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Bassett - Lowke Model Ships

Bassett - Lowke Water-line ship models made to scale from original ships during the Second World War. Kindly on loan by 78 Derngate.

1939-1945

Bassett - Lowke & Co was a Northampton model making company, established in 1910 by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke.
During the First and Second World Wars, shipping models were the primary products manufactured for the Ministry of Munitions.

The armed forces used Bassett - Lowke model aircraft, ship machinery and specialised military equipment in their training, which allowed them to become familiar with the workings and characteristics of complex pieces of machinery quickly and effectively.

At the end of the Second World War, Rear Admiral Lyster of the Royal Navy wrote to Bassett - Lowke stating:

‘.... I wonder if those who made these models really understand the great part their models play in the training of the Royal Navy at Sea… I do not think we should be able to reach the high state of training which we get, without the assistance of Bassett - Lowke models....’

Wartime case, History of Northampton Gallery 2