Air Race Board Games?

[Mark_pilkington]

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I have been collecting 1934 air race material over the years and bought a very old board game box a few years ago "The Air Race Game" with a small single page "set of rules" titled "Around the Commonwealth by aeroplane", I am not sure the box and rules are from the same game given the title variations?

Interestingly the National Library of Australia has a board from the "Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane" game listed as being circa 1910 as it shows a map of Australia with Northern Territory part of South Australia (it was passed to the Commonwealth Government in 1911, and a boxkite type flying machine?



My box lid has radial engined monoplanes of the late 1920's-1930's and I assumed it was issued in relation to the 1934 air-race, whereas the National Library board certainly seems older.

I was wondering if anyone had seen old aviation related board games similar to the above descriptions?

regards

Mark Pilkington

[Ken]

Hi Mark,

very interesting, can you let us know what you have found please, I keep my eyes open for memorabilia from the race but rarely see anything.

I have a copy of 'SCOTTS BOOK' by CWA Scott which sadly only gives a small chapter on the race, but a great find never the less.

Ken

[wieesso]

e**y 130320784049, 310157633563

http://www.angelfire.com/az2/gamesgo...es/airrace.jpg

http://wagcollectibles.com/images/globerace.jpg

[Mark_pilkington]

Ken,

I dont have a lot, the real jewels are the official programs, entry forms, celebratory dinner menu's etc, and although I have seen them in collections they dont seem to be circulating for sale.

Most of my items are Flight Covers flown on the competing aircraft, these are still readily available (at least here in Australia) in aero-philatelic catalogues and also on ebay.

This one, flown on the New Zealand DH-89 ZK-ACO is on ebay at the moment for 46 UK pounds.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1934-England-A...d=p3286.c0.m14

Other covers flown on the KLM DC-2 and Boeing 247 are around in significant numbers and therefore very reasonably priced, however those flown on the rare/obsecure types, and the winning DH Comet, will cost into the hundreds of Australian dollars.


There is a current Leski Catalogue for an online Auction in Australia with a cover flown on the DH Comet by Scott and Campbell Black for a minimum bid of $750 AUD and expected sale in the range of $1000 - $1250, while a Turner/Boeing Cover is $340 - $500 and the KLM DC-2 is $60 - $100.



http://www.livebidonline.com/catalog...AD&eventid=354

Other items such as this DH Comet Lapel Badge come up on specialist online collector sites

http://www.cjbalm.com/auto-aero/aitem180.htm

The gold medal issued to Jimmy Melrose for his 1934 race flight in the Puss Moth sold in Melbourne in @2006 for $7000 and is now in the collection of the Museum of Victoria.

http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/cat...ale_88/a04.pdf

You may find this PDF of an official Air Race Chart of interest as well http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/vicpamphle...pdf/vp1368.pdf



Here below is a selection of my Air Race covers including a 50th anniversary celebration cover flown out on the DC-2 in 1984, an original cover flown on "Uiver" in the 1934 race, and an original cover flown on Turner's Boeing 247 in the race. (There are a number of official KLM/Uiver flight cover designs to collect., and they are the most numerous and therefore cheapest)

Here below is my "The Air Race Game" box I mentioned in my first post, it doesnt specifically refer to the 1934 air race but the box cover art work seemed to be of that period, inside the empty box were the rules to the "Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane" game but this seems to be a seperate game in itself? and perhaps originating from 1910 and made in Melbourne. There is no board or other pieces surviving in the box. (Perhaps my box was a later "packaging" of the earlier game to cash in on the interest in the 1934 air race, I note reference to an "official air race" game on some sites so I wonder if mine might be an "un-official" one and un-able to use the race name itself?)


Here below is my best piece, a silver plated tin tray, with embossed lettering
"The Air Race - England -Australia A Souvenir of the Melbourne Centenary 1834 1934" with an embossed antiquated biplane, it was made in England. (I had real trouble photographing it without reflection, and with no chalk or talcum powder to pick up the embossing I resorted in desperation to the finding some cooking powder in the kitchen and I chose Cadbury chocolate powder over plain flour which seemed entirely appropriate to highlight a MacRobertson Air Race souvenir (MacRobertson's chocolate factory is now owned by Cadburys)

I found this is an antique shop in Melbourne about 5 years ago, it is the only one I have seen in captivity.

I recently picked up two other items on ebay here in Australia, tin lapel badge of CWA Scott and the DH Comet marked "Speed Winner", and a glass dish commemorating the Victorian and Melbourne Centenary 1934-1935 but embossed with a map of England and Australia with aircraft racing between the two. (there are examples of this glass dish in the Powerhouse and other Government museums in Australia)

Although these souvenir pieces above are probably the rarest items I have, the flight covers that actually flew in the race are of more interest to me even though there is probably hundreds of each still surviving in many collections, as they are a direct link to the participants and aircraft. I therefore recommend them as the easiest and most relevent items to pursue.


I hope that has been of interest?

Regards

Mark Pilkington

[WJ244]

Had a look around the net and came to the conclusion that your leaflet is probably around 1910 and the air race game box looks to be 1930's.
I also found a website selling what claimed to be a pre war air race game with a picture of a Gloster Meteor on the front!
Sent them an email but no reponse so far.

[Ken]

Hi Mark

Thanks for the interesting posts, I never thought about first day covers so its something new to look for. I know someone who has one of the menu's mentioned which is signed by Scott and Black and no he wont part with it but he did send me a scan which is great, I will try and post the pic here but can send it to you by e-mail as well if you like.

A couple of years ago I saw a DH badge for sale with the date of the race cast in it which looked great but sadly it was sold before I found it. I also enclose a pic as its different to the one you posted the link for.

Ken

[Mark_pilkington]

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here is a game made in Melbourne for the 1934 Air Race -

1933 Melbourne Centenary Air Race Game. Produced by Impex of Melbourne prior to the 1934 MacRobertson UK to Australia race. 20 x 61 cm

The name is simply "Centenary Air Race" it was patented in 1933 and was an electricified game?









http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/4870767

An excellent piece, this apparantly sold at auction in Melbourne in 2008 for $250AUD.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

[Old Fart]

My Collection:





and going a little off topic (hope you dont mind)

[Mark_pilkington]

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Missed out on a copy of the Happy Educator Air Race souvenir map on evilbay a month ago,







but won this rare competitor's race Mildenhall dinner menu to make up for it!








regards

Mark Pilkington