TMB News and Latest Additions
Compiled by TMB Art Metal Managing Director and founder Christopher Bennett,
this is a basic overview of our latest Products, News and TMB in general.
Prince Charles’ Aston To Raise Vital Funds For Prince’s Trust
In conjunction with TMB, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales’ prized Aston Martin DB6 Volante is now helping raise funds for The Prince’s Trust.
TMB is creating two editions of cufflinks, each limited to just 100 pairs, formed from the car’s original aluminium engine pistons, with all profits going to youth charity, The Prince's Trust. Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince's Trust, said: “With these proceeds, we will be able to help more young people into jobs across the UK. Young people have been hit hardest in the recession, so it’s now more important than ever to give them the skills and confidence they need to find work.”
The project also strikes a chord with The Prince of Wales’ dedication to the environment. The six donor pistons became available when his cherished DB6, a 21st birthday present to the Prince from Her Majesty The Queen, was first converted to run on biofuel and their subsequent transformation into exclusive accessories is a classic TMB inspired example of recycling redundant historic components that would otherwise have been thrown away.
Christopher Bennett, Managing Director of TMB, and originator of the idea, said: “These cufflinks are quintessential conversation pieces, with each pair directly benefiting The Prince’s Trust. When I heard about the possibility of creating such future heirlooms from The Prince’s Aston, the project was irresistible!”
TMB’s two, limited-edition cufflink designs will be formed from the aluminium pistons and finished with 18ct gold arms. One edition is a miniature sculpture of the DB6 Volante itself, whilst the other replicates the car’s iconic wheel ‘spinners’ – the quick-release fixing that secures its wheels.
Each is presented in a high-quality presentation case, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
The cufflinks are only available direct from TMB Art Metal, priced £1250.00. Contact +44 (0) 208 810 9997 or info@tmbartmetal.com.
Supermarine Spitfire X4276 KL-B 14" Sculptures
A long time in the creation but I'm happy to say we are now issuing our 14" wingspan Spitfire Mk1 sculptures, photos of the prototype of which are now on the website. These spectacular sculptures are crafted of aluminium originating from the Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk III engine fitted to X4276 KL-B, legendary ace Al Deere's personal Spitfire for the latter part of the Battle of Britain and 1940, which crashed on 28th December 1940. To add fascination to these very special pieces that command attention due to size, is the fact that twelve of them will be mounted upon the V12 Merlin's pistons and the remaining twelve on the engine's conrods.
Surely one of the most spectacular tributes to the iconic Supermarine Spitfire ever created with history to match!
Aston Martin DBR1/2 Essence of Form Cufflinks
To coincide and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Aston Martin's 1959 Le Mans victory in the iconic DBR1 we are launching some new cufflinks incorporating metal from the most famous and valuable of them all; DBR1/2. This is the very car that driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori won Le Mans for Aston Martin in 1959, along with the Goodwood Tourist Trophies of both 1958 and 1959 in the hands of the legendary Sir Stirling Moss.
The miniature circa 25mm long DBR1 'Essence of Form' sculptures are crafted of actual original ex-DBR1/2 aluminium, whilst the tiny drivers seated in cockpits and cufflink arms are of (much less significant and scarce!) 18ct gold.
Two separate editions of just 50 pairs of these links (thus 100 pairs in all) are being created with certificates of authenticity signed respectively by Sir Stirling Moss and Carroll Shelby.
The pictures will hopefully relate the drama of this design but I can confirm that these are without doubt surely one of the most spectacular motoring cufflinks ever created with, of course, suitable history to match!
Supermarine Spitfire Rudder Pedal Cufflinks
Recently launched, and only just in production, are our Spitfire Rudder Pedal Cufflinks, incorporating metal from Battle of Britain vintage Spitfire Mk 1 X4276, KL-B, which was Al Deere's personal Spitfire, and his third named KIWI.
Al Deere was one of the Royal Air Force's most successful fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain and on through WW2, downing 22 enemy aircraft. I like to do things differently and, rather than producing cufflinks incorporating the obvious Spitfire shape, decided to design ours around the beautiful 1930s deco style Supermarine branded rudder pedals with which the early Mk 1 and 2 Spitfires were fitted. I think these are a very innovative cufflink design and one that is practical in function. But its also a subtle design, begging questions to be asked, which is what TMB product is all about, as when questions are asked our cufflinks have that wonderful evocative story behind them to relate.
Concorde From Concorde
Continuing the aeronautic theme, we have recently completed our new Concorde cufflinks. The beautiful little Essence of Form Concorde sculptures they boast are cast in metal from Concorde - more specifically a rudder with outstanding provenance.
We acquired the rudder via British Airways and the great thing is that the entire history of the component had been officially researched. Therefore we know the rudder accumulated precisely 10,861 flight hours and we know it did 3,724 landings whilst fitted to three different Concorde aircraft throughout its life, but primarily the BA flagship G-BOAC.
Concorde is one of those truly iconic designs that defies age. If she flew today for the very first time she would still appear cutting edge!
Buckingham Palace Road Hurricane Spinner Cufflinks
Surely one of the most spectacular aeronautic cufflinks ever created, and with history to match, I am very proud of our new Hurricane Spinners. These incredible links, which represent a propeller spinner plus three propeller blade lower sections, incorporate metal recovered from the Buckingham Palace Road Hurricane, the most famous of all Battle of Britain aircraft, bar none.
The silver coloured spinner is actually crafted of aluminium using donor metal from the corroded lower section of the pilot's control column (the actual 'spade grip' itself is on display in the Imperial War Museum) whilst the propeller blade sections are in brass using donor metal from pieces of the Hurricane's Rolls-Royce Merlin engine ignition harness. The backing discs and arms are of much less historic and readily available mere 18ct gold. But the real icing on the cake to the Spinners is that the central boss is equipped with a tiny bearing enabling the propellers to be spun - providing true tactility as well as history to these amazing cufflinks!
Be warned, these links, surely the ultimate in bragging rights aeronautic cufflinks, are, unlike our Rudder Pedals, not at all subtle!
Flying Scotsman Sculptures
I was very proud recently to launch our new 24" long sculptures of the iconic steam locomotive Flying Scotsman which are crafted using actual metal from FS. These sculptures, which are surely one of the most spectacular pieces of railway art ever created and were two years in development, are by far the most ambitious project my company has embarked upon to date.
