Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Home Front
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Excellent Service Gas Mask issued to ARP, Police and Fire Service, dated 1940 with bag, anti-dim and instruction leaflet.
The Civilian Service Respirator (gas mask) was exclusively issued to those civilians in wartime service capacity such as Police, ARP, Fire Service etc. It was a more robust version of the civilian issue mask though used the same filter. Mask is well marked, dated 1940 and in excellent condition; the rubber is pliable and the straps are still elastic. The only part which has stiffened is the rubberized canvas pad which fits on the back of the head. Comes with correct canvas shoulder bag with pocket for anti-dim/fogging compound and rare instruction sheet. Made by Siebe Gorman. Great example of a home front gas mask.
ON HOLD
ARP "Gas" Rattle dated 1939.
Excellent original and working example of the "Gas Rattle" carried by Wardens of the ARP (Air Raid Precautions). When swung it made a very loud noise which was used to alert members of the public that an air raid, possibly involving the use of poison gas, was imminent (the hand bell, offered elsewhere, signified the "all-clear"). All wood construction, the rattle is in excellent original condition, works perfectly and is well marked with ARP, manufacturer's name and a clear date of 1939. These were a throwback to WWI when they were similarly used in the trenches to warn of an impending gas attack. Few survive and many were subsequently painted in the colours of local football teams and used as "noise-makers" at matches.
$95 / £75 / €88
ARP Warden's Hudson "Police" whistle.
The third means of communication used by ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Wardens was the ubiquitous police whistle. Since they had similar powers to the police (at least as far as telling the public to "put out that light") they were issued with a similar pea-less tube whistle. This example is chrome plated and maker marked to J. Hudson of Birmingham who were perhaps the best known manufacturers. Again a lovely example.
$75 / £60 / €70
Wartime board game "The Dover Patrol or Naval Tactics" complete and in original box.
Superb wartime board game for those long nights (and days!) waiting for the latest news on the radio. Made by H.P. Gibson & Sons the game is for two players: red force and blue force, each with a fleet of 40 assorted ships on a squared board and is played similar to chess. The playing pieces are printed on cardboard which mounts onto metal bases. All pieces are present although the metal has some surface oxidation - but overall this is in remarkable condition and it even still has its original price tag attached from well-known London department store Selfridges.
$85/ £65 / €80
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RAF mother-of-pearl sweetheart pilot wing brooch "Mother".
Absolutely lovely hand-made brooch measuring 2.5" (6cm) from wingtip to wingtip. Made from carved from mother-of-pearl, with the word "Mother" in gold wire to the front. Pin back fastening. The workmanship is quite amazing - the word "Mother" and the pin and catch on the back all being made out of one continuous piece of wire which threads through tiny drilled holes in the mother-of-pearl. Quite a unique example.
$75 / £60 / €70
1969 Dinky Toy Spitfire MkII.
One of those toys that must have escaped from Santa's sack last week! A vintage Dinky 719 Supermarine Spitfire MkII, produced in 1969 to coincide with the release of the classic film, "Battle of Britain". Wingspan of 6.75" (17cm) so close to 1/72 scale. Shows play wear but is complete with all parts and retains 85-90% of its original paint. Originally sold with an electric motor to spin the propellor - this one has no motor fitted but the prop turns nicely. Retractable undercarriage. Stickers are a little faded but a great reminder for those of us who grew up watching this great movie and "had to have" the model! No box - just the toy but displays great with any RAF collection.
$40 / £30 / €36
Junkers aircraft factory "Shafkopf" card game.
From the German Home Front, for a change. An unusual promotional item from the 1930s for the Junkers aircraft and engine factory. A complete set of 32 playing cards for the game "Shafkopf" (sheeps head), a traditional Bavarian card game, similar to whist or bridge which was (and still is) extremely popular, with clubs and tournaments taking place regularly. In excellent condition with superb artwork. (A copy of the history and method play will be included).
$100 / £80 / €94
RAF Sweetheart ring in sterling silver.
Superb example of a more unusual "sweetheart" item - a ring made from a miniature pair of pilot wings, curved and joined into a band that fits around the finger. Evenly tarnished and marked "Sterling" inside the band.
$45 / £38 / €42
Shadow box display with 35 WWII "Pep" Cereal pins featuring AAF squadron patch designs.
Excellent collection of original WWII "Pep" Cereal pins—given as free gifts with each box of Pep Cereal. 35 pins in all and no duplicates. Some have minor wear and chips (please look at the enlarged photos by clicking on them). Too many to list so please look to identify them. Sold as a complete display—will not split them up. They are pinned to velvet and mounted in the black shadow box. Great home front item!
$175 / £140 / €160
WWII era plastic toy aircraft "America in the Air" on original card.
Fantastic and rare wartime plastic toy aeroplanes, still on original card! "America in the Air" by Lido Toy Corp., New York City, Made in the USA. Incredible condition. Features four small plastic aircraft, each with a wingspan of 2.5" / 6.5cm. 2 four-engine bombers (B-17) in mottled blue/white and two unusual twin-engine bombers with pusher-type propellors (I believe these are the Bell Airacuda - a rare and obscure type!) in blue plastic.
$85 / £70 / €80
Wartime wooden model kit - Fiat aircraft in original box.
Wartime wooden model construction kit by Master ModelCraft of New York of a Fiat biplane fighter. Labeled as a Fiat 40, it is actually more likely a Fiat 42, but it is complete! Wood fuselage requires shaping; wings are printed on wood and also require shaping. Other parts in heavy card plus turned wooden wheels and a metal propellor. Insignia are printed on paper, to be cut out and glued on. Complete and in perfect condition, still in its box - great addition to any WWII aviation display!
$25 / £20 / €24
WWII era Home Front board game "Aviation" .
Fascinating game for wartime gatherings (or anytime!). Aviation is the "Aerial tactics game of attack and defence." The game itself is 100% complete and in very good condition - all that is missing is the original box! All cards and metal stands are present, as is the board and original instruction book with "hints" on how to play - all in excellent condition. While it is a shame the original box is absent, I dare say it would be easier to find a box with partial contents than to find all the pieces (42 red cards and 42 blue, featuring every type of aircraft and defences, with 84 metal stands).
$45 / £35 / €42
"Laughs with the Forces" - 1943 magazine featuring cartoons from Punch and Giles and others.
For many people growing up in England, it wasn't Christmas without the yearly book of cartoons by Giles, the famous cartoonist whose work appeared every day in the Daily Express. Giles was hard at work during the Second World War as well, and this lovely piece of nostalgia features his early work, along with cartoons from Punch, as well as numerous anecdotes and jokes about the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. 48-pages, 5.5" x 8.5" (14cm x 22cm). Excellent condition, with one small tear at the spine. Brilliant British military humour.
$40 / £30 / €45
Wartime Parrsboro Nova Scotia pennant.
Felt peanut with silk-screened and hand-coloured name/crest of Parrsboro, Canada.
These pennants were
very popular for representing home towns, bases, ships etc. of servicemen and were collected by soldiers, sailors and airmen from all allied branches. Excellent condition and retains rich full color.
$20 / £15 / €17
Wartime Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada pennant.
Felt peanut with silk-screened and hand-coloured crossed Union flag and Canadian flag.
These pennants were
very popular for representing home towns, bases, ships etc. of servicemen and were collected by soldiers, sailors and airmen from all allied branches. Excellent condition and retains rich full color.
$20 / £15 / €17
Wartime cigarette card album with full set of cards.
John Player cigarette card album with complete set of cards, "Aircraft of the Royal Air Force." Superb home front item for grown ups and kids and in excellent condition. Minor creasing and small rust stains around staples. All cards neatly glued in and name neatly written inside cover. C.1939. The illustrations of aircraft are quite excellent.
$35 / £28 / €28
Unusual Home Front item from Nazi Germany: cabbage grater clearly marked DRGM.
DRGM (Deutsches Reich Gebrauchsmuster - the equivalent of a patent mark) marked cabbage grater which may have seen military use due to its field grey painted finish. Measures 11" x 4.5" (28cm x 11cm) with six integral cutting blades for slicing a cabbage and other vegetables for making soup etc. Much of the paint is worn off the front side from use, and more removed in cleaning, but the back retains about 85% of its original field grey paint. Great condition. Wonderful item to display with a Luftwaffe dinner set!
$60 / £45 / €50 email to secure this item
Lovely silk "Victory" handkerchief, depicting the flags of all the Allied nations that fought together and won WW2.
Unused, in beautiful, pristine condition, this small (12" square) keepsake of WW2 is significant in that it recognizes all of the Allied nations - not just the "main contenders." Printed in bright, rich colours flags of every country are shown from Australia, and India, China, canada, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland, New Zealan, Free France, South Africa, Greece, Holland, Great Britain and USA, plus shields with flags of Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Belgium etc. Around the edge, a border shows symbols of the countries intertwined through the word "Victory." An unusual souvenir in lovely condition.
$25 / £18 / €20 email to secure this item
WWII era Police whistle "The Metropolitan" - as issued to Police all over Great Britain.
Patterned after the whistle first used by the Metropolitan Police (London) in the 19th century and issued to Police everywhere, this was the standard style Police whistle used in the war years. Pewter whistle marked "The Metropolitan" and "Made in England" - great condition with minimal wear.
$25 / £18 / €20 email for more details
Complete set of Players Cigarette cards - RAF aircraft
Excellent "Home front" item! A complete set of Players aircraft cigarette cards featuring RAF aircraft, circa 1939. Most cards in very good to excellent condition, with some showing minor creases, corner wear etc. Still retain their gummed backing for adhering in album. Preserved and supplied in archival plastic pages.
$25 / £18 / €20 email to secure this item
WWII Kelloggs "Pep" badges / pins
A giveaway with Kelloggs cereal during the war, these small pins feature the insignia of different AAF and USN aviation squadrons. Each is marked around the edge with which squadron. A colourful collectible for kids and adults alike! Now quite rare because so few survived. these have a few chips to the paint and some rust to the pins, but overall good condition. Total 8.
$45 / £35 / €40 email for more details