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model boats can ayone help?

by fafb 22nd January 2026
does anyone recognise these model boats ?

Can you help solve a mystery?

I have recently received 3 model ships handed down through the Thomson family which resided in Montrose, Scotland in the 19th Century. My Great Grandparents were George Napier Thomson and his wife, Jemima D. Thomson. The family was in the insurance business, at that time called the "assurance" business.

In general, the three model boats are heavy, slightly less than 2 feet long, and wooden except for a metal bar (possibly lead) along the length of the hull. A five year old could barely lift the boats so I don't refer to them as toys, but as models. One of the models (SPRAY) looks similar to the Isabella Fortuna.

if anyone can shed more light on these please do email me at

[email protected]

more pictures of the model boats

these are some more pictures of the model boats

if anyone has any more information on these modelsplease do email me at

[email protected]

the pictures

the pictures may be mixed up now

please respond by email if you can help [email protected]

extra notes

a and b SPRAY ) II ML. 193

This is the model boat that seemed similar to the Isabella Fortuna. I was visiting a website about a boat festival in Portnoy (?).

c and d Crail (on the bow) KV. 191 NELLIE (on the stern)

the 191 also looks like a 141 possibly.

e and f NO MARKINGS WITH RUDDER

I tried to see if there were square nails used. Couldn't determine.

The pink (once white?) paint on this boat has a bit of peel on the metal bar at the bottom of the hull. I didn't notice any paint damage on the other boats.

Notice the double row of rounded trim just below the deck.