width.  This antique model, certainly over 80 years old, is in an exceptional state of original preservation.  All lines, fastenings, details and attachments are stable and in tact.  In short, it is a beautifully preserved museum quality cased model worthy of the finest public or private collection.  This price could not even be approached by a contemporary modeler for the same quality, easily over $10,000.  (Please check it out).  This is truly an exceptional offering! Price Request

The original glazed and shaped hardwood case is in excellent original condition.  Speaking to its age, it does not contain any plywood components and is of quality construction with braced corners, mortise and tenon construction and a sculpted base.  The case dimensions are 41 ½ inches long by 14 ½ inches wide and 29 ¼ inches high.

This exceptional ship model comes with its original receipt from the prior owner dated 1982 – already described as an antique dating from 1890 to 1920.  The seller was the famed and highly respected West Coast nautical antiquarian Steve Crandell who made a name for himself as the “Captain’s Landing” in Union Square San Francisco in the 1970’s.

FLYING CLOUD was the most famous of all the clippers built by legendary American shipbuilder Donald McKay, including SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS and the GREAT REPUBLIC.  She was highly lauded for winning her `round the Horn race with the HORNET, made even more remarkable by the fact that she had a woman navigator, Eleanor Creesy, wife of the Captain, Josiah Creesy.  FLYING CLOUD was also known for making two record-setting voyages from New York to San Francisco and for sailing in the Australian and timber trades.

FLYING CLOUD was popularly described as an extreme clipper, along with many of Donald McKay's ships.  But as her dead rise was less than 40 inches she actually was not extreme.  McKay built many fast clipper ships, but only one, STAG HOUND, was actually an extreme clipper, even if others were advertised as such.  Nevertheless, it was popular to characterize clippers as "extreme" banking on the perception they were fast – which indeed they were at the time!

FLYING CLOUD was built in East Boston, Massachusetts, for Enoch Train, who paid $50,000 for her construction. While still under construction, she was purchased by Grinnell, Minturn & Co., of New York, for $90,000.  She was launched in late 1851.

A reporter for the "Boston Daily Atlas" wrote on April 25, 1851, "If great length [235 ft.], sharpness of ends, with proportionate breadth [41 ft.] and depth, conduce to speed, the FLYING CLOUD must be uncommonly swift, for in all these she is great.  Her length on the keel is 208 feet, on deck 225, and over all, from the knightheads to the taffrail, 235 - extreme breadth of beam 41 feet, depth of hold 21½, including 7 feet 8 inches height of between-decks, sea-rise at half floor 20 inches, rounding of sides 6 inches, and sheer about 3 feet."

In newspaper accounts of the day, the clipper ship ANDREW JACKSON claimed the record passage to San Francisco.  The JACKSON  holds the record for fastest passage pilot-to-pilot, arriving off San Francisco in 89 days and 4 hours.   But because JACKSON spent all night between the Farallon Islands and the Golden Gate awaiting a harbor pilot, some consider the time en route as fastest sailing around Cape Horn.  Nevertheless, FLYING CLOUD holds the record for a completed voyage from New York to San Francisco, 89 days 8 hours anchor-to-anchor.  She then held this record for over 100 years, from 1854 to 1989!

In the famous race between FLYING CLOUD and HORNET in 1853, HORNET was given a two-day head start on FLYING CLOUD.  She left New York for San Francisco on April 26, 1853 and FLYING CLOUD departed two days later.  After the15,000 mile voyage around Cape Horn, both ships arrived in San Francisco Harbor at nearly the same time.  HORNET arrived 45 minutes ahead of the FLYING CLOUD!

In 1862, FLYING CLOUD was sold to the Black Ball Line of Liverpool, sailing under British colors without change of name, and was soon traveling between Britain, Australia and New Zealand.  Her latter years were spent in the log trade between Newcastle-Upon- Tyne, England, and Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

On June 19, 1874, FLYING CLOUD went aground on the Beacon Island bar, Saint John, New Brunswick.  Her damage was extensive.  She was condemned and sold.  The following year she was burned and salvaged for her scrap metal value.  An ignominious ending for a world class ship.

2.52/5.45  MOST IMPORTANT BUILDER’s HULL.   Original, historically very significant builder’s half block model of the famous 19th century American battleship the U.S.S. OREGON (BB-3).  This large sculpted model is constructed in laminated “lifts” of mahogany mounted to its original framed and painted pine backboard.  This builder’s model is known as a “hull plating model” because it depicts and identifies in specific detail the armor plating of the ship’s steel hull.  As such this very model was actually used as a basis for the design and construction of the ship.  On the bottom center of the backboard just below the hull is the hand-painted designation “U.S.S. OREGON” in gold.  The hull has acquired a lovely age patina and variegated surface in the 125+ years since it was laid out.  The backboard measures 97 inches long by 13 inches high.  The hull model itself is 88 inches long, 8 ½ inches wide and 8 inches high.  The entire presentation protrudes 10 inches from the bulkhead when displayed.  This authentic builder’s model of one of the most famous ships in U.S. Naval history belongs in a museum.  It is likely the only identified such model still in private hands.  Outstanding, untouched original condition showing wonderful age.  The price is more that $10,000.  Serious inquires only please. Price Request 

Ex.  Collection of the De Young Museum, San Francisco, California.  Deaccessioned at public auction early 1990’s.

The battleship OREGON was laid down by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Cal.  in 1891 and commissioned in 1896.   She spent the next two years conducting exercises off the Pacific coast.  On February 15, 1898  news was telegraphed  that the battleship MAINE had exploded in Havana Harbor.  OREGON was in the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington at the time.  War with Spain was becoming imminent and OREGON was dispatched to Spanish-held Cuba without delay.  En route, she made a brief stop in San Francisco to load more coal for the long journey ahead, departing on March 19, 1898.  Traveling around Cape Horn OREGON arrived at Jupiter Inlet 66 days later  –  a distance of 15,000 nautical miles!  This was a remarkable achievement at the time.  The record breaking voyage immediately popularized the ship with the American public.  It also emphasized the need for a shorter coast to coast route, which ultimately led to construction of the Panama Canal.  Upon arrival OREGON joined Admiral William T. Sampson’s squadron under the command of her Captain Charles Clark.  On July 3 OREGON spearheaded the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, where she and the cruiser BROOKLYN were the only ships fast enough to chase down and capture the Spanish flagship CRISTOBAL COLON.   The remainder of the Spanish fleet was decimated.   It was at this time OREGON earned the nickname "Bulldog of the Navy," because of the “bone in her teeth” – a reference to her distinctive bow wave at cruising speed..

After the Spanish-American War OREGON sailed to China Station for 2 deployments which included her presence during the Boxer Rebellion.   She was briefly decommissioned in 1906 but recommissioned in 1911.  WWI saw her escorting troop carriers to Europe.  After the Great War, as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty, OREGON was declared "incapable of further wartime service."  In June 1925 she became a museum ship in Portland, Oregon where her forward mast is on display to this day.  But by WWII her scrap metal was deemed more crucial to the war effort than her historical value and she was sold.   Her stripped hulk was later returned to the Navy to be used as an ammunition barge during the Battle of Guam.  In the typhoon of November 1948, she broke loose and drifted 500 miles out to sea.  But her hull was located southeast of Guam and she was towed back.  Sold again on March 15, 1956 OREGON’s venerable hulk was finally salvaged in Japan.

The accompanying original photograph shows OREGON in drydock at the Navy Yard, Bremerton in 1911.  Note that her Great White Fleet era configuration has been changed to haze gray and she has been fitted with a “cage mast” aft as was popular with Naval architects in the first decade of the twentieth century.

2.47   EARLY U.S. NAVY DESTROYER MODEL.  Period, scratch-built model depicting the World War I era model of the famous 4-Piper destroyer USS BORIE (DD-215).  This hand-made model was meticulously constructed of wood and brass in a charming folk art way using very professional techniques.  Details, while not necessarily to scale, are very faithful to the original.  All manner of deck fittings, lockers, funnels, escape trunks with covers, scuttles, hatches, 6 inch guns, machine gun aft, chocks, bitts, twin kedge anchors, anchor fall, doors, skylight, wireless antennas, halyards, torpedo tubes, depth charges, capstan, ship’s bell, steam whistles, siren, searchlights, running lights, range finder, crow’s nest, binnacles, portholes, 3 sets of davits containing the Captain’s gig, motor launch and whaleboat, swinging boat boom, standing rigging, Union Jack, Ensign, lifelines, life rafts, ladders, accommodation ladder, bilge keels, twin propellers and rudder are all depicted among other details.  This well-built model measures 39 inches long by 3 3/4 inches wide at the widest and stands 15 1/4 inches tall at the foremast inclusive of the original stand.  The mahogany stand is noteworthy in that it is beautifully fitted to the ship’s hull in a graceful manner.  The footprint of the stand is 3 1/4 by 23 inches.  Without a doubt, this model was constructed contemporaneously with the actual ship by a sailor intimately familiar with its details.  It exhibits great age and weathering, even a variegated patina much like that of an actual ship at sea!  Excellent original condition.  Some of the more fragile lines of this model have been reinforced by a professional museum-certified model restorer.  In fact this model was recently deasseccioned by the San Diego Maritime Museum, as identified by the museum acquisition markings painted on the forward left portion of the stand.  An ex-museum bargain which should be at least double this price! Price Request 

The USS BORIE (DD-215) was launched by the William Cramp & Sons Shipyard, Philadelphia on October 4, 1919 and commissioned on March 24, 1920 with a compliment of 122 men.  She had a length of 314’ 4”, breadth of 31’ 9”, a draft of 9’ 10” and displaced 1,215 tons.  Top speed 35 knots.

BORIE first saw service in the Black Sea.  After a year she was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet where she spent the next 4 years.  From 1927- 1929 BORIE saw service in the Atlantic cruising the Caribbean and Europe.  In 1929 she again transferred to the Asiatic Fleet for a 3 year tour.  Returning to CONUS in 1932 BORIE joined the Pacific Fleet, stationed in San Diego.  At the outbreak of World War II BORIE was assigned to patrol Panama Bay and the Caribbean.

In late July 1942 BORIE joined USS CARD (CVE-11) as part of a hunter-killer group against German submarines in the Atlantic.  On November 1, 1943, while conducting the last of 4 patrols, BORIE rammed and sank German submarine U-405.  In doing so, the collision killed 27 BORIE crewmen and rendered the ship too badly damaged to maneuver.  BORIE was intentionally sunk by her sister ship USS BARRY (DD-248) on November 2nd.
BORIE received 3 Battle Stars for her World War II service and the Presidential Unit Citation for her participation in the CARD operations.

A second destroyer was named in her honor and commissioned on September 21, 1944.

2.42  CASED DIORMA.  Absolutely exquisite mid-19th century shadowbox depicting a brigantine under full sail plying a very realistic green putty sea.  This expertly-made model is without question one of the finest ever produced!   It features a realistically-carved wooden hull with black bulwark and haze gray decks.  The raised foc’sle has a capstan forward, an old fashioned kedge anchor on the cat head and a windlass.   The main deck has a deck house.  The raised poop deck is complete with after deck house, ship’s rail, and old fashion rolling block ship’s wheel.  The billowing sails are each properly rigged and individually marked to indicate sewn sail canvas.  The stem of the vessel bears a gilded acanthus billet leading to the natural wood bowsprit with dolphin striker.  The after mast has a beautifully-executed mast top with spreaders.  This authentic representation depicts the vessel at sea with white caps.  The background is a painterly depiction of a mountain flanked by lush forests under a beautiful azure sky with fluffy pink cumulus clouds.  Both sides of the diorama are equipped with mirrors which provide a very interesting bow-on and aft perspective of the vessel.   The entire presentation is housed in its original solid walnut Eastlake frame with fancy gilt liner, measuring 27 by 40 inches overall.  This diorama is unusually deep at 12 ¼ inches.  The front is protected by it original old wavy glass, the opening being 33 3/8 by 20 ½ inches.  The back is in its original old milk painted surface which, incredibly, is a single sold pine panel measuring 21 ¾ by 23 inches!  The overall condition of this presentation is absolutely spectacular.  It is truly one of the finest of its type ever made and certainly one of the best such dioramas available today, anywhere in the world!  It has been in our personal collection for over 30 years!   Price Request 

Provenance:  Steve Crandell, The Captain’s Landing, Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco, California, 1982.                       

2.40  AMERICAN SHIP DIORAMA.   Wonderfully charming, 3rd quarter of the 19th century shadowbox of a full-rigged American clippership identified as the “Red Cloud.” in two places.  This exceptional folk art piece embodies all of the bells and whistles desired by collectors.  In addition to being identified, it is signed and dated on the back, “Made by Charles White, Weymouth, Mass. 1875.”  Rigged as a true clipper with six sails on each of her forward masts  and a spanker tri-sail at the bottom of her main, the sails are, top to bottom, Royals, Upper Topgallants, Lower Topgallants, Upper Topsails, Lower Topsails and Courses (Mainsails).  Standing rigging is in place.  From the top of the foremast flies the Union Jack.  The mizen carries the ship’s name flag “RC” and the main the house flag.  The American ensign flies from the spanker halyard aft.  The ship’s hull is realistically-carved from a solid block of wood with numerous details including the capstan and bitts on the focs’le, several deck houses, aft deck house with hatch and helmsman standing at the wheel, with railing and bitts on the poop.  The bow is adorned with a carved Indian warrior figurehead in elaborate headdress carrying a spear.  Above and aft is the nameboard reading “RED CLOUD” with another such board on the stern.  The bowsprit and dolphin striker are well formed and in place.  The sleek jib sails, trysails between masts and all square sails are of carved wood!  The ship is towed by an equally charming tugboat which belches black cotton smoke from its stack.  The tug captain is seen at the helm in the wheelhouse while a crewman attends the tow on the stern.  Many other delightful details defy description.  Approaching the ship on the far left is the pilot schooner under full sail, flying the “hotel” flag indicating pilot aboard.   The entire scene is cast on a choppy green putty sea with whitecaps.  Attesting to its age the backboard is formed of a single solid piece of pine, nicely painted with sky and clouds.  It is housed in its original Victorian wooden frame with ornate gilt liner under glass.   The glazed opening is 21 by 32 inches, with the entire presentation measuring 27 by 38 inches and 4 ½ inches deep.  Two stout eyehooks with copper wire are equipped on the back for hanging.  Excellent original condition throughout, showing good age, preservation and no want of repair.  A world class example.  2150

Red Cloud (1822-1910) was chief of the Oglala Lakota tribe in the Powder River region of northern Wyoming and southwestern Montana.  He was considered one of the most formidable opponents the U.S. Army faced in the 3rd quarter of the 1800’s.  The Treaty of Fort Laramie Wyoming, signed in 1868, led the way to reservation life for many of the western Indians.  However, in Lakota War of 1876-1877, prosecuted by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, Red Cloud did not participate, true to his word in the treaty.  No doubt this act of honor and commitment engendered him in the hearts of many Easterners who eagerly followed the news of the Indian Wars coming from the Wild West.  At the time this diorama was made, Red Cloud had become legendary in the annals of Native American history.

Weymouth, Massachusetts is a small coastal town next to the shipbuilding port of Quincy, southeast of Boston.