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Catalogue for our Sir Barnes Wallis 'Dam Busters' Collection auction to be held on Wednesday 25th of March 2026

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description ( and estimated value in GBP )
  • A 1930's pamphlet - Visiting Methods for the Admissions and the Ordinary and Extra Control of Flyers in Italy. 16pp. (B.N. Wallis written to loose cover), containing a loose plan of the Benito Mussolini Medical Institute and photographs of equipment used to test Civil and Military pilots of suitability for flight

119

A 1930's pamphlet - Visiting Methods for the Admissions and the Ordinary and Extra Control of Flyers in Italy. 16pp. (B.N. Wallis written to loose cover), containing a loose plan of the Benito Mussolini Medical Institute and photographs of equipment used to test Civil and Military pilots of suitability for flight £50-70
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  • VON ZEERLEDER, Alfred. The Technology of Aluminium and its Light Alloys. Amsterdam: Nordemann Publishing Company 1936. Lg. 8vo, 301pp. Original black cloth with gilt lettered spine with Vickers-Armstrongs Limited stamp dated 14 Feb 1939 to end pages and title page. Minor rubbing to covers and edges of spine.

120

VON ZEERLEDER, Alfred. The Technology of Aluminium and its Light Alloys. Amsterdam: Nordemann Publishing Company 1936. Lg. 8vo, 301pp. Original black cloth with gilt lettered spine with Vickers-Armstrongs Limited stamp dated 14 Feb 1939 to end pages and title page. Minor rubbing to covers and edges of spine. £30-40
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  • LANCHESTER, F. W. The Theory of Dimensions and Its Application for Engineers. London: Crosby, Lockwood & Son Ltd 1936. 12mo, 314pp. Original cream cloth, with gilt lettered spine. Cover in poor condition with sellotape over the spine. Initialled B.N.W.

121

LANCHESTER, F. W. The Theory of Dimensions and Its Application for Engineers. London: Crosby, Lockwood & Son Ltd 1936. 12mo, 314pp. Original cream cloth, with gilt lettered spine. Cover in poor condition with sellotape over the spine. Initialled B.N.W. £70-90
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  • A silver engine turned table top cigarette box with gold plaque monogrammed B.N.W. Birmingham 1935 by A Wilcox 5cm h x 16.5cm w x 14.5cm d. The interior containing a broken cigarette and a scrap drawing marked "and parts broken mower bits -/10/74"

122

A silver engine turned table top cigarette box with gold plaque monogrammed B.N.W. Birmingham 1935 by A Wilcox 5cm h x 16.5cm w x 14.5cm d. The interior containing a broken cigarette and a scrap drawing marked "and parts broken mower bits -/10/74" £300-400
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  • GLAUERT, H. The Elements of Aerofoil and Airscrew Theory. Cambridge: At The University Press 1937. 8vo, 228pp. Orginal red cloth, silver lettered spine. Fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners. Reprinted edition 1937. Initialled B.N.W. Dec 1940

123

GLAUERT, H. The Elements of Aerofoil and Airscrew Theory. Cambridge: At The University Press 1937. 8vo, 228pp. Orginal red cloth, silver lettered spine. Fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners. Reprinted edition 1937. Initialled B.N.W. Dec 1940 £80-120
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  • TIMISHENKO. S. Vibration Problems in Engineering, London: Constable & Company Ltd, Second Edition 1937, 8vo, 469pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettering. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine

124

TIMISHENKO. S. Vibration Problems in Engineering, London: Constable & Company Ltd, Second Edition 1937, 8vo, 469pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettering. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine £30-40
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  • GOODWIN, Sir George and others, a collective work. The Mechanical Properties of Fluids. London and Glasgow: Blackie & Son Limited 1937. 8vo, 376pp. Original blue cloth with gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition.

125

GOODWIN, Sir George and others, a collective work. The Mechanical Properties of Fluids. London and Glasgow: Blackie & Son Limited 1937. 8vo, 376pp. Original blue cloth with gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition. £40-60
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  • TEED, Litherland P. Duralumin And Its Heat-Treatment. London: Charles Griffin & Company, Limited 1937. 8vo, 117pp. Orginal red cloth with gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Dedicated and dated by the author to the front endpaper and possibly by mistake to the back inside cover "To B.N.W. With all good wishes from the author 8/12/36."

126

TEED, Litherland P. Duralumin And Its Heat-Treatment. London: Charles Griffin & Company, Limited 1937. 8vo, 117pp. Orginal red cloth with gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Dedicated and dated by the author to the front endpaper and possibly by mistake to the back inside cover "To B.N.W. With all good wishes from the author 8/12/36." £60-80
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  • THOMPSON, Silvanus P. Calculus Made Easy. London Macmillan and Co., Limited 1936. 8vo, 301pp. Original green cloth with black lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition Enlarged. Signed B.N. Wallis and written in pencil to the back page Capt. Cecil Chichester RN, Elmsleigh, Lyme Regis.

127

THOMPSON, Silvanus P. Calculus Made Easy. London Macmillan and Co., Limited 1936. 8vo, 301pp. Original green cloth with black lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition Enlarged. Signed B.N. Wallis and written in pencil to the back page Capt. Cecil Chichester RN, Elmsleigh, Lyme Regis. £100-150
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  • SOUTHWELL. R.V.. An Introduction To The Theory of Elasticity For Engineers and Physicists. Oxford: At The Clarenden Press 1936. 8vo, 509pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners and edges of the spine. Signed B.N. Wallis

128

SOUTHWELL. R.V.. An Introduction To The Theory of Elasticity For Engineers and Physicists. Oxford: At The Clarenden Press 1936. 8vo, 509pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners and edges of the spine. Signed B.N. Wallis £100-150
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  • A polished chrome model of a Vickers Wellington Bomber in flight with rotating propellers, on a shaped black acrylic base, visible on Sir Barnes Wallis' desk in public photos 16cm h x 20cm w x 26cm d

129

A polished chrome model of a Vickers Wellington Bomber in flight with rotating propellers, on a shaped black acrylic base, visible on Sir Barnes Wallis' desk in public photos 16cm h x 20cm w x 26cm d £300-400
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  • PIERCY, N.A.V. Aerodynamics, London: The English Universities Press Ltd. 1937, 8vo, 423pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some minor rubbing to corners and edge of spine. Book plate From The Library of Barnes Neville Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S. Handwritten notes and equations on pages 80, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387 and a created page 424

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PIERCY, N.A.V. Aerodynamics, London: The English Universities Press Ltd. 1937, 8vo, 423pp. Original blue cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some minor rubbing to corners and edge of spine. Book plate From The Library of Barnes Neville Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S. Handwritten notes and equations on pages 80, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387 and a created page 424 £300-400
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  • BAIRSTOW, Leonard. Applied Aerodynamics. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 8vo, 808pp. Orginal red cloth, gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition. Initialled B.N.W. 1939

131

BAIRSTOW, Leonard. Applied Aerodynamics. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 8vo, 808pp. Orginal red cloth, gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second Edition. Initialled B.N.W. 1939 £100-150
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  • PLUMMER, H. C. Probability and Frequency. London: Macmillan and Co., 1940. 8vo, 265pp. Original green cloth, gilt lettered spine. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Initialled B.N.W. Dec. 1940

132

PLUMMER, H. C. Probability and Frequency. London: Macmillan and Co., 1940. 8vo, 265pp. Original green cloth, gilt lettered spine. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Initialled B.N.W. Dec. 1940 £80-120
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  • A collection of research pamphlets (14) from 1927-1940 mainly by The Aeronautical Research Committee to include : The Strength of Tubular Struts 1927, 44pp. (initialled B.N.W to front cover), A Non Dimensional Form of The Stability Equations of an Aeroplane March 1927, Light Alloys For Aeronautical Purposes 1934, 32pp., Summary of The Present State of Knowledge Regarding Sheet Metal Construction 1933, 20pp. (back cover missing), Buckling of Thin Plates in Compression 1933, 21pp. (back cover missing), Technical Report Into The Accident To The Aeroplane G-AAZK at Meopham Kent on 21st July 1930, published January 1931, 92pp., The Size-Grading of Sand by Wind 1937, The Optimum Size of Models for Studying Flow Through Nest of Tubes 1939, 9pp., Resistance To Flow Through Nest of Tubes 1939, 20pp. The Manufacture of High Strength Light Alloy Extrusions 1938-1939, 39pp., The Use of Model Data in Aeroplane Design 1939, 16pp., The Stresses in a Circular Ring Supported by Frictionless Radial Pins 1940 marked With the author's compliments (x2) and Sound Control in Buildings 1940

133

A collection of research pamphlets (14) from 1927-1940 mainly by The Aeronautical Research Committee to include : The Strength of Tubular Struts 1927, 44pp. (initialled B.N.W to front cover), A Non Dimensional Form of The Stability Equations of an Aeroplane March 1927, Light Alloys For Aeronautical Purposes 1934, 32pp., Summary of The Present State of Knowledge Regarding Sheet Metal Construction 1933, 20pp. (back cover missing), Buckling of Thin Plates in Compression 1933, 21pp. (back cover missing), Technical Report Into The Accident To The Aeroplane G-AAZK at Meopham Kent on 21st July 1930, published January 1931, 92pp., The Size-Grading of Sand by Wind 1937, The Optimum Size of Models for Studying Flow Through Nest of Tubes 1939, 9pp., Resistance To Flow Through Nest of Tubes 1939, 20pp. The Manufacture of High Strength Light Alloy Extrusions 1938-1939, 39pp., The Use of Model Data in Aeroplane Design 1939, 16pp., The Stresses in a Circular Ring Supported by Frictionless Radial Pins 1940 marked With the author's compliments (x2) and Sound Control in Buildings 1940 £80-120
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  • BECK, Adolf. The Technology of Magnesium and Its Alloys. London: F A Hughes & Co. Limited 1940. 8vo, 512pp. Original maroon cloth, gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine.

134

BECK, Adolf. The Technology of Magnesium and Its Alloys. London: F A Hughes & Co. Limited 1940. 8vo, 512pp. Original maroon cloth, gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. £40-60
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  • A wooden adjustable catapult designed for and used in the 1955 movie "The Dam Busters" by Michael Redgrave (playing Sir Barnes Wallis). The catapult represents that used by Wallis in his 1941 April Bank holiday garden marble experiments, to prototype the concept of the bouncing bomb. The catapult raised on triform base and mounted on metal collar with tripod supports. The catapult firing rail adjustable in angle by a wing nut, having a projectile receptical attached to elastic cord running along the top rail of the device. The rail fitted a trigger to release the projectile. 138cm h, catapult rail 93cm l

135

A wooden adjustable catapult designed for and used in the 1955 movie "The Dam Busters" by Michael Redgrave (playing Sir Barnes Wallis). The catapult represents that used by Wallis in his 1941 April Bank holiday garden marble experiments, to prototype the concept of the bouncing bomb. The catapult raised on triform base and mounted on metal collar with tripod supports. The catapult firing rail adjustable in angle by a wing nut, having a projectile receptical attached to elastic cord running along the top rail of the device. The rail fitted a trigger to release the projectile. 138cm h, catapult rail 93cm l £2000-3000
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  • A collection of marbles belonging to Sir Barnes Wallis' daughter, Elisabeth Gaunt (now 93). These marbles were famously used by Wallis during his garden experiment in April 1942 whilst developing the conceptual principles behind the Dam Busters 'bouncing bomb'. Of the day Elisabeth recalls "I remember the Easter bank holiday weekend when Daddy came home with a strange device and placed it in front of a metal wash tub that he had filled with water in the garden. He then asked if he could borrow my marbles for an experiment. I was fiercely protective of my marbles but reluctantly agreed, I was very worried in case any of my precious marbles were lost, sadly some of them did get chipped." Elisabeth's late sister Mary Stopes-Roe, also reflected on these formative experiments, recalling "We had this wonderful experiment at our family home, where my father set up the washtub and got a catapult made by his department. He altered the angle of the slant at which the ball was delivered and the distance from the water, and then he bounced my sister's marbles, which she has never forgotten, the fact that they were her marbles." Mrs Gaunt has displayed the marbles over the years at various events and they have always been in her possession.

136

A collection of marbles belonging to Sir Barnes Wallis' daughter, Elisabeth Gaunt (now 93). These marbles were famously used by Wallis during his garden experiment in April 1942 whilst developing the conceptual principles behind the Dam Busters 'bouncing bomb'. Of the day Elisabeth recalls "I remember the Easter bank holiday weekend when Daddy came home with a strange device and placed it in front of a metal wash tub that he had filled with water in the garden. He then asked if he could borrow my marbles for an experiment. I was fiercely protective of my marbles but reluctantly agreed, I was very worried in case any of my precious marbles were lost, sadly some of them did get chipped." Elisabeth's late sister Mary Stopes-Roe, also reflected on these formative experiments, recalling "We had this wonderful experiment at our family home, where my father set up the washtub and got a catapult made by his department. He altered the angle of the slant at which the ball was delivered and the distance from the water, and then he bounced my sister's marbles, which she has never forgotten, the fact that they were her marbles." Mrs Gaunt has displayed the marbles over the years at various events and they have always been in her possession. £20000-30000
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  • BACON, Admiral Sir Reginald and MCMURTRIE, Francis E. Modern Naval Strategy. London: Frederick Muller Ltd. 8vo, 208 pp. Original black cloth, white lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine, some minor foxing in places. Initialled BNW Salisbury Feb 15th 1945 and inscription To N Spark. With the authors best wishes Xmas 1940 R H Bacon. Having a loose leaf with pages numbers noted on which comments have been written in pencil

137

BACON, Admiral Sir Reginald and MCMURTRIE, Francis E. Modern Naval Strategy. London: Frederick Muller Ltd. 8vo, 208 pp. Original black cloth, white lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine, some minor foxing in places. Initialled BNW Salisbury Feb 15th 1945 and inscription To N Spark. With the authors best wishes Xmas 1940 R H Bacon. Having a loose leaf with pages numbers noted on which comments have been written in pencil £80-120
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  • KARMAN. Theodore V and BIOT, Maurice A. Mathematical Methods in Engineering. New York and London: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1940. 8vo, 505pp. Original black cloth, gilt lettered spine. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. First Edition, Second Impression. Initialled B.N.W. 1940. Handwritten pencil notes with diagram to the back page

138

KARMAN. Theodore V and BIOT, Maurice A. Mathematical Methods in Engineering. New York and London: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1940. 8vo, 505pp. Original black cloth, gilt lettered spine. Minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. First Edition, Second Impression. Initialled B.N.W. 1940. Handwritten pencil notes with diagram to the back page £80-120
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  • A Confidential handbook - 53.3 c/m Weymouth Torpedo for Turkish Destroyers. Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. 1940. 4to, 9pp. with 16 pull out cross section plates of torpedos. Original blue cloth, gilt lettering. Rubbing to corners and edges of spine.

139

A Confidential handbook - 53.3 c/m Weymouth Torpedo for Turkish Destroyers. Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. 1940. 4to, 9pp. with 16 pull out cross section plates of torpedos. Original blue cloth, gilt lettering. Rubbing to corners and edges of spine. £100-150
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  • A 2 inch aluminium sphere of the type used in the Teddington ship tanks during the development of the Golf Mine "bouncing bomb". Discovered in a box of Sir Barnes Wallis' lectures slides on the "Dam Busters" raid, the spheres were the next evolutionary step after the garden marbles leading eventually to the development of the Highball and Upkeep bombs. Between 9 June and 10 September 1942, Wallis made use of one of the two large indoor water tanks of The National Physical Laboratory at Teddington on at least 18 occasions, he stated "I moored a wax model of a battleship several hundred feet up the tank, broadside on. We fired 2in diameter balls at it, when of course after hitting the freeboard of the ship, the sinking velocity of the ball combined with back-spin to move it towards the ship, and by adjusting the mean density of the ball we were able to pass it right underneath "the soft underbelly", to quote Winston Churchill.

140

A 2 inch aluminium sphere of the type used in the Teddington ship tanks during the development of the Golf Mine "bouncing bomb". Discovered in a box of Sir Barnes Wallis' lectures slides on the "Dam Busters" raid, the spheres were the next evolutionary step after the garden marbles leading eventually to the development of the Highball and Upkeep bombs. Between 9 June and 10 September 1942, Wallis made use of one of the two large indoor water tanks of The National Physical Laboratory at Teddington on at least 18 occasions, he stated "I moored a wax model of a battleship several hundred feet up the tank, broadside on. We fired 2in diameter balls at it, when of course after hitting the freeboard of the ship, the sinking velocity of the ball combined with back-spin to move it towards the ship, and by adjusting the mean density of the ball we were able to pass it right underneath "the soft underbelly", to quote Winston Churchill. £10000-15000
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  • ALLEN, Edgar C. Machinery's Screw Thread Book. London: Machinery Publishing Co, Ltd 1940, 8vo, 147pp. Orange card cover with black lettered spine. Fading to spine, some minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Pastedown and endpaper with stuck labels "MR. WALLIS' PRIVATE COPY". Initialled to front cover B.N.W.

141

ALLEN, Edgar C. Machinery's Screw Thread Book. London: Machinery Publishing Co, Ltd 1940, 8vo, 147pp. Orange card cover with black lettered spine. Fading to spine, some minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Pastedown and endpaper with stuck labels "MR. WALLIS' PRIVATE COPY". Initialled to front cover B.N.W. £80-120
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  • DIEHL, Walter Stuart. Engineering Aerodynamics. New York: The Ronald Press Company. 8vo, 556pp. Original green cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some rubbing to corners and edges of the spine. Fourth Printing, July 1940. Initialled B.N.W. April 1941

142

DIEHL, Walter Stuart. Engineering Aerodynamics. New York: The Ronald Press Company. 8vo, 556pp. Original green cloth, gilt lettered spine. Some rubbing to corners and edges of the spine. Fourth Printing, July 1940. Initialled B.N.W. April 1941 £100-150
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  • A 1942 A5 calendar notepad by Napier bound in marbled green calf initialled in gilt B.N.W, half empty with top sheet having pencilled diagrams of what appears to be a tunnel (or support structure of Italian dams) with dimensions having a round object following a dotted curve. One other loose sheet having technical drawing of and circular diagrams

143

A 1942 A5 calendar notepad by Napier bound in marbled green calf initialled in gilt B.N.W, half empty with top sheet having pencilled diagrams of what appears to be a tunnel (or support structure of Italian dams) with dimensions having a round object following a dotted curve. One other loose sheet having technical drawing of and circular diagrams £400-600
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