Napier-Campbell Bluebird Racer thumbnail 1
Napier-Campbell Bluebird Racer thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, Mini Museum, case 13

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Napier-Campbell Bluebird Racer

Clockwork Toy Car
ca. 1928 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This model, which is not a completely accurate representation, was made in 1928 and based on the car driven by Malcolm Campbell at Daytona Beach, Florida, where it competed to break the land speed record. The car reached a speed of 206.956 mph.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Clockwork Car
  • Box
TitleNapier-Campbell Bluebird Racer (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Metal and cardboard
Brief description
Napier-Campbell Blue Bird Racer clockwork toy car made in the USA by Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. in 1928
Physical description
Electrically welded mild steel car with hand decorated blue lacquer finish. Equipped with Dunlop rubber tyres and a strong clockwork mechanism, with integral key, situated below the driver. The car's fins are silver and there is an American and an English flag at each end and at the sides. The driver is painted blue and silver. The cardboard box lid is decorated with drawings of the car.
Dimensions
  • Height: 110mm
  • Width: 125mm
  • Depth: 480mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
on the cardboard box:- sides 1&3:- Kingsbury Motor Driven Toy. Blue Bird Napier-Campbell Special. An authentic and exclusive reproduction of the Blue Bird Special Racer made with my permission (signed) Malcolm Campbell. Equipped with Dunlop Tires. side 2:- Napier-Campbell Blue Bird Racer. Official Wirld's Speed Record 206.95 miles per hour (set in 1928). side 4:- Napier-Campbell Blue Bird Racer. The car that unofficially made 215 miles per hour. ends read:- A durable electrically welded toy with lacquer finish, hand decorated, equipped with Dunlop Rubber Tires and strong clock spring motor. Kingsbury Mfg.Co. Keene, New Hampshire. one end is printed with a picture of a tyre. on the base of the car:- KINGSBURY MOTOR DRIVEN the Kand the Y are vertically elongated.
Credit line
Given by Lawrence Bray, Esq.
Production
Reason For Production: Commemorative
Summary
This model, which is not a completely accurate representation, was made in 1928 and based on the car driven by Malcolm Campbell at Daytona Beach, Florida, where it competed to break the land speed record. The car reached a speed of 206.956 mph.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.194&A-1978

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2004
Record URL
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