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.
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