A fine builder's R.N.L.I presentation scale model of the H...

Hammer

£5,500

A fine builder's R.N.L.I presentation scale model of the Hydraulic Steam Lifeboat 'City of Glasgow , 1894': gilt brass funnel, capstan, anchor, binnacle and fittings with side grab ropes, the hull painted in RNLI blue red and coral pink, polished brass rudder, raised on turned brass support within an ebonised glazed case, presentation plaque inscribed 'Hydraulic Steam Lifeboat City of Glasgow' Built For The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, by R & H Green, Blackwall Yard, London , 1894', model length 100 cm , the case 40 x 124 x 47.5, raised on a turned leg presentation table, 131cm overall height. Together with a facsimile blue print 'Proposed Hydraulic Life-boat for the service of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution' , 61 x 104cm, two copies of 'The Life-Boat and its Work' by Sir John Cameron Lamb, one with personalised dedication to Sir Fitzroy Clayton, four black and white photographs of the Filey pulling lifeboat 'Hollon The Third' (in use 1907-1937) being hauled ashore and related ephemera. *Notes- At the end of the 19th century the RNLI began considering the use of stem powered lifeboats due to the number of times that the pulling of sailing boats towed to rescue was undertaken by steam powered tugs. In June 1888 a design by R & H Green of Blackwall, London was selected and the first hydraulic steam lifeboat 'Duke of Northumberland' was ordered and completed in 1889. During summer trials in 1890 the Duke of Northumberland impressed the Harwich committee and in 1894 the RNLI's second steam lifeboat 'City of Glasgow' arrived at Harwich on the 7th November, 1894. Funded through the Glasgow Lifeboat Saturday Fund and designed by RNLI architect George Lennox Watson, she was built by R& H Green at a cost of £2,639 10s 0d. The City of Glasgow was beset by many problems during her service when in March 1895 on returning to the station her condenser tubes started leaking. Later on in the same year alterations were needed to improve her trim and whilst returning from service in October the exhaust pipe cracked and needed repairs. In 1897 the port inlet joint started leaking so much that she needed to be returned London for repairs. On the journey the problem became such an issue that she needed to be grounded on a mudbank near Sherness and subsequently towed to R&H Green's yard. Despite her issues, 'City Of Glasgow' undertook a number of services during the period 1894 to 1897 and after repairs 1898 to 1901, rescuing thirty -two lives. Technical issues were to lead to her replacement in 1901 when she was withdrawn from service and eventually sold for £100. The facsimile blue print is signed and dated 'HDC 27.6.88' indicating that Harold Clayton had put forward his own design to the RNLI for the proposed steam lifeboat. *Provenance- Clayton family descent * A similar model can be seen in the Science Museum (Object number 1912-130) which has a white painted hull below the water line rather than the coral pink of the model here.