Warbird Information Exchange

My dear wife has given me an art deco-ish ashtray that I'd had my eye on -- It reasonably depicts a flying Lockheed Hudson type. The front end looks more like Lodestar and it could potentially another turreted Lockheed twin, but I think the intent was to represent a Hudson.

I've searched the web and cannot find anything on this ashtray and am seeking any information that anyone might have. A clue to its background might be the eagle afixed to the base.

Help?

It's an RAF eagle.

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/we ... hudson_RAF

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45-47=-2

I suspect the long, goofy neck makes it an RCAF albatross.

-Tim

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Keep 'em Flying.

Nice item, Dave! It's a Hudson, although not a precise scale one. Streight(ish) trailing edge to the wing, big Boulton Paul turret, no underfuselage step for the ventral gun position, present on the Ventura. Not sure what you mean by having a 'Lodestar' nose; as there's no representation of glazing in the cockpit, side windows or turret, then it follows there'd be none on the nose area either.

The bird is the Eagle / Albatross of the RAF and some associated air forces. The only thing I think you can say is it isn't the RAAF wedgetail eagle, but could be the albatross of the RAF, RCAF or RNZAF. All four air forces operated the Lockheed Hudson.

Details of the RAF badge, and comparison to others:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badge_of_t ... _Air_Force

RAAF wedgetail eagle badge:
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-bad ... istory.htm

The eagle on its own (cloth or metal) is used as a part of the uniform, as well - but that's an area I'm not expert in.

HTH!

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

If it's American made, I'd suspect it was made by Allyn.
They specialized in metal desk models for many US manufacturers...Douglas, Convair, Boeing and Lockheed.
Many were done as ashtrays.

The Eagle could have been added for RAF customers.

More here:
http://www.collectair.com/modelannex.html

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Here's another airlane ashtray site on the net that describes your Hudson!

http://canadianaerospace.weebly.com/air ... trays.html

Thanks to all for your comments.

I'd looked at everything I can find on the Web about Allyn including the link provided by Hercat (thank you), and while I can find a lot of other desk ashtrays including a couple of Hudsons, I can't find this one.

I can't find any maker's marks.

It's a good point that the RAF eagle might have been attached later. It is a separate part and made of brass (but so are the props).

Perhaps the design of the base is a clue. Simple round ashtray, no cigarette butt holders, with a fairly elegant stand.

Any additional information, clues or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Dave

Actually, the tiny picture on the linked web site may be the same item, less the props and RAF (?) badge. I'm talking to the guy who maintains that site.

Hi Dave,
Given it was acquired in N America, I'd guess it's of (or depicting) an RAF or RCAF Hudson or for a member of one of those forces. I've seen a few Hudson metal models, although not always on a tray - it seems a popular type through the Commonwealth. A colleague of mine has one in his office, I'll try and get some pics for comparison next time I see him, but it'll be a while.

I agree that the eagle may have been added later, but obviously we can't be certain. How it it attached? Does it look like it goes into an existing mounting hole, which would imply something was designed to go there?

I'm also intrigued at the lack of bevels for resting a cigarette. I'd expect that would make it pretty hopeless as a practical ashtray, but the dishing rather than a mound of the base certainly implies that purpose.

Interesting, nevertheless!

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Could the dish built into the bottom be a bowl that a glass ashtray would have sat in? Would be a lot easier to clean that way, assuming ashtrays were ever cleaned at the time.

-Tim

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Keep 'em Flying.

Probably from an officers mess ...