Seaplane ID help

MK'WJT'C · 13 January 2010, 11:34 AM

Hi,

I have few postcard in my collection, among them is this german seaplane.
Do You know what type is it, or maybe it's just an artists fantasy.
It was written to "Dear Friend" in 1917.

Thanks!

Varese2002 · 13 January 2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MK'WJT'C

Hi,

I have few postcard in my collection, among them is this german seaplane.
Do You know what type is it, or maybe it's just an artists fantasy.
It was written to "Dear Friend" in 1917.

Thanks!

It is not a fantasy but more an artist impression of an actual early German floatplane, the Friedrichshafen FF 29. It is an approximation ....

Look at these actual pictures

Cheers

Kees

MK'WJT'C · 13 January 2010, 12:33 PM

Looks like it,
thank You very much Kees!

ikonografia aeronautyczna pocztówki zdj?cia lotnicze: morskie

Now I'm thining on changeing this blog to dual Polish/English.

Varese2002 · 13 January 2010, 01:05 PM

Hallo Maciek, thanks for hinting at your site, it looks good (even for non-Polish readers).

About your Kriegsanleihe [war loan] card, this was a sort of publicity card for the German people to 'invest' in war loans. Marketing was by these cards of which there were several and large billboards with the same picture.

It would be interesting to read the small handwriting (or quasi-handwriting) right under, which is in the difficult German handwriting known as Sütterlin. Perhaps you have deciphered it yourself already?

Cheers

Kees

[The picture identified as <brytyjski Sopwith Baby> is actually an early French Caudron G.3 on floats]

MK'WJT'C · 13 January 2010, 01:50 PM

I am ashamed! Such a mistake! And as You wrote I saw that!
uff!

About handwriting, I didn't get the mood to do so, plus I'm looking for infos to write something about and under everything on blog.
And I will do it, someday. Just like in recent post. And in English.

Thanks again!

Maciek

Aquilius · 14 January 2010, 04:48 AM

Hi Maciek, Kees,

seems you already solved the question.

To me it looks the artist forgot about a second float and the rudder differs a bit. No stabilizer to recognise. Just the all-over appearance makes it definitely a Friedrichshafen and the side radiators qualify it for the FF 29.

But maybe I can be a bit of help for the handwriting.

Actually I'm little stumped by the first written word. Can this be a name I don't know about. (The navy is not my prime subject)

The best I got out of is "Licoa". But I'm not sure about.

The smaller written part is not that difficult:

Quote:

Admiral, Chef der
Hochseestreitkräfte.

[Admiral, chief of the naval forces]

Cheers

Aquilius

Aquilius · 14 January 2010, 06:15 AM

I'm sorry guys. I need to interrupt you again.

I just stumbeled over a picture of a 1914 Albatros Wasser-Doppeldecker, which I believe might have been the pattern for that drawing.

If I'm not mistaken this Albatros water-biplane with tailfloat predates the Albatros W-series. The W.1 (B.IIw) and the 3-bay B.Iw did not had a tailfloat. Can this possibly be the one Albatros has send to Monaco before the war? Would be glad if someone can state more about.

I must admit the tailfloat design is a big lead to Friedrichshafen.
But compare the details given - Float design, tail construction, engine installation and centre-strut mounting...

The picture comes from Photos of The Great War - Information

Cheers

Aquilius

Varese2002 · 14 January 2010, 06:49 AM

You are right, IMO this Albatros WDD is a better candidate for the drawing WDD stood for Wasser Doppel Decker. A text on this picture presented as a postcard gives Albatros Marine Doppeldecker. Characteristic is the form of the rudder, rather 'un'-Albatros like. Later they reverted to other rudder forms.

Monaco ?

These are pictures of the Albatros floatplane participating in Monaco 1914. This is another floatplane than the Albatros WDD.

It is little known but there was also also a single-float early Albatros floatplane (Zentralschwimmer). Although the picture is heavily mutilated it is interesting to have a look at it ...

So you see, someone who wants to write a history of Albatros (or of the floatplanes alone) will have a lot of research to do. Probably all Albatros archives have disappeared into limbo, so ....

Kees

MK'WJT'C · 14 January 2010, 07:14 AM

Well Friends, You've done it!
Match.

About handwriting, Aquilius I think that the first word means Scheer, like Reinhard Scheer, witch would match.

Now if You think it's fun maybe I put all unknows from my blog here?

Thanks again!!

Maciek

Aquilius · 14 January 2010, 07:41 AM

Kees, thanks for your collection of Albatros floatplanes.

In the meanwhile I found out that the Monaco type was a different one but probably was also called "Wasser-Doppeldecker" like many of the pre-war machines got no different names...

And finally, Maciek, the name "Scheer" would be it, I think.

The problem is with these old handwritten documents that the people change the style of writing between two lines and I'm always confused what kind of script there is to decipher now. Compare the letters "h" and "r" in the word "Scheer" and below. The name is written in a more modern style actually.

For your other questions, feel free to post them here! I think there is no better place to find out things about early aviation.

Cheers

Aquilius