Onassis OLYMPIC CHALLENGER souvenir catalogue - Lardex

Olympic Whaling Company representational gift: a mechanical lighter in the
form of a model Bofors harpoon cannon.
Unidentified metal alloy. Total length when loaded 19.7 cm, gun barrel length 9.3 cm (approx
1:15 scale). On the conical gun base engraved presentation placque: “To W.F. Pascoe, O.B.E.
|| Christmas 1953 || Olympic Whaling Company || A.S. Onassis”. In the original blue cloth
and velvet presentation box.
These elaborate harpoon cannon models were made by a hitherto unidentified Hamburg
manufacturer in 1952 or 1953, possibly under the supervision of captain Sven W. Thienemann
(1912-2007). The “Baby-Mylflam” or “B 47” lighter mechanism was then built in at Mylflam
company in Offenbach by one Mr. Leibold. Rumour has it that some 150 or 200 harpoon
cannon lighters have been commissioned by the Olympic Whaling Company.
The lighter ignites when the “trigger” under the cannon handle is pressed. The gun can be
swivelled and inclined, the harpoon is detachable, the harpoon grenade can be unscrewed, the
barbs are moveable, and the cardan joint between harpoon head and shank works with a spring
mechanism.
Interestingly, OLYMPIC CHALLENGER did not whale in the 1953/54 season, when these
mechanical lighters were presented, so they were commissioned before the decision to employ
the floating factory as a tanker was passed.
Since the “Norwegian Whaling (Crew) Act” of 21 December 1945 forbade Norwegian
nationals to promote post-war newcomers to the Antarctic whaling industry, be it through
consultancy, hands-on expertise or supplies, Onassis’ whaling fleet – like the Dutch one in
1946 and some post-war Soviet whaling fleets – was not able to purchase the well-tested
Norwegian Kongsberg harpoon cannons, but had to equip their whale catchers with “model
46” harpoon cannons of the Swedish Bofors company. The Hamburg Kampnagel company
supplied harpoons to the Dutch and Onassis.
Dedecke Whaling Collection
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