Private collection of aviation equipment and memorabilia

Hi Caroline

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions and for the extra photos, they will definitely be of use to my project.

Kind regards.

Paul

Gosh. John Hancocks collection. Have been to see it a couple of times, but last time was a fair few years ago.

The Canberra is truly stunning and complete; he bought it like that, direct from Hanningfields IIRC. I’ve got loads of photo’s somewhere from my visits, but looking at those that have been posted on this thread, they look the same, even the mannequin in the seat with the Gnat grip….

That’s definitely the one! He has kept everything pretty much as immaculate as he can. If you’ve been to see it you will remember the extent of the collection, I have probably just spent four full days processing all the ammunition alone.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your message. There are actually three of the containers, two of which I believe were made from the originals as props used in the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’ but the contents are original. Seven were made but only the whereabouts of six are known, but I believe the other is original. I see that you already have been given the dimensions, the prop has a 15c/188 container parachute housing three petrol cans.

The second example has is fitted with a 5c/285 container parachute housing a WWII airborne folding stretcher mark one, a short trenching tool and canvas holder, wire cutters, a wrapping sheet with rope carry straps etc. I unfortunately do not have many additional photographs to hand as these are held on-site, but here are individual shots of each one.

The third example comes with a clamp and has ex-Oosterbeek/Arnhem provenance, the parachute is PAK 51 FD DW with a net weight of 113lb gross, 400lb max weight, I only have an upright photograph of this at the moment.

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We have had threads in the past that were in violation of the rules for selling but closing this one would be like shutting the gate after the horse has legged it….

Hi Runway06,

The prop is a Watts twin blade propeller, possibly from a Merlin II powered early Spitfire/Hurricane, marked ‘DRG NO WATTS 73897, MERLIN II R.H, D11.25.P21.3, H7650 66747, JAN 1940’

🙂

Very late Hurricane, not Spit.

Gosh. John Hancocks collection. Have been to see it a couple of times, but last time was a fair few years ago.

The Canberra is truly stunning and complete; he bought it like that, direct from Hanningfields IIRC. I’ve got loads of photo’s somewhere from my visits, but looking at those that have been posted on this thread, they look the same, even the mannequin in the seat with the Gnat grip….

The For Sale forum isn’t going to happen – snafu has the reasoning. Technically, I probably shouldn’t allow this thread, but I’m feeling charitable!

Bruce…………..

You are all heart ………..!!!!!

PM

Thank you for this aeronut – and good to hear from you again. 🙂

Paul

The Mk3 was 14 in dia 65 in long including the crash head. The inside dimension of the stores compartment was 13 7/8 in dia by 52 in long.

What a cracking thread! – courtesy of the pictures Caroline posted – especially the CLE MkIII container. Caroline I have no hope of being able to purchase this item, but would be most grateful if I could organise with you for a few more pictures of the canister and its contents. I have a scale modelling project in mind, for which I need to make scale models of these containers. Would it also be possible to obtain the container’s dimensions – length, width, circumference etc?

Kind regards.

Paul

Ooh, this is just round the corner from me. Might have to put in an appearance and potentially get myself in a whole load of trouble from her indoors.

The For Sale forum isn’t going to happen – snafu has the reasoning. Technically, I probably shouldn’t allow this thread, but I’m feeling charitable!

Thank you I do appreciate it! Once again apologies for contravening the forum rules and I will be more mindful in future.

The For Sale forum isn’t going to happen – snafu has the reasoning. Technically, I probably shouldn’t allow this thread, but I’m feeling charitable!

Not sure how legally binding a waiver might be regarded – it might need some sort of insurance premium to cover Key and a whole heap of hassle to organise and maintain, which might mean that it would just not be worth the effort.

On the other hand it might now all be fine, just going by what I understand from other forums attempts to organise a sales and exchange section…

Hi Snafu,
That is a point I hadn’t considered.
I am not fully aware of the legal implications for Key in this type of scenario.
However, if the site contained a disclaimer waiving Keys responsibilty would that not suffice?
Gerry

Dear all,

I have often wondered why forums like this do not have an ‘Items for sale / Swap’ section.

If you think about it logically then you might reason that, somewhere along the line, buying something from here could lay Key open to being responsible when one of you buys a stolen item from another of you; maybe it would be when the insurance company or the police come calling, looking for information about the seller that Key does not currently hold, who knows…

The question has been asked many times, but Key publishing wont allow a “for sale” section; on another note FIRST DIBBS on the propeller!

Maybe it would also stop the misrepresentation of parts that ebay has a flood of, I am sure we would all welcome genuine item and a first dibbs as so many on here are doing fantastic jobs in restoring things the like we would never see.

OK, Key maybe time for a thread allowed for parts for sale/swap, its done in the Ebay thread?

Dear all,

I have often wondered why forums like this do not have an ‘Items for sale / Swap’ section.
I have a relatively small collection and suspect that many people that visit the forum have similar collections.
In my case, being of limited funds, I often need to sell parts of my collection to buy others. I think that is the same for most hobbies / interests.
Personally, I think it is advantageous to get as much notice of an auction as possible as this allows time to try and raise funds for a bid.

With regard to selling to the highest bidder, surely that is the same for all collections. Would a stamp collector who had paid £1000 for a stamp expect to sell it for a reduced price years later. It isn’t greed, it is the reality of a specialised collection.
I should add that I have paid for items and then sold them years later for a loss! That is part of the joy of collecting, taking the rough with the smooth.
Very few can afford to invest a lot of time and money and then be expected to give it all away.

Gerry

Couldn’t have put it better myself, well said Mr Scotavia !