Ship Recognition Models in Wooden Case

During World War I, the U.S. military began using manuals, silhouettes and models to train servicemen to distinguish friendly airplanes and ships from those of the enemy. Recognition training became a priority during World War II as the number and types of combat vehicles multiplied. Serviceman concentrated on recognizing the “total form” of a ship or airplane, rather than specific features. Instructors tested recognition skills using a slide projector that flashed images of ships or aircraft. Skilled personnel could successfully identify photographs in 1/75 of a second.

These ship models represent a range of Allied, primarily American, ship types. H. A. Framburg & Co., a Chicago lamp and lighting company, manufactured the set. According to a company brochure, H. A. Framburg produced more than 400,000 warship models for U.S. Navy classrooms during World War II. At the end of the war, the company resumed its lighting business.