Any idea what is on the cards for the Dove and Sea Prince?

Jon

the Sea Prince unique as it is unmodified (nose cone?)

No modifications involved.

The unique Sea Prince WF137 is a C.1 variant which had the stubby nose. Only 3 were made and were used to ferry VIP’s around in. Probably very similar inside to our G-AMLZ. Whereas all the others are T.1’s with the long nose and were used for crew training purposes.

Jon

Only down side of Whirlwinds is that if left unattended Mother Nature is even less kind than normal. From memory has a stupidly high mag alloy content?

Picture taken inside one as an example – every white patch, bar the obviously as designed 3 circular cut outs, is where the skin has completely corroded through.

Jon

I also seem to remember that two survive on the original pre-Squires Gate aerodrome site at Blackpool. Now used as feed stores and animal hospital for Blackpool Zoo.

Hard to tell – http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Stanley_Park.htm

Oh and a shot of Number 1 Hangar at Hooton 🙂 http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/f-k/DSCF0033.jpg

Jon

Well having blown up the picture to get a better look and trawled the internet have had an educated guess at deciphering the lower row of 4 stamps –

1st – Manufacturer’s stamp and will come back to later

2nd – Looks like an Anchor which would mean the Birmingham assay office

3rd – Lion indicating the silver content which in this case is Sterling .925

4th – if Birmingham makes the year 1936.

So if all the above is correct then looking through companies in that area the one that looks likely is W. Neale & Son Ltd – http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham6.html#M (about two thirds down on the right). In fact the more I look at the one on the box the more I am sure you can just see the top of the W and the N.

Or, I am completely wrong 😀

As for it purpose, what are the dimensions? Wondering if it was something like a cigar or cigarette box in the officers mess or similar.

Jon