My question to anyone who can help is what should I do with it? Thanks Julian
Hi Julian.....that question poses other questions and has many answers.
The main question is......what is it made from ( most probably plank on frame or bread and butter construction)......and at a size of 8' very heavy.......
and what do you want to do with it...........will it be a static display model or do you intend sailing the model.
if the latter, then you need to think very very carefully about it as it is so old and most likely a model that will not have been treated with modern preservatives to protect it from water.
you will need to find someone locally who can have a look at the model and it's timbers and then to make your dscisions on what you want to do with it from there.
However, if your model is 150 years old, I would certainly make yourself and your model known to Chatham Maritime museum where she was built and discuss the model with them......... as it could be a builders model circa of the time..........and as such could be incredibly valuable moneterially..........and I mean
valuable with a
big V..I'm sure they would be very interested in her.
What ever you do though, is do not touch it until you have sought professional advice as to it's authenticity, and for that I would contact a gentleman who has his own auction and valuation business, and was once a partner with Christies of London...he can be found here and will give you an honest appraisal as to what you might have....
http://www.charlesmillerltd.com/ would love to see some pictures of her though.good luck
neil.
