Hyland Granby - Cape Cod based dealers in antique scale models, including ships models - steamers, racing yachts, pond yachts, row boats, schooners, sloops, frigates

The interest worldwide for scale models probably first started when man realized he could float and when he realized that it was not long later that the thought of floating on something seemed the next obvious move. Common sense must have been invented, so it seems quite likely that the first ship builders would put together a model ship that had many characteristics of the full size ship that was sketched on the cave wall !!

The British Admiralty were involved in the commissioning of very accurate models of whole scale model ships, cross sections of model ships and model ships that could be examined from port to starboard and hull to stern. These admiralty models are very scarce and command very high prices when they do come on the market.

In the 19th century with the advent of the Industrial Revolution the demand for good scale models also transcended into models of live steam locomotives. These models were often built by talented model engineering enthusiasts for use often in garden railways where live steam trains in 0 gauge , gauge 1, 21/2" gauge , 31/2 gauge " , and 5" gauge were operated . Many of these models are now used more for decorative purposes. In England the company Bassett Lowke were an invaluable source for the builders of scale models of ships, scale model yachts particularly Pond Yachts, scale model trains and also to a smaller degree scale models of cars. Bassett Lowke were providers of fittings for model ships, but were also commissioned by the shipping companies to produce accurate scale models of ships. These scale model ships were produced in different qualities the highest and most expensive model ships are often referred to as ship builders models, these magnificent models were built to scale and when delivered often adorned the offices of the major shipping lines. Due to the limited life of the "real" ship these ship builders models become the actual ship as point of reference goes, these model ships are the ship.