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Vintage Schneider Air Race Trophy Binoculars, Aviation Model.These binoculars a commorative from one of the most important aviation competitions in the early days of flight, the Schneider Cup Air Race. From the outside they are in excellent general condition.However, when you use them they do not focus properly, and they also don’t move as smoothly as they should on their extensions.I believe they have been taken apart at some point, as the various threads have also been cross threadded, the two larger lens caps don’t tighten properly and the two smaller caps take some effort to remove.The ony real outer damage is a small dent to the left hand eyepiece, but otherwise, as I have said, they look superb, with ‘Schneider Trophy’ engraved on one stalk, ‘Aviation Model’ on the other.They will require work if to be made functional, but I’m sure it is all possible, especally given the excellent outer condition, but please study the photos for a closer inspection.I forgot to mention they are marked ‘Made In France’ and probably date to the 1930’s or so.
“Jacques Schneider was a French industrialist and balloonist, who held, for a long time, the balloon altitude record of 33,074 ft. He became a pilot but suffered a serious accident, which precluded him from further flying. An aviation enthusiast nonetheless, he supported various air race competitions and aero clubs financially. As race referee at the Monaco Air Race in 1912, he noticed that seaplane design lagged far behind other aircraft. He felt that seaplanes would be the best solution for long-range passenger service amd that a seaplane race would allow these aircraft to improve more quickly. As such, on December 5th, 1912, at the Aro-Club de France, he offered a trophy for a seaplane race and proposed a course of at least 150 nautical miles; the first race was held in 1913 in Monaco. The name of the trophy was “Coupe Indernational d’Hydroaviation Maritime Jacques Schneider”. Each aero club could enter three participants and three alternates. The races were supervised by the Fdration Aronautique Internationale and the rulse specified that if an aero club won three races in five years, they would retain the cup permanently and the winning pilot would receive 75,000 francs. Each race was hosted by the previous winning country. The Schneider trophy race was held eleven times between 1913 and 1931 and became an outright speed contest over a triangular course. Winners included France (1913), UK (1914, 1922, 1927, 1929 and 1931), Italy (1920, 1921 and 1926), the US (1923 and 1925). In 1931 the trophy was won permanently by the British with a third straight win by a Supermarine. Aircraft design advanced significantly as a result of the Schneider Cup competition, especially in the fields aerodynamics and engine design; the heritage of this evolution was reflected in World War II fighters such as the British Supermarine Spitfire, the American P-51 Mustang and the Italian Macchi C.202 Folgore.”
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Category: Cameras and Photography:Telescopes and Binoculars:Binoculars and Monoculars
Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire