World Globe Vintage 1940 WW2 Machine Age Art Deco

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A WWII Cramâe(tm)s Terrestrial Globe with attractive Deco mount, displaying the political borders of 1940. This model shows the advancement of the German Military during WWII as of 1940, just two years before the US became involved. In addition colony of Italian East Africa is shown, which existed for only a few years (1936-41). Quite an interesting time line for any history buff, even if the globe seems to carry "battle scars" and not in perfect condition.The mount is a superb representation of the Machine Age / of the Art Deco era w ith itâe(tm)s minimalist clean lines. About the manufacture: What was to become the George F. Cram Company was founded in 1867 by Rufus Blanchard and George Franklin Cram (uncle and nephew) in Evanston , Illinois . The firm was known as Blanchard and Cram and was engaged in producing atlases and maps. By 1869 the business had become George F. Cram, with Cram taking full control and moved to Chicago that same year. The great Chicago fire destroyed the business, which was reestablished under the name Cram Map Depot. In 1921 Cram sold the company to E. A. Peterson. Peterson merged the Cram Company with his National Map Company, and in 1928 it became The George F. Cram Company. The year 1928 also saw the death of founder George F. Cram at the age of 86. The company began making globes in 1932-34, and in 1936 it relocated to Indianapolis . In 1966 Loren B. Douthit, an employee since 1937, became President of the company until his retirement in 1978. William and John Douthit, Loren's sons, assumed management of the company the same year. When Loren B. Douthit died in 1996, William L. Douthit was named Chairman of the Board. Herff Jones, which owns the Nystrom line of globes, purchased CRAM in 2005. Douthit family members are still involved in creating globes at the Herff Jones facility in Indianapolis . To differ itself from the other great Chicago Globe makers in the early 2oth century and to be competitive, Cram became very creative early on. The company experimented with mountings and colors. As a result, the company produced some of the most unique globes. Description: The Globe itself is made of fibre board, covered with a map. The base is made of metal in a clean machine age design with deco details. The full meridian is made of cast iron, the base of metal. Both in a bronze and gold finish. Diameter of the globe itself is 12" inch with a total height of about 16âe. Condition: The Globe is in good condition for itâe(tm)s age with expected wear in form of minor soiling, wrinkles, rubbing and scuffmarks. No loss of map. Colors are vivid, details crisp. The base and full meridian are in good condition, no cracks but some of the finish has flaked off. Please see pictures for details. The age of the Globe has been determined by the political borders displayed, which are as follows : Europe : Europe is shown in its borders of WWII. Austria has been annexed by Germany (1938). Czechoslovakia is still no longer in existence as Germany has seized part of whatâe(tm)s today the Czech Republic (1939). Ireland is also shown as Irish Free State . Middle East/Asia: Iran is also shown as Persia (c1935). Palestine is shown instead of Israel (c. 1948). Jordan is called Transjordan . Tannu Tuva is visible (annexed by the USSR in 1944). Instead of Indonesia the Netherlands Indies are shown. Todayâe(tm)s Malaysia is shown as the Malay States. Thailand is still shown as Siam . Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia are shown as French Indochina. Korea is shown as Chosen instead and Manchuria is displayed as Manchoukuo (name change occurred during Japanese occupation 1932-45). Africa : Colonies are displayed as follows: French West as well as Equatorial Africa, Angelo-Egyptian Sudan, British, Italian and French Somaliland. Tanganyika Territory and the Belgian Congo are shown; Rhodesia is divided into North and South. Italian East Africa is ... read more

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