Toy aircraft 'Southern Cross'
Object No. 98/14/1
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Summary
Object Statement
Toy aircraft, representing Fokker trimotor 'Southern Cross' flown by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm, wood/metal, unknown designer/manufacturer, Australia, 1928-1929, used by William Swinbourne
Physical Description
High wing monoplane trimotor aircraft toy. Wooden construction with metal undercarriage and wooden wheels. Engine cylinders represented by nails. Toy painted grey with red, yellow and brown 'splashes' on the fuselage and upper surfaces of the wing. Forward fuselage and underside of wing painted white/cream. Propellers are painted red with black and orange cross hatching. Two stars or star-flowers are painted on the wing upper surface near the tips in white with blue and red detail. The words "Southern Cross" are painted on the fuselage sides in white. The outboard engine nacelles are in white/cream and the engines are painted red and black.
DIMENSIONS
Height
141 mm
Width
440 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The design of the toy is based on the famous aircraft, "Southern Cross". The designer of the toy is unknown. It is presumed that the designer and maker of the toy are one and the same person. The maker is unknown. The "Southern Cross" aircraft became famous in Australia in 1928 when it traversed the Pacific Ocean, flown by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm with the Americans, Lyons and Warner as navigator and radio operator respectively.
HISTORY
Notes
Presented to the donor on his fifth birthday in 1929 by his father. The donor was born on 14/1/1924. Purchased by donor's father from an unknown source and given to the donor as a birthday present.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mr William Swinbourne
Acquisition Date
6 February 1998
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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