Presented is a scratch built model of one of the last of the large clipper ships that carried the world's commerce under sail. A sailor made model of this size and quality is a rare find and especially desirable because she is accurate down to the last details.  Her intricate rigging is complete with preferred metal sails hanked to her yards, and all her hand crafted fittings are accurately detailed. It has acquired an intersting patina of age.

 

CONSTRUCTION: The model is constructed of various materials which include wood for hull, masts, deck, houses, hatches, ladders, and machinery. Thread and wire is used for the rigging, and metal for the sails and railings. Some details are hand painted such ports and name boards. The hull is painted black with a wide white boot top and sheer on two of her islands over a red bottom  The model is the work of a skilled craftsman who was likely a member of the crew since all the details show great knowledge of the ship and its rigging.

 

MODEL DIMENSIONS:

The model is 46" L x 6" B x 27" H                Weight 15 pounds.

 

 

PRIWALL HISTORY: The ship was ordered from Blohm & Voss at Hamburg,by Ferdinand Laeisz,  Hamburg, owner of the Flying P Line. in 1916, but it was 1920 before she sailed on her maiden voyage, delayed because of WW I. She proved to be very expensive to complete and was one of the very last post-war four masted barks. She remained doggedly trading until 1939, and achieved fast passages: 60 days from the Elbe to the Spencer Gulf, and as late as 1938. Priwall made the record doubling of Cape Horn, in five days, 15 hours to storm from Latitude 50 S in the Atlantic to 50 S in the Pacific. She was at Valparaiso at the outbreak of WW II where she was sold to the Chileans who turned her into the auxiliary “Lautaro”. She continued to carry Australian grain until reverting to the Chilean nitrate trade in the 1930's. She later caught fire carrying a cargo of nitrates and burned out.  She sunk off of Ecuador in 1943.  A stamp was issued by the Falkland Islands in her honor. By the time the Priwall was launched in 1920, the days of the sailing ships were numbered, but some of her Sisterships have survived and serve as school or museum ships today.

 

Note catwalk between islands

Ratlines and dead eyes of lower shrouds

Running lights, capstan on forecastle

Looking down from the main mast

 

Date of launch	1917
Place of launch	Hamburg
Type	4-masted steel Bark
GRT	3105
NRT	2875
DWT	4800
Length	98.5 m (323.1 ft)
Beam	14.4 m (47.1 ft)
Draft	8.0 m (26.3 ft)

 

HISTORY OF F. Laeisz Company: The Flying P-Line was founded in 1824 by Ferdinand Laeisz, a Hamburg, Germany, hat manufacturer who distributed his hats internationally. In 1839, he entered the shipping business, by building his first ship the Carl named for his son, but was not successful. Carl Laeisz entered the business in 1852 and made the F. Laeisz Company into a successful shipping business. In 1857, the Barque Pudel was ordered which was named after Carl's wife Sophie, and from the mid 1880s on, all their ships had names starting with "P". Hence, they became known as "the Flying P-line".

 

The Laeisz company specialized in the South American nitrate trade. Their ships were built for speed, and acquired an excellent reputation for timeliness and reliability, which gave rise to the nickname "the Flying P-Line". The five-masted Barque Potosi made the voyage from Chile to England around Cape Horn in 1904 in just 57 days, and Priwall set the record for rounding Cape Horn.

 

The Laeisz company had some of the largest sailing ships ever built. They experimented with steel-hulled five-masters. However, these ships turned out to be too big: their crews didn't like them, and it became increasingly difficult to achieve a satisfactory utilization on the outbound leg from Europe to Chile. The later ships, such as the Peking or the Pasta, returned to being smaller four-masted barques.

 

During World War I, many of Laeisz' ships were blockaded in Chilean ports and had to be handed over as war reparations. However, the Laeisz company was able to re-acquire many ships after the war and put them into service again.

 

Towards the end of the 1920's, the company began pulling out of the nitrate trade and increasingly started transporting other goods, e.g. bananas. They also sold some of their older ships, for instance the Pamir to Gustav Erikson in Finland who already had acquired the former Norddeutscher Lloyd-ship Herzogin Cecilie. The last sailing ship ordered by the Laeisz company was the Padua in 1926. Subsequently, the Laeisz company moved to operating steam ships. 

Poop deck with steering wheel      Photo of Priwall with this paint scheme                                                 Port stern quarter                                     Starboard side showing extensive detailsl CONDITION: The model is complete and in overall excellent condition. All the parts are present and there is only minor indication of age none of which are worth mentioning because they add to the model's character. One example would be some of the sails having a variation in finish.

A high quality sailor-made model of a famous ship with intersting history makes this a worthwhile find

International buyers welcome, but should inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

 

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping charges are  included in this offer if an error is due to our fault.

SHIPPING: This model requires crating or being delivered by special courier. Consequently, the buyer should make arrangements for packing and shipping using his own forwarding agent and carrier. For example, shipping can be arranged through Antques Delivery Service, Drew Gerrad, 561-212-7159, antiquedelivery@aol.com.

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.

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