RUBBER BAND SUBMARINES
Rubber-band submarines are the oldest ones: they appeared at the end of the 19th century. A model dated before 1900 was displayed at the Musée de la Marine (Maritime Museum) during the exhibition on toy boats in 2007.
The first hand-made but mass-produced ones were those of the Heller & Coudray firm, four samples of which can be seen here.
F small models: **; big model: *****
This 1904 beast functions impeccably. Only drawback: the tedious winding of the rubber-band. Mind the direction, or it goes in reverse! Perfect endurance and buoyancy are the name of the game for this sub that works far better than recent contraptions: All hail the older generations!
They all function according to the same principle:
1) the sub has positive buoyancy when at rest;
2) a rubber band is drawn between bow and prow;
3) at the prow, a crank allows the band to be rewound; at the bow the band is attached to a reduction that powers the propeller. As a variant, the band can be rewound through the propeller;
4) when the band is loosed, speed, through hydrodynamic action on the bars, causes the object to dive.
A Heller & Coudray in good condition can thus move 25m underwater!
Manufacturing: made of plaster-filled zinc from 1904 to 1914. After the war, numerous copies under other names. An ameliorated version with a real rudder, so-called “Bourboule submarine” appeared in the 30s. Notice the shape of the bow, serving as a primitive rudder blade; the towers vary tremendously depending on the models, which reflects handmade manufacture. Length: small model 16”, big model 20”.
The “Nautilus” shown here was produced as a limited series in the late 40s, with scrounged materials (wood and tin). The Musée de la Marine also has a sample.
The shred of a box sold with it (see Artboxes) shows a brand: Baliplan. Notice the tube containing the rubber band. The flag at the bow serves as rudder. Length: 14”.
F ****
Between 1936-50, “Unis” produced those two submarines, the Atalante and the FZ1. They first appeared on the Edifice catalogue in August 1936.
Made of wood and tin; apparently the boat on the deck is not part of the original. Length (FZ1): 18”; (Atalante) 26”
F FZ1: ****; Atalante: ***
Around 1936, Nova used to sell this small submarine, the “Lutin” (“Imp”) which was later manufactured by Unis. Materials: wood and aluminium. Length: 13”.
F ***
This “GlenSub” is English and dates from the 50s. The rubber band goes through the hull. When wound, the knots that thicken it lower the diving bars. It stands on a cast-iron base with a crank rewinder acting on the propeller. Wood, aluminium and cast iron. Length: 15”.
UK ***
This alternative version of the Nautilus (also displayed at the Musée de la Marine) is dated from 1910 and functions as the Heller & Coudrays; it was made by the Atelier Laroche. Also nicknamed “Six-shooter” for its shape!
Entirely made of tin. Length: 15”.
F *****
This U-217 “Narval” dates from the 50s and is attributed to Unis. The rubber band goes through the hull. The cannon at the front of the tower is missing. Made of wood and metal. Length: 23”.
F ***
This wreck of an S1 dates from the 30s (seen in a contemporary advertisement in German). No identifiable brand. Wood and tin. Reportedly 13” long.
G or F ****
This “torpedo” is Venetian and dates from before 1914; entirely made of metal. It very quickly comes up to the surface. Also nicknamed “the violin bow,” it is very rare. Length: 37”.
This is another find by that unsinkable fellow, Mestrot.
I *****
This submarine is Italian, from the Costanzzo brand – I’m not sure about the spelling. Problem: this brand is supposed to have disappeared during WW2, whereas this “Nautilus Atomico” can only be from the late 50s – there were no atomic subs in the 40s!
It is 18” long, in wood and sheet metal; note the winder for the rubber band (which crosses the hull) – notched directly on the propeller.
I*****
Rubber-band submarines are still made nowadays (just like planes.) Here is an example with this “Neon Tetra” made in the USA by Seaworthy Small Ships. Wood, brass, plastic;
length: 13”.
USA
This big submersible is a handcrafted item, a find of... Fabrice Mestrot’s (humph!) It is in wood and covered with copper plates, with parts – propeller, rudder – in galvanized steel. The beast is heavy: 7.8 lbs.
Length: 20”
F, unique, unrated, 60s?
This other submarine is French, one of the first made in plastic – a very brittle plastic that makes the whole rather fragile. See the “typically 50s” box in the artbox section.
This is the Dolly, late 50s. Simple to use, you simply have to rewind the rubber band. The reduction is in the hull. Once filled with water you just unlock the screw. This toy is very rare, especially with its box, as it is fragile.
Plastic, 11” long.
F*****
“Of course, the simplicity and reliability of the system allow many personal creations. One of the best is that by Eric Bauthier.”
This model was made for the “R.C. Marine” magazine.
Here is another discovery by Didier Seywert from VXTOYS :It is an amateur creation, in wood, 15 inches long; the stern is modelled after a Bing rudder, but the whole looks like Nova’s Lutin.
Like all rubber-band subs, it performs very well :
F, wood, cooper and metal, unpriced (unique).
The golden age of rubber-band submarines was between 1904 and 1939. Hundreds were made in limited series, some brands imitating each other. Cheap and strong, they were popular toys by definition.
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