Miss America Speedboat
Age: 1920s
Materials: Wood, Brass
Marks: "Miss America"
Country of Origin: United States
Description: This antique model speedboat is made of mahogany with brass fittings. It still has the original "Miss America" stickers on the hull as well as the remnants of gilding on the brass chair, wheel, propeller, and rudder. The rudder moves by manipulating the wheel, but the key that winds up the propeller no longer makes it spin when wound. The stand upon which it rests is laminated and holds the model speedboat up on board whose pegs fit perfectly into the base.
Size: H. 4.0x W. 15.0x D. 3.5"
Weight: 2.6lbs w/stand
Provenance: New Hampshire Estate
Condition: Though the brass has patinated heavily, the original gilding is mostly intact and there is only minor chipping along the starboard side of the boat.
History: Working on engines and boats was the joy of Gar Wood's life. He designed many boats, each more powerful than the last. The hydraulic hoist, which helps a boat turn or back up, was the first of Wood's many inventions and patents which helped make him a multi-millionaire by the time he was 40. He was the first man to design a hull strong enough to handle multiple airplane motors and make world-record speeds while remaining maneuverable.In 1920, he took his Miss America I speedboat to England to compete for the coveted Harmsworth Trophy -- roughly equivalent today to the America's Cup as an international racing spectacle. Wood won. Detroit's downtown streets were jammed from Belle Isle to Randolph as the crowd awaited his return by seaplane. In America, Gar Wood's name had become as famous as Ty Cobb's.Other Miss Americas stood up to challenges from England and France as Wood successfully defended the Harmsworth eight times.In 1931, Miss America IX became the first boat to reach 100 mph, topping out at 102.256 mph. That year saw the most dramatic of all the Harmsworth races, with England's Kaye Don the chief opponent, his Miss England II powered by a Rolls-Royce motor from the British Air Ministry.