Need Help Identify 2 Model Sail Boats Recently Inherited From Grand-Father's Estate

[Howard_And_Olivia]

Hello. We have recently inherited 2 model sail boats from my wife's Grand-Father's estate. Attached are 4 Photos. We don't know anything at all about model boat/ship. These are our first encounter. Sorry for the photo quality and the messy background, as we are still clearing out the estate. The rigging needs TLCs and some other minor repairs. We are not sure if they were built from scratch or from a model kit. The question is if they are worth anything in collectible value that we should get professional doing the repair/restoration? If not, we will try doing the restore/repair on our own because they do hold sentinel value. 

Thank you all for any information that helps us to the right direction. Howard and Olivia.

 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Howard_And_Olivia
Uploaded 4 photos and added an extra comment in the description.

[amateur]

 I think both of them arr models of the same ship: Cutty Sark. 

 

With respect to value: they do not look alike very high quality model, so I suspect sentimental vslue exceeds market  value.

Kit or scratch: difficult  to tell from these pics. 

 

Jan

Edited May 12, 2022 by amateur

[ccoyle]

Hi.

 

Please take the following not as any attempt to dissuade you -- just an honest assessment. My best guess is that your models are both built from solid-hull kits. Unfortunately, the rigging for clippers is amongst the most challenging projects that any modeler can take on. It is not the sort of task that we would expect the uninitiated to tackle with high hopes for success. Sadly, professional restoration work presents its own challenge, except that in this case the challenge is monetary -- it's a rare skill, so it doesn't come cheap. It's possible that you might be able to find a local modeler who would do the work out of consideration for the models' sentimental value for you. We can suggest some nearby clubs if you give us an indication of your whereabouts.

 

Kind regards,

Chris

[Roger Pellett]

When I saw the model in the last picture that you posted I thought, “Hey, that’s my model!”   See rather poor picture below.  My model was built from an A.J. Fisher kit by my father in the early 1940’s.  He never rigged it and when the war ended went on to other projects.  The model that you show, the one without sales appears to be one too.

 

A.J. Fisher was located in Detroit, MI and produced very high quality ship model kits.  The fittings (small parts) included in their kits were unequalled in quality. Hulls were solid as Chris points out and allowed a skilled modeler to produce an outstanding model.  I doubt if many of the kit models made today will hold up as well as yours over the years.

 

These old kit models probably do not have much financial value.  That doesn’t mean that one or perhaps both are not worth restoring.  When I got my model after my mother died, it was filthy and damaged by the movers.  I gave it a good cleaning (saliva on QTips) reglued loose parts, touched up damaged paint, added the mast stubs, and built the glass case.  I treasure this as a tribute to my father’s craftsmanship and hope that my children and granddaughters will also.

 

You will note that the masts on your models are in three sections.  The bottom section known as the lower masts.  The three lower masts and the rigging attached to them on the model without sails appears to be in good shape.  You could clean up the model as I did mine, remove the broken upper masts and rigging and display it in a custom built glass case with just the lower masts and rigging.

 

Roger

[Howard_And_Olivia]

1 hour ago, ccoyle said:

Hi.

 

Please take the following not as any attempt to dissuade you -- just an honest assessment. My best guess is that your models are both built from solid-hull kits. Unfortunately, the rigging for clippers is amongst the most challenging projects that any modeler can take on. It is not the sort of task that we would expect the uninitiated to tackle with high hopes for success. Sadly, professional restoration work presents its own challenge, except that in this case the challenge is monetary -- it's a rare skill, so it doesn't come cheap. It's possible that you might be able to find a local modeler who would do the work out of consideration for the models' sentimental value for you. We can suggest some nearby clubs if you give us an indication of your whereabouts.

 

Kind regards,

Chris

 

Thank you, Chris, for the informative details about those 2 sailboats. I assume the cost of having professional restoration work done will definitely exceeds the market value and or any collector value?

 

Yes, please let us know if there are any located in the New York area.  We are located in New York (NYC, Manhattan) and can travel NJ or Upstate NY, if needed.

 

Warmly,

Howard & Olivia

[Howard_And_Olivia]

41 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

When I saw the model in the last picture that you posted I thought, “Hey, that’s my model!”   See rather poor picture below.  My model was built from an A.J. Fisher kit by my father in the early 1940’s.  He never rigged it and when the war ended went on to other projects.  The model that you show, the one without sales appears to be one too.

 

A.J. Fisher was located in Detroit, MI and produced very high quality ship model kits.  The fittings (small parts) included in their kits were unequalled in quality. Hulls were solid as Chris points out and allowed a skilled modeler to produce an outstanding model.  I doubt if many of the kit models made today will hold up as well as yours over the years.

 

These old kit models probably do not have much financial value.  That doesn’t mean that one or perhaps both are not worth restoring.  When I got my model after my mother died, it was filthy and damaged by the movers.  I gave it a good cleaning (saliva on QTips) reglued loose parts, touched up damaged paint, added the mast stubs, and built the glass case.  I treasure this as a tribute to my father’s craftsmanship and hope that my children and granddaughters will also.

 

You will note that the masts on your models are in three sections.  The bottom section known as the lower masts.  The three lower masts and the rigging attached to them on the model without sails appears to be in good shape.  You could clean up the model as I did mine, remove the broken upper masts and rigging and display it in a custom built glass case with just the lower masts and rigging.

 

Roger

 

 

That's awesome. Thank you, Roger, for the wonderful and very educational information! Things are definitely made much better in the old days, just like older TV that still works perfectly from the early 80s! Sorry if this is a silly question-- Just curious, why the old kit models don't have any collector value? I would imagine they should increase or at least hold its value due to the high standard of quality? We will try finding a local New York restoration, and also looking to the possibility of exploring on your own as you suggested. Thanks!

 

Warmly,

Howard & Olivia 

[Bob Cleek]

2 hours ago, Howard_And_Olivia said:

Sorry if this is a silly question-- Just curious, why the old kit models don't have any collector value?

For much the same reason as any other work of art. If an amateur grandparent painted a picture of a subject that had been painted many, many times before (particularly a "paint-by-numbers" or "Elvis on black velvet" work,) it's probably not worth much, but, if it's a nice enough painting to look at that you'd want to hang it on your wall, then it's worth cleaning up and framing and hanging it up. It will never bring a high price at an auction, but you will always have a nice picture "painted by my grandfather" hanging on your wall to give you pleasure. On the other hand, if your grandfather was Pablo Picasso...

[Howard_And_Olivia]

1 hour ago, Bob Cleek said:

For much the same reason as any other work of art. If an amateur grandparent painted a picture of a subject that had been painted many, many times before (particularly a "paint-by-numbers" or "Elvis on black velvet" work,) it's probably not worth much, but, if it's a nice enough painting to look at that you'd want to hang it on your wall, then it's worth cleaning up and framing and hanging it up. It will never bring a high price at an auction, but you will always have a nice picture "painted by my grandfather" hanging on your wall to give you pleasure. On the other hand, if your grandfather was Pablo Picasso...

Thanks, Bob! That's a great point.

[Clark Griswold]

The greatest value of any model is assigned by the builder by the time and love he/she put into it.  Many of us only dream of a descendant caring enough to not put in a garage sale.  I see this as a crossroads... you could enter the hobby and carry-on your great grandfather's ship modeling legacy with hopes of restoring the models eventually or you can put some coin down and enjoy them in their own right as family relics.

 

There's no wrong choice here, but we'd love to have you join our ranks.

[Howard_And_Olivia]

15 hours ago, Clark Griswold said:

The greatest value of any model is assigned by the builder by the time and love he/she put into it.  Many of us only dream of a descendant caring enough to not put in a garage sale.  I see this as a crossroads... you could enter the hobby and carry-on your great grandfather's ship modeling legacy with hopes of restoring the models eventually or you can put some coin down and enjoy them in their own right as family relics.

 

There's no wrong choice here, but we'd love to have you join our ranks.

 

Thanks, Clark. We might have them professionally restored in early Summer.