 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess early battleships, circa 1890s – 1910 L 8.25” (21 cm), W 2.06” (5.2 cm), H 3.88” (9.8 cm) Measurements are without flags or key and depends on how model is equipped. Many different variations exist with these battleships over their production life. Shown are a few in my collection. One can usually chronologically date the production by variations in order by the simplification of mechanics or graphics. An example is the design and manufacture of the cannons. Early manufacture used multi-part cylindrical gun turrets while later manufacture used a simpler, but still multi-part, spherical gun turret, and the last manufactured model used a single piece cast metal cannon. Although most of these battleships were not named, Hess produced some of these models with a variety of names which included “Dreadnaught, Columbia, Deutchland, Made in Germany, Libertad, Liberte, Oscar II, Jeanne’Darc” and others, depending on country of export. All were equipped with clockwork, wound by a permanent key. Some were designed to be sold individually as they were not equipped with a towbar, while others sold with a towbar (and in a set) pulled 2 to 6 smaller following vessels connected with tinplate (early models) or formed wire connectors. An instruction sheet showing suggested towing configurations was included with the toy. The largest set I have observed has been a two battleship set, each with 6 following vessels. All battleships were sold with detachable flags, but these appear to have been the first parts lost in playwear for many sets. |
||||
 |
Variation 1 Probably the earliest version of this battleship, it features prominent inverted bow and stern, single part hull / body, large cylindrical multi-part gun turrets, cast metal key. |
|||
 |
Variation 2 Features 2 part hull / body, smaller cylindrical gun turrets, and tabbed litho simulated waves. |
|||
 |
Variation 3 Features additional cannons amidships, without towbar. |
|||
 |
Variation 4 Features spherical gun turrets. |
|||
 |
Variation 5 Probably the last modification of this model before a completely new design. Features single piece, cast metal cannons which were carried over to the newer style battleships. Without towbar. |
|||
 |
Hess Named Battleships, circa 1900 – 1920 Shown are a few of the early named battleships by Hess. Names were dependent on the country of export. “Columbia” to the United States, “Dreadnought” to England, “Oscar II” to Sweden, “Garibaldi” to Italy, “Jeanne D’Arc” and “Liberte” to France. I suspect there were many others over the lifetime of this little toy battleship. |
|||
 |
Hess Battleship Connectors Early battleship flotillas were connected by pre-formed strips of tinplate. Later flotillas used a more economical and easier to produce formed wire connector. |
|||
 - Copy.jpg) |
Hess 12 Boat Flotilla, the Largest Set Observed (not in my collection) The largest set observed has been this 2 battleship, 12 following vessel set, all boxed together along with diagrams of possible configurations and their formed connecting wires. This was the most expensive and rarest set offered by Hess and seldom, if ever, seen.
|
|||
