Grumman Lunar Module - Contractor Model - Apollo 11 - Milky White, NOT Yellowed
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:15581797 | Modified Item: No |
| Type: Lunar Module - Grumman Contractor Model | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Year: 1967 or 1968 (but BEFORE the actual moon landing) |
Price cut! Highest bid will win regardless of amount!
Up for consideration is an original, never touched, Grumman Contractors Model Lunar Module.
Milky White!!! Not yellowed anywhere!
An original from either 1967 or early 1968.
Absolutely, positively PERFECT! Zero restoration work anywhere!
Nothing missing! Nothing broken! Nothing bent! No paint touch ups anywhere!
This is a genuine time-capsule piece of NASA / Apo...llo / Lunar Landing / Space Exploration, history.
This particular example was a gift to an eight-year-old boy from an uncle. The parents put away the model because they felt he was too young for such a delicate birthday present. Their plan was let him have it when he was "older and would appreciate it." Despite their well-meaning intentions at the time, the model was "forgotten" and remained boxed up in a closet for 50+ years! It was "rediscovered" just last summer!
This particular contractors model pre-dates the Apollo 11 lunar landing which occurred on July 20, 1969. We know that because models made before the landing have a NASA logo and a Grumman logo on the model's round base. Models made after the landing have the same NASA logo, but the Grumman logo is smaller. In addition, the dead giveaway is later models have Neil Armstrong's first words spoken from the surface of the moon written on the round base of the model. (These are sometimes called "quote-base" models.) And while no one would know this, the gift was received for the boy's eighth birthday which puts it as being received in 1968, helping to further prove the age of the model.
This model has been put away in a cardboard box in a closet since 1968. It hasn't been exposed to light -- either daylight or artificial light -- in 50+ years! The flaps on the box were taped shut. The family's home was heated and air conditioned so the model has never been exposed to temperature extremes. No one in the family smoked and their pets were outside pets. It hasn't been held or even touched for fifty years until this summer. (Unfortunately, the model was not stored away in the original box. The birthday gift recipient doesn't remember if it actually came packaged in a box or what the original box, if there even was one, looked like. Regardless, there is no original box.)
It is very possible this is the most unmolested, finest condition Grumman Lunar Module that isn't already in the possession of a serious collector or in a museum. A genuine gem of a find.
Absolutely milky white, with no cleaning or touch ups whatsoever! Nothing has been done to enhance the color. This is the real deal!
This example is one of the earliest variants because it has what is generally described as a "gray/green" colored base. In actuality, the base is made from an injection molded crystal clear material, such as Lucite. The greenish or grayish-green color comes from looking through the base and seeing the felt, which is green, that is affixed to the underside of the clear base. The felt was applied to the bottom of the base to protect the surface of whatever (a desktop, a shelf, a piece of furniture, etc.) the model was to be displayed on. The base itself is in virtually perfect perfect condition without any scratches whatsoever. There are no scratches that come from the feet of the landing legs when the lander is "mis-aligned" and allowed to "spin" or "turn" on the base. The only "flaws" are extremely tiny imperfections in the Lucite that are a result of the manufacturing process. These imperfections are almost microscopic in size (I used a magnifying loop to see them), and I don't really see how they can be considered "damage" because they are a part of the manufacturing process and were "made into" the base when it was molded and are not the result of damage or abuse.
The ladder is the early "pressed" or "stamped" ladder. (Some later models have a "welded" version of the ladder.)
The movable "S-band" antenna has the original turquoise-ish blue-green coloring. This is a "steerable" antenna, and it turns as perfectly today was when it was installed by an assembly craftsman 50+ years ago. The second "dish" antenna also swivels exactly as it was intended. To repeat, nothing anywhere on the model has been repainted or touched up, so these colors are the original factory color.
All 12 RCS (Reaction Control System) thruster cones are present and none are damaged and are totally unmolested. Again, no paint touch ups.
The original American flag decal and the "United States" decal are undamaged with no chipping whatsoever.
This example was manufactured by Precise Models Inc. of Elyra, Ohio, sometime in either 1967 or fairly early in 1968. (Remember, the eight-year-old boy got the model as a gift in 1968.) Online research concludes the company produced about 1, 500 examples of this model. (They produced between 6, 000 and 8, 000 of a later variation in 1972.) (I am convinced Precision was the maker of this and the other Lunar Module models that came along later. I say this, because Topping Models, Inc., filed for bankruptcy in April of 1965, and ceased operation prior to this model being built.)
The gray-green base is about 10-1/4" across. The module itself, counting the legs, is approximately 10" across and about 7-1/2" tall when measuring the tallest antenna.
Many of these Lunar Module models graced the desks of Grumman employees. Replicas were also often given to dignitaries, subcontractors, astronauts and flight directors, among others. The model often appeared in Apollo astronauts' official photographs. The model could sometimes be purchased in Grumman's employee shops at a cost of $29.95 (which comes to about $225 in 2019 dollars).
FROM AN ONLINE SOURCE: "Even today, with models still entering the market, finding a pristine example is highly unlikely. That is not to say that collectors should give up all hope. Locating a model which appears to be near perfect when viewed from 12 inches away is entirely possible in today's market. These are the models that make fine display pieces; they grace many of the top line, private collections around the world." Don't give up hope, eBay bidders, this is one of those pristine examples!
I have included 12 photos detailing this extraordinary find. The first four photos show the LEM from each of the four sides, moving counterclockwise from the front. I apologize, but the grayish-green base is so shiny, I just about couldn't get photos without reflections. Finally, I made no special lighting, camera or computer enhancements on any of the photos. All were made outdoors on a cloudy day. No editing tricks were used to make the white body appear whiter than it really is. What you see is what you will get.
As with all of my eBay listings, a cheerful refund will be offered if this Lunar Module model is not as described.
Shipping is a flat $24.99 for all U.S. addresses. This model has many needle-thin protruding antenna, satellite dishes, tiny thruster cones, etc., so a portion of what appears to be a high cost for shipping something of this size and weight is for the special packaging that will help assure safe delivery. The purchase of shipping insurance will be required and it is to be paid by the winning bidder. A signature will be required upon receipt. I hope everyone understands that all of this is needed to protect such an important piece of space history during shipping. Local pickup, at no cost, is certainly welcome.
Thanks for looking and may God bless!
(P.S. I'm the eight-year-old boy!!!)
Up for consideration is an original, never touched, Grumman Contractors Model Lunar Module.
Milky White!!! Not yellowed anywhere!
An original from either 1967 or early 1968.
Absolutely, positively PERFECT! Zero restoration work anywhere!
Nothing missing! Nothing broken! Nothing bent! No paint touch ups anywhere!
This is a genuine time-capsule piece of NASA / Apo...llo / Lunar Landing / Space Exploration, history.
This particular example was a gift to an eight-year-old boy from an uncle. The parents put away the model because they felt he was too young for such a delicate birthday present. Their plan was let him have it when he was "older and would appreciate it." Despite their well-meaning intentions at the time, the model was "forgotten" and remained boxed up in a closet for 50+ years! It was "rediscovered" just last summer!
This particular contractors model pre-dates the Apollo 11 lunar landing which occurred on July 20, 1969. We know that because models made before the landing have a NASA logo and a Grumman logo on the model's round base. Models made after the landing have the same NASA logo, but the Grumman logo is smaller. In addition, the dead giveaway is later models have Neil Armstrong's first words spoken from the surface of the moon written on the round base of the model. (These are sometimes called "quote-base" models.) And while no one would know this, the gift was received for the boy's eighth birthday which puts it as being received in 1968, helping to further prove the age of the model.
This model has been put away in a cardboard box in a closet since 1968. It hasn't been exposed to light -- either daylight or artificial light -- in 50+ years! The flaps on the box were taped shut. The family's home was heated and air conditioned so the model has never been exposed to temperature extremes. No one in the family smoked and their pets were outside pets. It hasn't been held or even touched for fifty years until this summer. (Unfortunately, the model was not stored away in the original box. The birthday gift recipient doesn't remember if it actually came packaged in a box or what the original box, if there even was one, looked like. Regardless, there is no original box.)
It is very possible this is the most unmolested, finest condition Grumman Lunar Module that isn't already in the possession of a serious collector or in a museum. A genuine gem of a find.
Absolutely milky white, with no cleaning or touch ups whatsoever! Nothing has been done to enhance the color. This is the real deal!
This example is one of the earliest variants because it has what is generally described as a "gray/green" colored base. In actuality, the base is made from an injection molded crystal clear material, such as Lucite. The greenish or grayish-green color comes from looking through the base and seeing the felt, which is green, that is affixed to the underside of the clear base. The felt was applied to the bottom of the base to protect the surface of whatever (a desktop, a shelf, a piece of furniture, etc.) the model was to be displayed on. The base itself is in virtually perfect perfect condition without any scratches whatsoever. There are no scratches that come from the feet of the landing legs when the lander is "mis-aligned" and allowed to "spin" or "turn" on the base. The only "flaws" are extremely tiny imperfections in the Lucite that are a result of the manufacturing process. These imperfections are almost microscopic in size (I used a magnifying loop to see them), and I don't really see how they can be considered "damage" because they are a part of the manufacturing process and were "made into" the base when it was molded and are not the result of damage or abuse.
The ladder is the early "pressed" or "stamped" ladder. (Some later models have a "welded" version of the ladder.)
The movable "S-band" antenna has the original turquoise-ish blue-green coloring. This is a "steerable" antenna, and it turns as perfectly today was when it was installed by an assembly craftsman 50+ years ago. The second "dish" antenna also swivels exactly as it was intended. To repeat, nothing anywhere on the model has been repainted or touched up, so these colors are the original factory color.
All 12 RCS (Reaction Control System) thruster cones are present and none are damaged and are totally unmolested. Again, no paint touch ups.
The original American flag decal and the "United States" decal are undamaged with no chipping whatsoever.
This example was manufactured by Precise Models Inc. of Elyra, Ohio, sometime in either 1967 or fairly early in 1968. (Remember, the eight-year-old boy got the model as a gift in 1968.) Online research concludes the company produced about 1, 500 examples of this model. (They produced between 6, 000 and 8, 000 of a later variation in 1972.) (I am convinced Precision was the maker of this and the other Lunar Module models that came along later. I say this, because Topping Models, Inc., filed for bankruptcy in April of 1965, and ceased operation prior to this model being built.)
The gray-green base is about 10-1/4" across. The module itself, counting the legs, is approximately 10" across and about 7-1/2" tall when measuring the tallest antenna.
Many of these Lunar Module models graced the desks of Grumman employees. Replicas were also often given to dignitaries, subcontractors, astronauts and flight directors, among others. The model often appeared in Apollo astronauts' official photographs. The model could sometimes be purchased in Grumman's employee shops at a cost of $29.95 (which comes to about $225 in 2019 dollars).
FROM AN ONLINE SOURCE: "Even today, with models still entering the market, finding a pristine example is highly unlikely. That is not to say that collectors should give up all hope. Locating a model which appears to be near perfect when viewed from 12 inches away is entirely possible in today's market. These are the models that make fine display pieces; they grace many of the top line, private collections around the world." Don't give up hope, eBay bidders, this is one of those pristine examples!
I have included 12 photos detailing this extraordinary find. The first four photos show the LEM from each of the four sides, moving counterclockwise from the front. I apologize, but the grayish-green base is so shiny, I just about couldn't get photos without reflections. Finally, I made no special lighting, camera or computer enhancements on any of the photos. All were made outdoors on a cloudy day. No editing tricks were used to make the white body appear whiter than it really is. What you see is what you will get.
As with all of my eBay listings, a cheerful refund will be offered if this Lunar Module model is not as described.
Shipping is a flat $24.99 for all U.S. addresses. This model has many needle-thin protruding antenna, satellite dishes, tiny thruster cones, etc., so a portion of what appears to be a high cost for shipping something of this size and weight is for the special packaging that will help assure safe delivery. The purchase of shipping insurance will be required and it is to be paid by the winning bidder. A signature will be required upon receipt. I hope everyone understands that all of this is needed to protect such an important piece of space history during shipping. Local pickup, at no cost, is certainly welcome.
Thanks for looking and may God bless!
(P.S. I'm the eight-year-old boy!!!)
