~ Pre War Boxed German Made Clockwork Tinplate RMS Queen Mary Liner ~
This clockwork ship has a red & black coloured hull with a two deck super structure and three funnels. The port side has the name board.
The decking includes two rows of lifeboats.
It is fitted with a single propeller.
The box is named “RMS Queen Mary, Cunard White Star – this is a perfection toy” and has numerous colourful illustrations.
It would date to the mid/late 1930’s.
We are advised that it is a German piece.
~ RMS Queen Mary ~
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line (known as Cunard-White Star when the vessel entered service). Built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland, Queen Mary along with her running mate, the RMS Queen Elizabeth, were built as part of Cunard’s planned two-ship weekly express service between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York City. The two ships were a British response to the superliners built by German and French companies in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Queen Mary was the flagship of the Cunard Line from May 1936 until October 1946 when she was replaced in that role by Queen Elizabeth.
After several years of decreased profits for Cunard Line, Queen Mary was officially retired from service in 1967. She left Southampton for the last time on 31 October 1967 and sailed to the port of Long Beach, California, United States, where she remains permanently moored. Much of the machinery including two of the four steam turbines, three of the four propellers, and all of the boilers were removed, and the ship now serves as a tourist attraction featuring restaurants, a museum, and hotel. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has accepted the Queen Mary to be part of the Historic Hotels of America.
~ Dimensions ~
The box has a length of 13 inches (33 cm), a depth of 3 inches (7.6 cm) and a height of 4 inches (10.2 cm).
The model has a length of 13 inches (33cm), a depth of 3 inches (7.6 m) and a height of 4 inches (10.2 cm).
The set weighs 440 g.
~ Condition ~
The model is in fair condition, the paintwork is shows some signs of fading with some browning/possible signs of rust as well as general wear.
The clockwork still runs very well and a replacement key is included.
There are two short pipe sockets, one fitted to the bow and one aft of the funnels. These may have originally supported flags – if so they are missing.
The box is in poor condition, it lacks both ends, has a number of tears, rips and creasing though the illustrations all remain clear and visible.