5081

S.S. Central America, Scale Model, 3/16" : 1' [158989]

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
S.S. Central America, Scale Model, 3/16  : 1' [158989]
SOLD
42,000.00USD+ (8,400.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 Mar 05 @ 17:34UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Beautiful scale model of the S.S. Central America. The model itself is 57 x 11.8 x 25 inches, the case and its wood base, is 65 x 17 x 29 inches. The attached brass plaque on the right reads // Length - 272 Feet, Breadth - 40 Feet, Depth - 32 Feet / Owner: US Mail Steamship Co. / Launched: October 28, 1852 / Lost in Hurricane, September 12, 1857 / Scale 3/16" = 1 ' //. A small plaque on the left end reads // Model by / W.G. Ballenger / 1991 //. The 1852 date is when the empty hull was launched before the rest of the ship was built into it.

Bill Ballenger was an aeronautical engineer who went into a variety of engineering jobs that used his inventive nature. At some point in his career, he enjoyed model making of aircraft, which led to trains and finally ships. He preferred to only work with wood, disdaining plastic. Ballenger reportedly worked four hours per day on his models, which are prized by many North American nautical museums. This model of the S.S. Central America was commissioned by Columbus-America Group investors at a cost of approximately $10,000 -- completed in 1991, the fourth recovery year -- when it was presented by those investors to the Company. For more information, see John M. MacFarlane, "Bill Ballenger Ò Ship Model Maker" at http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Ballenger_Bill.php.

Provenance: SS Central America Collection