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Unique 'Take To Pieces' Model of R.M.S. QUEEN MARY

Model Ship
1936
Artist/Maker
Chad Valley Company Limited (manufacturer)
Place of origin
England

thirteen deck pieces of card covered with paper printed in colours; through all have been drilled two holes into which slot two screws to hold the model together
the whole ship can be shown, however, by removing the bottom three decks a waterline model is created


Object details

Object type
Model ship
Parts
This object consists of 22 parts.

  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Model Ship Section
  • Screw
  • Screw
  • Nut
  • Pin
  • Pin
  • Envelope
  • Key Chart
  • Box Lid
  • Box Base
TitleUnique 'Take To Pieces' Model of R.M.S. QUEEN MARY (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
card covered with paper printed in colours
Card
Paper
Metal
Printed
Brief description
Model of r m s queen mary
Physical description
thirteen deck pieces of card covered with paper printed in colours; through all have been drilled two holes into which slot two screws to hold the model together
the whole ship can be shown, however, by removing the bottom three decks a waterline model is created
Dimensions
  • Length: 12in
  • Width: 1 3/8in
  • With funnels height: 2in
Production typemass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Manufactured by The Chad Valley Co., Ltd., from original designs by G H Davis' (left side of box label; printed)
  • Patent applied for (left side of label; printed)
  • Made at the Chad Valley Works, Harborne, England (right side of box; printed)
  • All 12 decks removable revealing every item of the ship's wonderful interior. (on the right side of label; printed)
  • by removing lower Decks Nos. 11,12,13 and placing remainder on a flat surface a very accurate view of the Ship as she appears at sea is obtained. (right side of label; printed)
Credit line
Given by Thomas O'Brien Baker
Object history
RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1936 and there were a number of toy spin-offs including games and puzzles. Many of these were manufactured by The Chad Valley Company who produced both the 3D ones and the jigsaws.

G H Davis was the designer of the original plans for the full scale liner.

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The model was bought for the donor's father, Patrick O'Brien Baker, born 1923, by his father, George O'Brien Baker in 1937.
Historical context
HRH Queen Mary was a frequent visitor to Bethnal Green Museum in the 1930s and donated a wide range of toys and dolls to its collections.
Production
Reason For Production: retail
Subject depicted
Ship
Bibliographic reference
Games & Toys, March 1936, 66 Games & Toys, April 1936, cover and 50 Games & Toys, May 1936, 66
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
B.109:1-1999

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Record createdMay 24, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O11110/unique-take-to-pieces-model-model-ship-chad-valley-company/
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