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[bigbloke]

Hi All

I had a voice-mail today from a friend who was helping clear an attic of another mutual friend from Caerphilly.

He had left in the kids play house,  what appears to be a plank on frame yacht hull - I think its a marblehead - but not sure.

looking inside the hull revealed a piece of paper with string wrapped around it which turned out to be the cover of a "The three A's" catalogue

Does anyone know about yachts / plans produced or sold by this company ?

Was there an Aqila marblehead perchance ?

Ive tried to upload photos but the database "keeled " on the site - i'll try again later

regards

BB

[bigbloke]

hull and contents

[bigbloke]

deck view

[bigbloke]

close up of "steering mechanism"

[bigbloke]

front of catalogue (rolled up piece of paper in hull pic with string on !)

[bigbloke]

back cover of catalogue :

[bigbloke]

I've no mast or sails with it . thinking of restoring it with a 2 channel radio.

Haven't a clue where to start with that though ! grateful for any good links !

regards

BB

[casta]

Just wondering if Huddersfield has a Museum or a  'Civic' society or similar group, they may be able to shed some light on the company and any surviving employees...

[Circlip]

Huddersfield has an excellent central library which contains a reference section. "Catalogue" is dated 1950, work out the maffs for surviving employees.
 
  Regards  Ian.

[hmsantrim]

 
 Hi BB.
           its not a marble head yacht as they are @ 52in long.  It would be generally referred to as a "pond yacht" as its not one of the
            recognised classes of yacht.  It may though have a brand name as it possibly may me a commercial bought item.
 
            It has got the Braine steering gear on it so would suggest its 1950`s it also has a horse on it fore and aft thats the metal
            rod attached to the deck. This will indicate the length of the main boom and jib and the length of the foot of both sails.
     
            The horse would have a sheave block attached to it (called the traveller). The hook from the bowsie which lets out the
           booms attaches to the horse which swings the booms across the deck.
 
          The mast is stepped on the keel there have a look inside the hull see if there fitting for the base of the mast to sit into.
 
           The mast on my 34in starlet is 44in from deck level. 
 
                           frank
 
                 
             
             
             

[bigbloke]

UK data confirms the company as disolved:

http://ukdata.com/company/00355287/MODELLERS-SUPPLY-LIMITED

but companies house reveals no record of the 00355287 register entry online in the "dissolved companies" list

weird!

regards

BB

[bigbloke]

I have emailed Mr Ward of the Huddersfield Civic Society.

thanks for the suggestion

regards

BB

[Dicky-P]

Try the Huddersfield Society of Model engineers. The club has been going many years and may be able to help; they have an internet site with contacts details

[roycv]

Hi have I missed where you said how long the hull is?  Would be useful to know.
Mast length from deck is about 1 1/3rd times the length of the hull.

Incidently the Braine steering mechanism came into use about 1904.

regards Roy

[bigbloke]

29.5" long Roy

im advised this is 1:55 scale but unable to confirm

regards

BB

[bigbloke]

Try the Huddersfield Society of Model engineers. The club has been going many years and may be able to help; they have an internet site with contacts details

Thanks Dickyp! good call

I've emailled them via their website

Regards

BB

[bigbloke]

Interesting feedback from the leads suggested so far.

My request to the civic society was forwarded to another gentleman whose details I will not disclose in a public form
(But if you ever read this here "Mr CM",  many, many  thanks to you and your members )

It seems that in the 1940s the company was based at :

Airyda Works,
St John's Road, Aspley, Huddersfield,

The company was said to be manufacturers of all forms of Model Aeroplane, Ship and Building Constructional Kits and Sundries for same,
also Manufacturers to the Trade of all types of small Brass and Wood Turnings and Fittings. and exhibited at the British industries fair
Olympia ( 2nd floor, Stand No. J.2309) in 1947:

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1947_British_Industries_Fair

The company was dissolved in 1975

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/46555/pages/5373

And my correspondent has also turned up an advertisement from the august 1941 Aero modeller magazine (Ive attached the ad to this post)

the whole magazine is reproduced here:

http://www.jeedoe.com/files/56282758.pdf

he has , like Dickyp suggested the HSME who I have emailed via the link on their website.

Many thanks to all for your suggestions

regards

BB