THE LIMITED EDITION
BATTLE
OF BRITAIN PIPES
THE BATTLE OF
BRITAIN
August – October 1940
|
The Battle of Britain describes the air
campaign fought by the German Luftwaffe against the British Royal Air Force over
South-East England during the summer and autumn of 1940. It was the first major
campaign to be fought entirely by air forces and was also the largest and most
sustained aerial bombing campaign to that date.
The objective of the campaign was to gain air
superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF) and prepare the ground for a possible
German invasion. Its name derives from a famous speech delivered by the British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: "The Battle of France
is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin ...” |
|
Between 10th July and 31st October 1940, the heavily
outnumbered RAF with its 1,963 serviceable Spitfires and Hurricane fighter
planes fought back the attacking Luftwaffe with 2,550 aircraft, mostly
Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 110C fighters. In the course of those fights, the
Luftwaffe lost 1,887 aircraft, while the RAF lost 1,547.
This failure to destroy the British air defences
signified a first major military defeat to Nazi Germany and a crucial turning
point of the 2nd world war.
It was Winston Churchill, who, with the Battle of
Britain still at its full height, so pointedly acknowledged the invaluable
contribution of the air forces during his speech in parliament:
“The gratitude of every home in our island, in
our Empire and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty,
goes out to the British airmen, who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their
constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their
prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much
owed by so many to so few”.
These two Battle of Britain pipes have been
specifically created and manufactured to remember and celebrate the 70th
anniversary of the British victory at the Battle of Britain, the decisive air
battle between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe during
WWII.
After launching the Battle of Trafalgar
pipes in 2007, this is the second limited edition collection of a planned
trilogy to commemorate the most important battles of British history.
The Battle of Britain pipe is a classic group 4
Apple, a favourite shape among the officers of the Royal Force. The pipes are
fitted with Sterling Silver bands engraved both with the image of a Spitfire in
flight and the inscription The Battle of Britain.
|
The pipe tamper, shaped like the propeller blade from
a Spitfire fighter, is cast from Duralumin, a special aluminium alloy procured
from the original supercharger of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the engine used
in Spitfire & Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers during the
war.
The tamper is engraved with the image of a Spitfire
airplane on one side and Winston Churchill’s quote “Never was so much owed by so
many to so few” on the other. |
|
The pipe tamper, shaped like the propeller blade from
a Spitfire fighter, is cast from Duralumin, a special aluminium alloy procured
from the original supercharger of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the engine used
in Spitfire & Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers during the
war.
The tamper is engraved with the image of a Spitfire
airplane on one side and Winston Churchill’s quote “Never was so much owed
by so many to so few” on the other.
The highly collectable Battle of Britain pipes and
tampers are presented in a prestigious black lacquer box that is shaped like the
cross-section of a Spitfire wing. Integrated onto the top of the lid sits a
Perspex dome reminiscent of the upper gun turret of Lancaster bombers,
magnifying the image of a dog fight scene between a Spitfire and Messerschmitt
fighter. The inside of the case is lined in Royal Air Force blue
fabric.
Furthermore, each set is accompanied by the hardcover
book ‘The Spitfire Story’ by Peter R. March, which has been integrated in the
inside lid of the presentation box. Each set is accompanied by its numbered and
hand-signed limited edition certificate.
This edition series is strictly limited to only
100 pipes in Bruyere and 100 pipes in Shell
Briar finish.
World-wide launch October 2010.
|
FEATURES |
BENEFITS |
| Subject ‘Battle of Britain’ |
- Historic event, deeply influencing British and world
history
- Second in a series of three limited editions that are inspired and
dedicated to the most famous battles in British history |
| Apple shape |
Classic pipe shape, a favourite during the war |
| Finishes |
One smooth and one sandblast finish: Bruyere and Shell
Briar |
| Vulcanite mouthpiece |
Taper mouthpiece, individually cut, shaped, finished and fitted
from black Vulcanite rod. |
| Size |
Gr. 4 - medium to large size |
| 10mm Sterling Silver band |
- Sterling Silver = 92.5% pure Silver
- Engraved with image
of flying Spitfire and inscription ‘The Battle of Britain’ |
| Tamper |
- Cast from Duralumin, an aluminium alloy procured from the
original supercharger of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine
- shaped as miniature
version of a Spitfire propeller blade
- engraved with image of Spitfire and
Winston Churchill’s quote “Never was so much owed by so many to so
few” |
| Rolls-Royce Merlin engine |
- the engine that won the Battle of Britain
- used in
Spitfire & Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers |
| Book |
Hardcover book ‘The Spitfire Story’ by Peter R.
March |
| Gift presentation case |
- Sumptuous wooden case lacquered in piano-black
- shape
inspired by the wing of a Spitfire (cross-section)
- domed Perspex ‘turret’
revealing magnified image of Spitfire-Messerschmitt combat
- inside held in
Royal Air Force blue (official colour of the RAF)
- an impressive and
high-status gift presentation |
| Limited Edition |
Exclusive & very collectable - worldwide only 100 pieces
each in Bruyere and Shell Briar finish. |
| Certificate |
Individually numbered between
1-100. |
Copyright © 2010 by TECON GmbH
mit
freundlicher Unterstützung von Alfred Dunhill LTD. London |
