A M-357-A 'Gibson girl' survival kite. This was once part of a survival set which was stored in life rafts on aircraft and contained a radio, associated equipment and a kite and balloon which could be used to raise an antenna. The name 'Gibson girl' is derived from comparing the radio which was an hour-glass shape to the hour glass figures of 1890's fashion artist Charles Gibson's favourite subjects!
The storage bag is unfortunately a little worse for wear, however, the kite is in excellent condition. As with most of these kites that have survived it has been used as a child's plaything post war but is pretty much unscathed.
The most amazing thing about it is that, despite being 70 years old, it is the easiest kite in the world to put together! Put together and taken down in seconds - if only modern kite manufacturers could do the same
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