Pond Model
Material: Mahogany planks/brass/silk
Description: Pond model of a sloop yacht with a deck cabin,mahogany planked deck, hull and bottom. Lead keel, brass & lead fittings, original suit of sails correctly sewn, & pulleys and turn buckle stays. Working rudder.
Construction: Plank on frame
Date: Circa 1930
Size: 40.5" H (on stand) x 27" W x 7" D
Weight: 6 pounds
Condition: Very good, some marring of the finish. Light separation in the gun rails. Copper stays at mast probably replaced. Original sails in excellent condition.
History: One of the earliest records of working models in the U.S. is in a letter from Benjamin Franklin to Sir John Pringle on May 10, 1768. Franklin reveals how he dragged a six inch model boat through a 14 foot tank in a series of experiments to determine the effect of water depth on the speed of a boat. The test results led to engineering studies by those engaged in canal construction in the U.S. and England later in the century. Since that letter, many other documents indicate miniature models were built and tested before engineering full-scale ships began so ship builders could determine potential problems and conditions. Recreational pond sailing in America became increasingly popular from the late Victorian period through its heyday in the 1930s. In England, however, it can be traced back to nobility in the early 1600s.