A few years ago I was startled to read a thread that suggested that the Royal Aero Club had a duplicate First Prize Trophy from the 1934 Centenary Air Race in their possession, separate to that awarded to the winners in DH88 Comet “Grosvenor House” and later donated to the Red Cross at the beginning of WW2 to support the “war effort”.
In my recollection, who ever wrote the post had confirmation that the Club had it in their possession and was going to arrange to visit and photograph it?
I can’t locate it using the forums search engine (why doesn’t that surprise me) and I don’t recall now if that was pre- or post- the forum “Upgrade”.
Can anyone recall that thread or post, point me to it, and elaborate what was eventually discovered?
I do note that the Royal Aero Club does have a website listing their archival collection including trophies and there is no listing for a 1934 Air Race Trophy among them?
By: mark_pilkington - 17th February 2021 at 20:39
Here is it displayed on the RAeC Collections website.
https://raec.daisy.websds.net/arts_trophies.aspx?type=trophies
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th February 2021 at 17:14
Thinking about it I reckon the 1976 date probably relates to when the Trust’s collection and archive was transferred to Hendon and added to their catalogue. As for the 1927 date I guess the only way to be sure would be to get it out of the case and check the hallmarks. Something for the future
By: mark_pilkington - 17th February 2021 at 07:24
Thanks Scheiderman, this is fantastic news, I would have assumed it was made at or about the same time the main Trophy was made -especially if it was presented to the RAeC by the City of Melbourne Race organising committee, – and hence it is strange that the RAeC records list it as being acquired in 1976? – perhaps it was hidden away (or on display / on loan elsewhere and hence not recorded into the RAeC collection until then?
It is also strange that it is listed as being made in 1927, long before the race had even been concepted, hence its likely to have been made either in 1934 along with the winning Trophy or not long after that in 1935 as the organising Committee finished up and expended any remaining funds?
Either way it certainly is a rare and important relic from the Race and gives tangible presentation of what the Winners Trophy must have looked like.
I note its not an identical twin or exact replica of the Winners Trophy, which has a more extensive inscription on the Main Cup, biplanes attached to the two small “globes” either side of the Main Cup, and a disc/medallion/round badge? on the timber base of the Main Cup, but I assume it was made by the same Melbourne Jewellers/ Trophy Makers.
The Main Cup is inscribed with:
MILDENHALL
to
MELBOURNE
AIR RACE
1934
While the wooden? base is fitted with an inscribed metal plate
I note that its inscription reads:
Presented to
THE ROYAL AERO CLUB
by the
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS COUNCIL
of the
STATE of VICTORIA and the CITY of MELBOURNE
in recognition of the valuable services
in organising this race.
By: avion ancien - 16th February 2021 at 21:24
Thank you, Schneiderman.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2021 at 20:00
Melted down, so the story goes. The replica was presented to the RAeC by the city of Melbourne in recognition of their efforts in staging the race.
By: avion ancien - 16th February 2021 at 18:07
I suppose that this inevitably begs the question – if what the RAeC has is a copy, what became of the original after it was donated to the Red Cross?
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2021 at 17:07
The RAeC Trust have two display cabinets in the original building (can’t remember what hangar number they give it now) on the ground floor, beyond the entrance lobby on the lefthand side a little beyond the entrance to the aircraft. A bit hidden but we are grateful for the space allocated to us. It is our intent to rearrange the exhibits at some time.
The replica trophy is on display in the righthand cabinet.
By: farnboroughrob - 16th February 2021 at 14:35
I am pretty sure I saw this at Hendon about 15-20 years ago. This was before the mezzanie gallery closed. Very much overlooked in the corner was a cabinet that cointained this and the 1930’s South Africa air race trophy/replica? There were also various medals from the era including from the Schnieder trophy. I thought at the time that it should not be hiding in the corner.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2021 at 08:15
I am a volunteer archivist for the collection and can confirm that the Royal Aero Club Trust does indeed possess a replica of the trophy. It appears to have been acquired by the Trust in 1976 (source unknown to me at this stage) and curiously is catalogued as having been made in 1927. Held in the RAF Museum store at Hendon, catalogue number 1988/0775/C. The museum is currently closed so I cannot tell you any more at the moment.
It is noted on our website under The Collection…..Trophies…..View Trophies
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February 16, 2021 at 6:50 am