Napier-Campbell Bluebird Racer thumbnail 1
Napier-Campbell Bluebird Racer thumbnail 2
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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
The Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. (manufacturer)
Place of origin
United States (manufactured)

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
Children & Childhood
Dolls & Toys
Object type
Clockwork toy car
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Clockwork Car
  • Box
TitleNapier-Campbell Bluebird Racer (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Mild Steel
Rubber
Cardboard
Welding
Brief description
'Blue Bird' Napier-Campbell Racer Land Speed Record Car, USA, Kingsbury Manufacturing Co., 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. One end is printed with a picture of a tyre.
Dimensions
  • Car height: 110mm
  • Car width: 125mm
  • Car depth: 480mm
  • Box length: 482mm
  • Box width: 127mm
  • Box height: 114mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • KINGSBURY MOTOR DRIVEN the Kand the Y are vertically elongated. MADE IN USA (on the base of the car)
  • 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. (on the cardboard box sides 1&3)
  • Napier-Campbell Blue Bird Racer. Official Wirld's Speed Record 206.95 miles per hour (set in 1928). (on the cardboard box side 2)
  • Napier-Campbell Blue Bird Racer. The car that unofficially made 215 miles per hour. (on the cardboard box side 4)
  • 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. (on the cardboard box ends read)
Credit line
Given by Lawrence Bray, Esq.
Object history
The model represents Malcolm Campbell's 1928 Napier Compbell Special which set up a world speed record of 206.95 m.p.h. in 1928. The model is not accurate.
[78/1256]
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.
Associated objects
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
MISC.194&A-1978

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93598/napier-campbell-bluebird-racer-clockwork-toy-car-the-kingsbury-manufacturing/
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