A beautiful discovery

[Ettienne]

Good morning to all.
Kleinmond is a average size sea side town in the Western Cape Province. It also has a small gem of a second hand bookshop, Oupa's [Grandpa in english] Books. For it's size it has quite a substantial military history and war history collection. When trying to find some books on naval and maritime history I found these two gems. And I just had to buy them - of course. Any one has more information on them?

 

[Myhr99]

Happy New Year!!
I don't know anything about "the Model Shipbuilder", but I own a copy of "the Tall Frigates".
I like it a lot, but it's not your usual reference book...it has tons of good information, written in the form of a novel. It makes for an enjoyable read!

 

[BarrySR]

Found this on EBay.

The Model Shipbuilder (J. K. D. Hutchinson - 1949) Hardback with Dust jacket . | eBay

Vintage book Please see pictures for details/condition Hard back with dust jacket The first two pages have been embossed and also includes the addition of two photographs with details of boat built. All pages attached and flat retains full size body plans. A nice clean example. For auction with...

ebay.us

 

[pugwash]

Happy New Year 'E'.

As you say, finding that bookshop is a minor miracle these days.
Many happy times I've had browsing such establishments; the unexpected discovery of unheard of titles and encountering new, interesting topics can be a thrill.

Happy hunting.

 

[Ettienne]

Happy New Year 'E'.

As you say, finding that bookshop is a minor miracle these days.
Many happy times I've had browsing such establishments; the unexpected discovery of unheard of titles and encountering new, interesting topics can be a thrill.

Happy hunting.

And a kind and peaceful 2026 to you too my friend. Yes, it was quite a discovery as books on maritime and naval history in South Africa is relatively scarce. And in a way we are a maritime people ...That is how we arrived here in the first place.

 

[Ettienne]

Found this on EBay.

The Model Shipbuilder (J. K. D. Hutchinson - 1949) Hardback with Dust jacket . | eBay

Vintage book Please see pictures for details/condition Hard back with dust jacket The first two pages have been embossed and also includes the addition of two photographs with details of boat built. All pages attached and flat retains full size body plans. A nice clean example. For auction with...

ebay.us

View attachment 568156

And I got mine in the little bookshop for the princely some of GBP6.00...

 

[Ettienne]

Happy New Year!!
I don't know anything about "the Model Shipbuilder", but I own a copy of "the Tall Frigates".
I like it a lot, but it's not your usual reference book...it has tons of good information, written in the form of a novel. It makes for an enjoyable read!

I am really looking forward to the read. But ... I need to finish Peter Bagshawe's Warriors of the Sky, Springbok Air Heroes in Combat from the series South Africans at War.

 

[pugwash]

Here we go.

I noticed the author of 'The Model Shipbuilder' was 'former keeper of ship models' at the Science Museum, London; so presumably knew his stuff.

Further research reveals he was appointed to lead the survey team at the Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon ship burial excavation, 1939, which opens an entirely new can of worms/rabbit hole