WorldWarIi

Dunhill Fighter Provenance Fountain Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments, Men's Style

The new Fighter Provenance Fountain Pen from London-based luxury goods firm Dunhill does not take its name in vain: the limited edition writing instrument is made from the original aluminum engine casing taken from the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine of the legendary World War II Spitfire MK1 fighter plane. Produced in very small numbers due to the scarcity of the material, the pen's details also reflect this iconic aircraft - the bolt and rivet effects in the original aluminum; the tapered edges echoing the aerodynamics; and a window feature on the side of the barrel displaying level of ink and even the pen clip design directly references the shape of the spitfire propeller. The cap is also created using plexiglass which is exactly the same material used for the bubble canopy of the late 1930's and early 1940's fighter planes. The pen nib is 18 carat gold with rhodium plating and the instrument is presented in a lacquered Alfred Dunhill display box.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Dunhill, fighter plane, FighterPlane, Fountain Pen, FountainPen, London, plane, Rolls-Royce, Spitfire, World War II, WorldWarIi

Old Bomber Seeks New Home

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Usually when I hear of something in need of a home it's a kitten or maybe a puppy. Today's homeless item is a bit bigger, it's Texas Raiders, a member of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). This World War II B-17 Bomber is one of 12 still capable of flight and it is losing its Houston home. Aero-News Network reports that the owner of the hangar that houses Texas Raiders will terminate the lease effective November 30, 2008 leaving the $3.5 million plane homeless. The CAF Gulf Coast Wing has to vacate the hanger and the vintage bomber is not flightworthy so another hangar is needed to complete the restoration process. They are seeking anyone in the Houston area who can offer a standard lease or donation agreement to allow the bomber to remain in Houston. Else it will have to go to go to the Commemorative Air Force Headquarters in Midland, Texas and will have to be partially dismantled basically undoing six years of volunteer restoration. It last flew in November 2001 to celebrate the opening of the National D-day Museum in New Orleans, LA.

Source

Tags: bomber, plane, world war ii, WorldWarIi

F.D.R.'s Clock Could Sell For $1 Million

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

A Pierre Cartier clock that belonged to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is scheduled to go up for auction on December 4th at Sotheby's in Manhattan. Cartier gave the onyx clock with several different time zones (specific to key Allied forces locations in World War II) to the President back in 1943. Letters between Cartier and President Roosevelt regarding the gift are not part of the sale but can be viewed in the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.

The clock comes with a red leather presentation box inscribed with "F.D.R" and is expected to sell for as much as $1 million dollars.

Source

Tags: auction, cartier, clock, F.D.R., FDR, france, french, pierre cartier, PierreCartier, president, roosevelt, sotheby's, sothebys, World War II, WorldWarIi, WWII

"Fuddy Duddy" Plane For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

It’s not exactly going to be your commuter plane but if you are looking for a piece of history that still flies check out this B-17. “Fuddy Duddy” is up for sale. The yellow-tailed plane belongs to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center which is selling it to fund the changing interests of the museumgoers. According to General Aviation News, the museum is pursuing more space-related exhibits and World War II prop planes aren’t as popular as they once were. The plane is one of only a dozen airworthy B-17s left in the world and is selling for $3.5 million.

Tags: aviation, classic planes, ClassicPlanes, history, planes, planes for sale, world war II, WorldWarIi, WW II planes