West Sea Co. MODELS & HALF HULLS Catalog Page 2

2.14 CRUISE MEMENTO MODEL. Genuine passenger ship cruise trophy from the famous American President Lines cargo/passenger liner the "S. S. PRESIDENT CLEVELAND" as identified in embossed letters below the model of the ship. This good likeness is formed of heavy cast metal done with faithful detail. It is faced by an engraved brass plaque reading “ACHIEVEMENT” and flanked by the embossed inscription “ACHIEVEMENT.” Excellent overall condition with a good age patina. 8 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide. A very displayable and handsome authentic model. 69

The steam cargo/passenger ship SS PRESIDENT CLEVLAND was a P2 design ship built in 1947 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., Alameda California, Hull No. 9509. She had a length of 609 feet, a draft of 30 feet, displaced 23,404 tons and had a cruising speed of 20 knots. Designed to carry 379 First Class passengers and 200 economy, she also boasted a cargo capacity of 193,984 cubic feet. Homeported in San Francisco, the CLEVELAND along with her sister ship the PRESIDENT WILSON reestablished America’s preeminence in the passenger trade between the West Coast and the Orient. But in 1973, with passenger liner service no longer profitable, American President Lines sold the ship. It was scrapped a year later.

2.15 CRUISE MEMENTO MODEL. Genuine passenger ship cruise trophy from the famous American President Lines cargo/passenger liner the "S. S. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT" as identified in embossed letters below the model of the ship. This good likeness is formed of heavy cast metal done with faithful detail. It is faced by a brass plaque engraved "BRIDGE.". Excellent overall condition with good age patina and surface oxidation to the metal. 8 ½ inches long by 2 ½ inches wide. A very displayable and handsome authentic model. 69

Originally built in 1944 as the 18,920 ton Hawaiian Steamship Company's LEILANI the ship was purchased by the American President Lines in 1960 and renamed S.S. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. After an extensive refit in Seattle, the ship began service between the West Coast of the U.S and the Orient. Sold in 1970.

2.02 RARE PADDLEWHEEL DIORAMA ex. MUSEUM! Charming late 19th century cased waterline model of the steam side wheel steamer identified as "WAVERLEY" on the paddle box and on the bow. This classic folk art ship diorama depicts the excursion steamer plying a putty sea with pennants flying from the mast and the British ensign from the stern. Many quaint details are in evidence including wooden-capped railings, life rings, ladders, lifeboats in their davits, deck houses, helm, binnacle and telegraphs, funnels, portholes, capstans and more! The model is in lovely original condition, with nice age to the painted and natural wood surfaces. It is housed in its original 3-sided glazed wooden case with exceptional ebonized, hand-carved molding! This case measures 21 inches long by 10 inches high and 5 3/4 inches deep. As is typical, a couple of very small age cracks exist in the old, solid wood panels. A museum accession number is painted on the back of the case. 895

The P.S. (Paddlewheel Steamer) WAVERLEY was launched on May 29th, 1899 by A. and J. Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow, Scotland. She was 235 feet in length and of 449 gross registered tons. WAVERLEY was the first vessel in the North British Steam Packet Co. Ltd. fleet, and featured compound engines for the first time, which allowed her to operate greater distances from her homeport of Craigendoran, Scotland. After service retrenchment in 1902 she was assigned to regular railway connections with the London & North Eastern Railway. WAVERLEY went into Admiralty service at the end of 1915, actively participating in British actions during the Great War. WAVERLEY was laid up in 1939, but was soon reactivated for World War II service. Assigned to the minesweeping flotilla at Harwich, the venerable vessel was evacuating British troops from Dunkirk, France on May 30, 1940 when she was struck by German aircraft in the English Channel and sunk with the loss of nearly 400 lives, including most of the crew.

We have been commissioned by a well-known museum to sell this model because it is not in keeping with the museum's collection objectives. The museum wishes to maintain its public anonymity. However it has given us permission to provide the ultimate purchaser with this information so that the valuable provenance may remain with this model.

2.11 CASED MODEL. Simply superb folk art model of an American 4-masted bark identified on the quarterboards as the "DELFIN." This scratch-built sailor-made model is constructed entirely of wood with some metal parts such as davits and rails and exhibits the highest standards of the ship modeler's art. All deck details are represented including chocks, bitts, running lights, capstan, ventilators, ladders, rails, deck house with skylight, doors and windows; ship's boats in davits, midships deckhouse with Charlie Noble, hatches, fife rails, poop with deck house, steering gear box, binnacle and a finely executed railing. Detail aloft is also of the highest order showing the standing rigging taught and to scale with blocks properly depicted. The vessel flies the American ensign from the spanker boom aft and is identified on the stern transom "DELFIN BOSTON." The ship is shown standing at anchor with both hooks out in a painted putty sea. The entire presentation is contained within its original glazed wooden case in untouched original condition showing great old crackled surfaces. The model itself is crisp, bright and as clean as they come. The case measures 19 3/4 inches long by 6 1/2 inches wide and stands 10 1/4 inches high. One of the nicest folk art ship models ever!

2.10 LIVE STEAM MODEL. Impressive, large model of a launch with a functional steam plant! This shapely, faithfully-built model has a watertight fiberglass hull on the exterior realistically lined in planked teak with mahogany ribs on the interior. The main deck is trimmed with mahogany rails fore and aft, with brass chocks. The focs'le has a stockless brass anchor with chain connected to a bollard. On the interior there are two lockers with hinged lids which serve as seats, and there is a third teak bench aft. The bilge of this model has stout mahogany planks on which the steam plant is mounted. It consists of a pressurized gas burner which exhausts into the copper boiler sheathed in wood. A pressure gauge is attached, as are a tall brass smokestack and steam whistle. The steam output from the boiler is fed through a series of brass pipes to twin reciprocating cylinders. The crankshaft is connected to a flywheel which then connects to the brass propeller shaft via a universal joint and a manual clutch. The shaft exits the stern packing to connect with the 4-bladed hand-wrought propeller. Abaft the propeller is the large wooden rudder. The forepeak contains two hinged doors which provide access to the chain locker. The hull measures 49 1/2 inches in length and has a 14 inch beam. The length overall is 50 1/2 inches by 17 1/2 inches tall. Complete with custom-made mahogany stand. This model was originally designed to run on steam. We offer it now solely as the decorative model it is. However it does appear that the steam plant is in tact and could be made to run again. 2495

2.83 BATTLESHIP MODEL. Very rare period model of the famous American Battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB-9). This entirely hand-made model was constructed in the early 1900's and bears an engraved brass plaque reading "U.S. BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN BUILT BY PHIL ROBBINS." It features a waterline hull which is hand sculpted entirely of solid wood, including the superstructure and masts, accented with metal components. Its remarkable detail is very realistic including boats in davits and alongside in the water, steam launches, life lines, ladders, funnels, machine guns, 14 six inch guns, cargo davits and cranes, foc'sle bell, whistles, anchor, liferings, lights, portholes, accommodation ladders, range finders, rigging, deck equipment and of course the revolving fore and aft main batteries representing the WISCONSIN's twin 13 inch guns. The model itself measures 37 inches long, 7 1/4 inches on the beam and 14 3/4 inches tall from the waterline to the mainmast. The glazed oak case measures 44 inches long, 15 inches wide and 18 inches high. A rare museum-quality model of one of America's first dreadnoughts!

The first WISCONSIN (Battleship No. 9) was laid down on February 9, 1897 at San Francisco, California by the Union Iron Works, launched on November 26, 1898 and commissioned on February 4, 1901, Captain George C. Reiter in command.
     Departing San Francisco in March of 1901, WISCONSIN conducted general drills and exercises at Magdalena Bay, Mexico, in March and April before heading back toward San Francisco in June. She next made a voyage, in company with the battleships USS OREGON (Battleship No. 3) and USS IOWA (Battleship No. 4), the cruiser USS PHILADELPHIA, and the torpedo-boat destroyer USS FARRAGUT to the Pacific Northwest participating in 4th of July observances there and scheduled drills and exercises. Those evolutions kept the ship occupied through mid-July.
     WISCONSIN, as flagship Pacific Squadron with Rear Admiral Silas Casey embarked, arrived at Panama, Colombia, in 30 September 1902, to protect American interests and to preserve the integrity of transit across the isthmus. Casey offered his services as a mediator and ultimately the warring sides made an agreement, signing a treaty that came to be known as "The Peace of Wisconsin."
     In May the battleship sailed for the Asiatic Station. WISCONSIN operated in the Far East Fleet over the next three years before she returned to the United States in the autumn of 1906.
     The battleship returned to the Puget Sound Navy Yard and was decommissioned on November 15, 1906, but was recommissioned on April 1, 1908, Capt. Henry Morrell in command.
     Returning to San Francisco in early July WISCONSIN joined the battleships of the Atlantic Fleet in setting out on the transpacific leg of the momentous circumnavigation of the globe known as the cruise of the "Great White Fleet," a dramatic gesture made by President Theodore Roosevelt as evidence of his "big stick" policy.
     WISCONSIN returned to the Portsmouth Naval Yard to undergo refit through June 1909. During that period she shed her bright "white and spar color" donning a more businesslike gray. In the spring of the following year she was placed in reserve and assumed training duties of Naval Academy cadets along with the battleships MISSOURI and OHIO. With that group, she became the third battleship to transit the Panama Canal, making that trip in mid-July 1915 en route to the west coast of the United States.
     On April 23, 1917, with America's declaration of war on Germany, WISCONSIN was placed back in full commission and was assigned to the Coastal Battleship Patrol Squadron in the Atlantic. However she eluded enemy action throughout the War, serving primarily as a training ship.
     Placed out of commission on 15 May 1920, WISCONSIN was reclassified BB-9 on July 17, 1920, while awaiting disposition In New York Harbor. She was sold for scrap on January 26, 1922 in accordance with the Washington Treaty.
     This model represents WISCONSIN during her "pre-gray period," before 1909, and was probably made during that time.

Statistics:
Displacement: 11,564 tons
Length: 373'10"
Beam: 72'2"
Draft: 23'8"
Speed: 16 knots
Complement: 531
Armament: Four 13" guns; fourteen 6" guns; six 6-pounders; six 1-pounders; four .30-cal. machine guns
Class: Illinois

(From "The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" published by the Naval Historical Center, Washington D.C.)

2.07 FAMOUS SHIP MODEL. Exceptional, working model of Admiral Byrd's first Polar exploration ship the USS CITY OF NEW YORK. This period, hand-made model is of all wood construction with brass, metal, mica and even some ivory fittings! The solid hull is laminated in lifts, similar to the construction of authentic half hulls. It is painted black below the waterline, gray on the bulwarks, with white rails. There are five portholes aft and 3 gunports amidships on each side. The vessel is of full ship rig with three masts and has authentically detailed standing and running rigging, fife rails, belaying pins, rat lines, dead eyes, mast tops, etc. The focsle deck is complete with capstan, cat heads, kedge anchors and chain life lines. Amidships are the life boats in their davits, cargo hatch and winch. Further aft the deck house is complete with portholes, door and windows with mica "glass." A water cask with spigot is mounted on top along with the Marconi antenna and flying bridge with functional helm! There is also a footed storage box, dinghy and racks of ivory buckets with bail handles! On the poop deck is the skylight with mica windows. Mounted atop it is the binnacle which actually shows the compass needle! On the starboard side is a sounding machine. The after steering gear is incredible. It is realistically constructed with chains fairlead through pulleys, connected to the flying bridge helm, which actually turn the rudder! To accomplish this, the rudder is attached with functional post and pintle construction. Forward of the rudder is the ship's brass propeller. The model is supported in a solid teak wood cradle and is protected within a lovely solid glazed mahogany case. The model itself measures 34 1/2 inches long overall and 23 inches high. The case measures 41 inches long, 11 1/2 inches wide and stands 27 1/2 inches tall. This model is authentic to the period and may have actually been constructed by a crewman onboard the CITY OF NEW YORK. Circa 1930. Excellent original condition throughout showing good age and careful preservation.

The famous polar exploration ship USS CITY OF NEW YORK was originally built as a sealing barkentine named the SAMPSON, and launched in Arendal, Norway, in 1885. Of very stout construction, her hull was up to 34 inches thick in some places! Lingering stories, borne out by confirmed facts, indicate that she may have been the "mystery ship" seen on the night RMS TITANIC sank. Many witnesses claimed to have seen lights of an unknown ship near TITANIC that fateful night. SAMPSON purportedly was engaged in illegal sealing operations at the time and location TITANIC went down. The belief is that the crew of SAMPSON was startled by the fast approaching ship firing rockets. Thinking it to be a revenue cutter, the poachers fled. In tragic irony, it was actually the ill-fated TITANIC firing distress rockets after it had struck an iceberg!

After a long career as a sealer, SAMPSON was purchased in 1927 for the U.S. Navy by Admiral Richard E. Byrd to be used as his polar exploration flagship. En route New York for refit she was nearly lost in a severe storm as she crossed the Atlantic. With her steam engine inoperable, the transit ended up taking 3 months instead of 3 weeks! Finally, after arriving in her new namesake port she was rebuilt, ship rigged and dubbed the CITY OF NEW YORK.

Newly fitted out, the USS CITY OF NEW YORK departed New York on August 25, 1928 bound for New Zealand. Arriving there on November 26th, she took on additional supplies and set out for Antarctica. To save her precious coal supply she was towed by the SS ELEANOR BOLLING. On December 7th the ships encountered a heavy gale which caused the towline to part. CITY OF NEW YORK was left with 30 fathoms of hawser hanging from her bow. It took all hands 2 hours of back breaking work to haul in the heavy line.

Upon reaching the pack ice on January 1st 1929, CITY OF NEW YORK located a suitable spot for an Antarctic base. The new base was immediately established and named Little America. There it remains to this day. After CITY OF NEW YORK unloaded her cargo she attempted exploration trips through the ice. But in the face of severe weather, the ship was forced to abandon such attempts. She departed for New Zealand in mid-February, barely making it out of the ice pack in time. After refueling from a supply ship she pushed north through terrific gales and was nearly lost. She laid up for the winter in New Zealand. Undaunted, CITY OF NEW YORK sailed south on January 5, 1930. But again, she ran into heavy weather from the start, and only reached pack ice after great difficulty. There she was hit by a 100 mph hour gale. With her engine straining, she was driven backwards onto the ice shelf. To save her rudder the captain swung her broadside and she rode out the gale pinned to the ice. The storm encased the CITY OF NEW YORK in over 200 tons of dangerous ice topside. With a normal displacement of only 500 tons, tired crewmen were forced to set about the laborious task of chipping away the ice for fear of capsizing! CITY OF NEW YORK finally arrived at Little America on February 18th. Evacuation of personnel still at the base commenced immediately, and within 24 hours the ship was headed north again.

Upon returning to her homeport, CITY OF NEW YORK was replaced on future Antarctic explorations by the famous ex-whaler, the USS BEAR. CITY OF NEW YORK became a floating polar research museum, touring the Atlantic coast and Great Lakes. World War II brought great need for shipping. To help meet that need CITY OF NEW YORK was rerigged as a 3-masted schooner, stripped of her engine and reentered service in 1944 out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. But by 1947 she was deemed to be too slow. So her topmasts were removed, her bowsprit was shortened and she was fitted with an engine. Thus she became a motor schooner, carrying lightened sail.

The venerable ship finally met her fate in 1962 when, as she was being towed out of Yarmouth Harbor, Nova Scotia, the tow line parted and she drifted onto Chebogue Ledge. She quickly took on water and sank.

2.08 FAMOUS SHIP MODEL with MUSEUM PROVENANCE. Period, hand-made model of the World War II troop ship USS HERMITAGE. This sailor-made model exhibits excellent craftsmanship and very fine detail, with all aspects of the ship's construction meticulously executed, even down to the coxswain's rails and planking on the ship's boats! The large, solid hull wooden model measures 41 inches long by 5 1/4 inches wide at the widest on the bridge wings. It is mounted atop its original solid cherrywood base measuring 43 inches long by 5 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch thick. Outstanding original condition for a model of this size, construction and vintage! 2495

A well-known Museum has commissioned us to sell this model because it is not in keeping with the purpose of its collection. The Museum has asked us to provide anonymity during this offering. However full Museum provenance will be provided to the successful buyer so that its valuable history will be retained with the model.

The grand passenger ship S.S. CONTE BIANCOMANO was launched in 1925 by William Beardmore & Co. Ltd. of Glasgow, Scotland, sailing as a luxury liner for Lloyd Triestino So. Anon. di Nav. Italia. When Italy declared war on the United States shortly after America's entry into the War with Japan in December 1941, CONTE BIANCOMANO was interned at Balboa, Canal Zone, sailed to the U.S. and converted to a troop transport by Cramp Shipbuilding of Philadelphia. She was commissioned as the USS HERMITAGE on August 14, 1942.

On November 2, 1942 HERMITAGE embarked 5,600 army troops and sailors and departed New York for the Mediterranean. Six days later the North African invasion began, and HERMITAGE debarked her passengers at Casablanca to participate in the famous campaign known as Operation Torch. Returning to Norfolk, Virginia on December 11th, HERMITAGE next steamed for the Pacific with nearly 6,000 passengers embarked. After embarking and debarking passengers at Balboa, Noumea, Brisbane, Sydney Pago Pago, and Honolulu the former luxury liner put into San Francisco on March 2nd, 1943.

HERMITAGE next made way for Wellington, New Zealand on March 27, 1943, calling at Melbourne, Australia and Bombay India. In Bombay she embarked some 707 Polish refugees, including nearly one hundred children, for a voyage back to California which ended on June 25th. In the following year HERMITAGE made three similar cruises in the South Pacific, with battle-bound troops, civilians, and refugees.

HERMITAGE departed New York on June 16, 1944 with over 6,000 troops headed for the D-Day invasion of Europe, which had just begun at Normandy. From then on, until the end of the war, she made 10 more voyages to Le Havre and other ports, bringing additional troops to the European theater and returning the wounded back to the States along with P.O.W.'s.

V-E Day, May 8, 1945, found HERMITAGE in the midst of a celebration in Le Havre Harbor, France. With the War over, she was pressed into service returning veterans home from the European theater through December 1945. Departing New York 12 December, the well-traveled transport sailed to Nagoya, Japan to embark 6,000 veterans to Seattle, arriving February 4, 1946. Assigned to the San Francisco-Marianas run for Operation Magic Carpet, she made three more voyages before being decommissioned in San Francisco on August 20, 1946.

While serving with the Navy, HERMITAGE sailed over 230,000 miles, transporting 129,695 passengers, including American, British, Australian, French and Dutch fighting men. She also carried Chinese, American, Polish, and British civilians, not to mention German and Italian prisoners. HERMITAGE was returned to the Italian Government in May 1947 and renamed SS CONTE BIANCAMANO once more. Fittingly, the sunset of her career saw her continuing in her originally designed role as a passenger liner until she was ultimately scrapped in 1969.

2.70 CASED FOLK ART MODEL. Exceptional late 19th century American sailor-made model of the 4-masted bark signed on the stern in relief "DIL" (probably the maker's initials) and identified on both trail boards as "ALBERT." This charming folk art ship model is entirely hand made in a manner very faithful to the original. The sleek, waterline hull is sculpted entirely out of carved wood. All aspects of this model are executed with a superiority of detail that we have never encountered in such a model before. ALL of the ship's lines, both standing and running rigging are depicted, including the square sail lift lines, bunt lines and clews, and even individually hand tied rat lines. These are details rarely seen even on the finest scale models. Also depicted are the jib sail halyards -- virtually never seen in a model of this type. All tackle (blocks) are individually formed and properly depicted with line actually rove through the cheeks. Other rigging details include chafing gear on the ratlines and even tiny keeper stays tied between them! Fine woolding is in evidence at the attachment of the aft spanker sail. Deck detailing is superior. All 4 hand-carved lifeboats are meticulously depicted in their cradles. The deck detail on this fine model include wooden ship's rails; ladders; deck houses with windows, doors and decorative carving; portholes; the "Charlie Noble"; kedge anchor and anchor davit; capstan; ship's foc'sle bell; hatches; bits; catwalk with railing, steering gear box with wheel; binnacle; port and starboard running lamps; and even deck scuppers! In short, the maker of this model knew every inch of his ship and was determined to get it right no matter how much effort it took!! All the more remarkable is the fact that this beautifully rigged vessel is depicted with a full compliment of carved wooden sails elegantly sculpted in a billowy and realistic manner. To have depicted it with paper or cloth sails would have been a chore enough -- but in wood?! This simply incredible model is housed within its original hand-made wooden case with its original old wavy glass measuring 32 3/4 inches long, 17 1/4 inches high and 9 3/4 inches wide. The model itself measures 24 inches long and 14 inches high. It plies a realistically formed blue putty "sea" with curling waves and painted white caps. This model flies a colorful house flag, large name pennant and the American ensign aft. This is without a doubt the nicest sailor-made model we have ever seen. Outstanding, untouched, original condition. A joy to behold! Retail $4500. 3500

    The handsome square rigger ALBERT was launched by the Hall Brothers Shipbuilding Yard, Port Ludlow, Washington in 1890. She was of bark rig with a length of 182 feet and displaced 682 tons. Home ported in San Francisco, she plied the West coast trade until being wrecked near Point Reyes, California on April 2, 1919.
    The 3 flags on this model corroborate its dating and origin. The house flag "P" for Port Ludlow, the name pennant "A" for Albert, and the 40 star American flag which only existed for a few months during the year 1890.
    The provenance of this model is also consistent with its home port and the locale of its ultimate demise -- the rugged outcropping on the Marin coast known as Point Reyes, just north of San Francisco.

2.67 DETAILED STEAM/SAIL SHIP MODEL. Really superb scratch-built and dated American model of a steam/sail brig from the 19th century. This period model is entirely hand made with precision detail and near scale rigging. The laminated wooden hull is beautifully sculpted and has a hollow interior with keel, tween deck, and lead ballast. The wooden deck in old mustard paint is scored to simulate planking. Details include bowsprit with dolphin striker and chain stays; billet head; both kedge anchors; rotating foc'sle capstan; fife rails; main deck hatch with accommodation ladder; removable deck house with funnel; steam whistle; "Charlie Noble"; 2 ventilators; 2 lifeboats; ship's bell; deck ladder; doors; windows with glass; aft house with door and glazed windows; functional helm; poop deck ladders; helm bell; poop deck skylight and realistic brass eagle sternboard! But there is much more! The deck house is signed on the bottom "Built 1876 to 1882." Using extreme care it may be safely removed to reveal an internal gearing system attached by a leather belt to an arbor running through the port side bulwark. Engaging the arbor with a clock winding key actually rotates the vessel's propeller! When the deck house is in place, the funnel is secured by 4 removable guy wires. As mentioned, the helm is functional and works as a real ship's steering station of the period. The helm is fitted with a wooden spindle attached to the steering gear. Turning the wheel to the left or right actuates the rudder in the appropriate direction! If the realism of this presentation were not enough, the entire model is mounted to a beautifully constructed dockyard cradle complete with hull supports making for a realistic stand. This exceptional model measures 40 1/2 inches long overall by 13 1/2 inches wide at the mains'l yard and 29 inches tall. Condition is nothing short of perfect. All surfaces retain their original old paint. The fine, realistic rigging appears to be original and is in a sound, outstanding state of preservation. A nicer folk art model of its type is not to be found!

2.19 DOCKYARD MODEL. Authentic mid-19th C. cased shipyard builder's half hull model of the 3-masted sailing ship VERBENA built by "Wm Pickersgill & Sons, Sunderland," England as identified in hand-painted lettering below the bow. This exceptional model exhibits all of the detail and quality expected of an "owner's model" as built by the shipyard that produced the actual ship. Fine, fancy original glazed hardwood case measuring 85 inches long, 17 1/2 inches high and 9 inches deep overall. The model itself measures 70 1/2 inches long from stern to bowsprit. Circa 1856. Immaculate condition throughout. Certainly worthy of the finest museum!

"Lloyd's Register of Shipping" Volume 1871 lists the VERBENA as a wooden hull bark of 260 feet in length, displacing 466 tons net. She was built in Sunderland in 1856 and operated by J. Whitfield of Sunderland.

In a publication entitled "Sunderland Builds Ships," 1989, Tyne and Wear Archive Service, City of Sunderland, England, William Pickersgill is identified as one of the prominent Wearside (River Wear) shipbuilding firms from 1847-1936.

2.03 FAMOUS BATTLESHIP MODEL with MUSEUM PROVENANCE. Exhibition-quality model of the World War II dreadnought USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44). This sailor-built model is faithful to the original ship and was actually built on board during one of the most famous Naval battles in history, the Battle of the Surigao Straits on October 25, 1944! The large wooden stand bears the engraved Bakelite plaque reading: "MODEL OF THE USS CALIFORNIA Hull turrets and guns are of balsa wood, superstructures are of white pine, gun shields and platforms are of bristol board. Model took 10 months to complete. This model has been through the battle of Surigao Straights in the Philippines. It was there when Mac Arthur landed on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Built by B. M. Mickschl CH CARP. USN." The hull measures 38 inches long by 7 inches wide and the model stands 10 1/2 inches high overall. The stout wooden base measures 41 inches long by 8 3/4 inches wide. This model is in an incredible state of original preservation considering it is so detailed and 64 years old. A genuine piece of history!

A well-known Museum has commissioned us to sell this model, because it is not in keeping with the Museum's collection objectives. For purposes of public anonymity we will not publish the Museum's name here. However I will provide the provenance to the successful buyer so that its valuable history will remain with this genuine museum model.

The USS CALIFORNIA (BB- 44) was a Tennessee-class battleship launched on November 20, 1919 by Mare Island Navy Yard, California and was commissioned on August 10, 1921, as flagship of Pacific Fleet -- a duty she retained until 1941. She took part in the Presidential reviews of 1927, 1930, and 1934 and was modernized in 1929-1930.

On "The Day of Infamy," December 7, 1941, she was moored at the southernmost berth of "Battleship Row" in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At 0805 a bomb exploded below decks in an ammunition magazine killing 50 men and setting her afire. A second bomb ruptured her bow plates. Despite valiant efforts to keep her afloat, CALIFORNIA settled into the mud with only her superstructure above the surface. When the action ended, 98 of her crew were lost and 61 wounded. On March 26, 1942 she was refloated and departed under her own power for Puget Sound Navy Yard for major reconstruction.

Restored to her original glory, CALIFORNIA sailed from Bremerton on January 31, 1944 in time to provide shore bombardment for the invasion of the Marianas Islands. During the bitter fight for Saipan in June, she was conducting shore bombardment when struck by an enemy shore battery killing one man and injuring nine. Following Saipan, her heavy guns helped blast the way during the assaults on Guam and Tinian.

In September 1944 CALIFORNIA prepared for the invasion of the Philippines. During October and 20 November she played a key role in the Leyte operation, including participation in the last classic Naval battle ever fought between surface combatants, the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 20th. That momentous engagement resulted in the decimation of the Japanese fleet. On January 6, 1945 while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf she was hit by Kamikazes, killing 44 and wounding 155. Again she departed the front to effect Stateside repairs.

Returning to action at Okinawa in June 1945, CALIFORNIA remained until July 21st. Two days later she joined Task Force 95 to cover minesweeping operations in the China Sea. After the surrender of Japan in early August, CALIFORNIA sailed via Singapore, Colombo, and Capetown, to Philadelphia, with a fitting arrival on December 7th. She was placed in reserve on August 7, 1946 and ultimately sold for scrap in 1959.

CALIFORNIA received seven battle stars for World War II service. Today, the ship's bell rests in a memorial in Capital Park in Sacramento. A fitting tribute to a fine ship and her crew.

Length overall: 624' 6"
Beam: 114'(1943)
Mean Draft: 30' 5"
Displacement: 40,950 tons (1943)
Speed: 20 knots (1943)
Main guns: 12 14"/50 cal. (Mk 11), 4 triple turrets
Secondary: 10 x 5"/51 cal. mounted in sponsons
16 x 5"/38 cal. in 8 twin turrets (1945)
56 x 40mm Bofors in fourteen quad mounts
6 x 50 cal. heavy machine guns
80 x 20mm Oerlikons
2 x 21" Torpedoes
Complement: 57 officers, 1026 men

2.62 CASED FOLK ART MODEL. Delightful American sailor-made folk art model of a 2-masted schooner under sail. This sculpted full hull wooden model is mounted into a carved wooden azure sea. Attesting to its sailor authorship, the model is realistically rigged with carved wooden sails each of which is attached by means of eyelets or mast hoops as on a real vessel! This painstaking approach to the rigging is very uncharacteristic of a model with wooden sails! The attention to detail is carried through with the portrayal of the standing rigging and deck detail. The ship's boats, complete with oarlocks and crossed wooden oars, are slung in davits on either side and two old fashioned anchors hang from the bow. The deck houses have see-through windows and open doors. Of particular note are the 14 crewmen on deck, depicted in a charmingly naive fashion with colorful caps and individual facial expressions. The vessel flies the American flag from the main mast and is brightly painted, contrasting nicely with the natural finished wooden decks, masts and booms. The model rests in its original very substantial wooden case with old wavy glass. The case retains its original old dark wooden finish with very desirable "alligatored" surface and measures 17 3/4 inches long by 14 inches high and 9 inches wide. Outstanding original condition in all respects. A visually striking presentation which evokes real joy! 995

2.99 CASED MODEL. Charming, really nice sailor folk art model of the famous battleship U.S.S. TEXAS as prominently engraved on the large brass name plate and on both sides of the vessel's bow. This near scale, solid hull wooden model is entirely hand made from wood and brass with many intricate details not typically found on such models. For example all of the lifelines are made of drilled brass rods. The gun barrels are tapered and drilled brass. The scores of portholes depicted in the hull are drilled and rimmed with brass. All of the other fittings and the superstructure itself are either carved wood or hand-worked brass! This model is in its original battleship gray paint with black boot topping. The paint has alligatored with age and now exhibits a great old surface. The wooden decks in natural finish have also acquired a rich age patina. The ship itself measures 35 1/2 inches long by 14 inches high and 6 1/2 inches wide at the widest. It is mounted on its original solid mahogany display stand in original black paint with cloth bottom and measures 38 inches long by 9 inches wide. The stand is overlaid by the glazed oak case which measures 40 1/2 inches long by 16 1/2 inches high and 11 1/4 inches wide. Excellent overall condition.

The USS TEXAS (BB-35) was the second battleship to bear the state's name and the second New York class battleship to be built. Laid down on April 17, 1911 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Virginia, she was launched on May 18, 1912 and commissioned on March 12, 1914. She was one of only a few capital ships to serve in both World Wars.
    Immediately after her commissioning TEXAS was dispatched by President Wilson to deal with a conflict in Mexico. Finally, in December, she left Mexican waters to join the Atlantic Fleet.
    The use of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Central Powers in the Atlantic dragged America into the war in Europe in 1917. TEXAS served in the Grand Fleet by providing convoy escorts to troopships as well as helping the British to blockade the enemy in the North Sea.
    Following overhaul in late 1918 TEXAS resumed duty with the Atlantic Fleet. On March 9, 1919 she became the first American ship to launch an airplane.
    Early in 1925 TEXAS entered the Norfolk Navy Yard for "modernization" to replace her cage masts with a single tripod foremast and to upgrade her gunfire control system.
    In the intervening years leading up to World War II TEXAS saw duty in the the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, serving as the flagship of the entire United States Navy Fleet.
    Upon America's entry into World War II TEXAS saw her first combat in "Operation Torch" during the invasion of North Africa in 1942 by providing shore bombardment and naval gunfire support.
    Throughout 1943 and into 1944 the veteran battleship carried out her familiar role as a convoy escort.
    On the morning of June 6, 1944 TEXAS provided shore bombardment prior to the D-Day assault on the coast of Normandy, France.
    On the morning of June 25 TEXAS, in company with the Battleship ARKANSAS, began shelling shore fortifications and batteries surrounding the German-held port of Cherbourg. In the exchange TEXAS lost her navigation bridge and the forward fire control tower with one man killed and several wounded.
    After undergoing temporary repairs in Plymouth, England TEXAS again entered the fray, this time to engage shore batteries in the pre-landing assault of St. Tropez, France. That mission completed, she departed 2 days later for her home port of New York.
    Upon arrival TEXAS underwent a major overhaul which included replacement of the barrels in her main batteries.
    TEXAS departed New York in November 1944 bound for the Pacific theater via the Panama Canal. She arrived off of Iwo Jima on February 16, 1945 where she spent the next two weeks in a gunfire support role during that infamous battle.
    Next she steamed into Philippine waters where she spent nearly 2 months providing gunfire support for various Allied landings. During that time she endured many Kamikaze attacks, recording one kill and three assists. TEXAS stayed in the Philippines until the Japanese surrender on August 15th. She received 5 battle stars for her World War II service.
    TEXAS was decommissioned on April 28,1948 as she was turned over to the state of Texas as a permanent memorial. Today she remains in San Jacinto State Park, near Houston.

The fact that this model depicts TEXAS with her post-1925 tripod mast, but with her side-mounted 5 inches guns (removed prior to 1930) clearly indicates that the model dates to 1925, certainly no later than 1930!

2.96 MUSEUM MODEL. Genuine hand-made model of an early 20th century San Francisco Bay ferryboat operated by the Western Pacific Railroad, as identified on the bottom with pencil markings. This wonderfully detailed waterline model is constructed entirely of wood with hand-cut brass and steel fittings and dates to the 1950's. It comes from the prestigious collection of the DeYoung Museum of San Francisco, California and was recently sold by that institution to generate funds for expansion and improvements of their facility. The model itself measures a mere 4 1/2 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. With that, it exhibits superb detailing for a model of its size and type. It is signed on the bottom in pencil, "Wes. Pac. RR Co. Ferry, San Francisco." Excellent condition with the original old painted surface. 495

This exquisite little model is identifiable as the Western Pacific's premier ferryboat EDWARD T. JEFFERY built by Moore & Scott Iron Works, Oakland, California in 1913. She had a steel hull displacing 1578 tons and was 218 feet in length with a breadth of 42 feet and a 16 foot draft. About 1930 she was renamed FEATHER RIVER. Then in 1933 she was again renamed SIERRA NEVADA when ownership was transferred to the Southern Pacific Railroad.

We do not know the identity of the modeler who constructed this fine example, but he was in every sense a skilled professional!

2.78 PRISONER OF WAR BONE SHIP MODEL. Genuine and classic late 18th or very early 19th century P.O.W. ship model as constructed by French prisoners in British prisons during the Napoleonic Wars (1790-1810), fashioned entirely out of beef bone and wood with copper fittings. This hand-made near-scale ship model represents an especially sleek double decker of 48 guns. True to the incredible detail for which these prisoner of war model makers were renown, this example exhibits remarkable detail and execution for its size. Of particular note is the carved bone figurehead of a helmeted warrior holding a sword in his left hand. Behind him the beak head of the ship is authentically carved and detailed with exquisitely rigged standing rigging to the tops of the foremast. Forward of the foremast is are a complex series of woven shrouds. Working aft, dead eyes, standing rigging and ratlines to each of the 3 masts are done so intricately as to defy imagination! The masts and spars are all of equal quality and complexity. Remarkably, the rigging and each of the lines which comprise it, appear to be completely original! Deck detailing includes anchors, anchor buoy, capstan, boats, belfry, hatch covers, combing, ladders, fife rails, deck planking, gratings and more. The bulwarks exhibit the brass cannon with most of the gun ports open, but 4 closed for effect. The pinned and planked hull is nicely executed. At the stern, the carved quarter galleries and stern galleries are finely detailed. The model stands on its original marquetry and painted wooden base supported upon two turned bone pedestals. Throughout its construction this lovely model exhibits hundreds of tiny copper pins used as fasteners. It measures 14 inches long overall, 12 1/4 inches high and 6 inches wide. It is in an incredible state of original preservation evidencing good age, but no damage or repairs. Certainly one of the most important aspects of collecting models from this era is to find an example with original rigging. Here it is!

The undisputed authoritative reference on such models is the hard cover book by Ewart C. Freeston entitled "Prisoner of War Ship Models 1775-1825," 1973, Conway Maritime Press, Ltd., London. An original copy of this marvelous book shall be included as part of this offering with our compliments.


PERSPECTIVE	SHIP	DETAIL	BOW	STERN	BACK


PERSPECTIVE	SHIP	FOC'SLE	MIDSHIPS	POOP	STERNBOARD


HELM	ENGINE	STEAM PLANT	STERN DETAIL


REVERSE	SHIP	FOCSLE	BRIDGE

DETAIL AFT	STERN	PLAQUE	WISCONSIN


AFT	DECK HOUSE	FOC'SLE	STERN	FIGUREHEAD


FOCSLE DETAIL	RIGGING DETAIL	RIGGING DETAIL AFT	STERN DETAIL


IN CASE	REVERSE


IN CASE	DETAIL	REVERSE


FOC'SLE	LIFEBOAT	BOW DETAIL


STATISTICS	SIGNATURE