Miscellaneous

Lot 1561    Session 6 (9.30am Wednesday 21st November)    Miscellaneous

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $280

AUSTRALIAN AVIATION MEMORABILIA AND TROPHIES, includes trophies as follows, 1) small silvered cup inscribed on side, 'Aero Club of N.S.W./Path Finding Compt 1930. B' Grade/Won by F. McKeachnie (sic)'; 2) silvered cup on plastic base, enamelled badge of The Royal Aero Club of NSW affixed to one side and below is inscribed, 'Treasure Hunt/No 2 Grade 22.3.31/Won by F.McKeachnie (sic)'; 3) EPNS beer mug inscribed on one side, 'Aero Club of NSW/No 2 Grade/Race 75 Miles/Won By/F.McKeahnie/19.9'31'; 4) small silvered cup on plastic base, enamelled badge of The Royal Aero Club of NSW affixed to one side and below is inscribed, 'No 2 Grade/Sealed Hcap. Race/50 Miles/F.McKeahnie/3rd Bombing Competition/5.10.31' (illustrated); 5) silvered cup on timber base, one side of cup inscribed, 'K.L.G. Cup/1931/Won by/F.McKeahnie/Highest Aggregate Competition Score/No 2 Grade Pilots'; 6) chalice style silvered cup on plastic base, one side of cup inscribed, 'Aero Club of N.S.W./Bombing Compt 12.6.32/No 2.Grade/2nd. F.McKeahnie'; 7) silvered cup on plastic base, underneath is sticker for W.Kerr, one side of cup inscribed, 'The Royal Aero Club of NSW/Inter Club Handicap/In Conjunction With/Australia's/150th Anniversary Celebrations/Feb. 26th 1938/3rd '; also Aircraft clock with silver dial and black Arabic numerals, by S.Smith & Sons (M.A.) Ltd, Cricklewood Works, London, with their ticket affixed inside protector, clock face and works on a hinge and fold out of protector to reveal wind key on back, four screw holes for mounting to plane cluster; aviator's cap and goggles with large circular leather case, circa 1925-1940, cap and goggles made in leather, goggles with metal frame and tinted glass and elastic with sliding clip for adjustment when worn, cap with chin strap, radio input metal tubes in ear covers; radio input pipe; pennant featuring GA/C (probably an aero club) and anchor on a white background with red cross and yellow border, made of linen by Stonewall (flag belonged to F.McKeahnie); Yoke, made in steel (64.5cm long), black plastic handle, all mounting points intact. A few trophies with dents, goggle's leather deteriorated, otherwise very good - very fine. (14)

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 113 (lot 863) part.

Frank McKeahnie was the son of a prominent, pioneering pastoralist from 'Aberfoyle' at Yarra near Goulburn, NSW. After leaving school he was apprenticed to the engineering trade at Goulburn. On 1 June 1906 his wife Ivy, aged 25, died of typhoid. In that same year he purchased Sydney Machine Co based at Botany Road, Waterloo, not far from Mascot Aerodrome, as it was called at that time. Frank was a qualified pilot with the NSW Section of the Australian Aero Club and it was reported in 1930 that his father, George, had a nice surprise when Frank, flying on his way to Canberra, landed in a paddock at Yarra to visit him. Frank knew the surrounding area well as he grew up and camped on the Canberra Plains on many occasions when droving cattle, little knowing that one day the Federal capital would be built on that site.

On another occasion in June 1931, while flying over Yarra, Frank dropped a letter by parachute to a local resident to advise him that his father, George McKeahnie, was undergoing medical treatment in Sydney. Scrawled across the envelope were the words, 'Gee, it's cold up here--a cup of coffee would go good.' This was the first letter delivered to Yarra by medium of an aeroplane and the local resident stated that he was going to preserve the envelope, letter and silk parachute as a souvenir.

In January 1932 Frank McKeahnie was elected as a member of the committee of the Australian Aero Club (NSW). In the same year he presented an Essex truck, used for towing aeroplanes about the 'drome, to the Aero Club (NSW). He also was president of the air tourney committee for the Lady of the Air Tourney held at Hargrave Park and in that capacity he presented the trophy to the winner, Miss Valmal Jenkins. Hargrave Park at Liverpool, NSW was an area of about 70 acres acquired by the Royal Aero Club and they created an airfield there which opened in 1930. It was closed in about 1945.

In November 1934 Frank McKeahnie once again was the Aero Club's representative when three aircraft, three pilots and an instructor were sent from Sydney to Bombala to assist in celebrations to greet the King's son, HRH Prince Henry, when he visited the area. In 1935 he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Aero Club.

Vendor advises that Frank McKeahnie piloted one of the planes that flew over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on its official opening day but this has not been confirmed.

Please note: No mail out for this lot, collection only from the Sydney Office.