Beschreibung:

Sopwith (Sir Thomas, 1888-1989). A pair of early 20th century flying boots reputedly belonging to the pioneer aviator Sir Thomas Sopwith, the cherry red leather boots, with sheepskin lining, steel buckles on the straps, the hard leather soles with four rows of steel nails, 37cm high, the soles 31cm long, with a Sotheby's label attached Provenance: Sotheby's 27 January ..., Transport Trust Sale, London. Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith (1888–1989) was an English aviation pioneer. In 1910 he was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviation Certificate No. 31, and shortly afterwards set up the Sopwith School of Flying at Brooklands. During the First World War his Sopwith Aviation Company, based at Brooklands, produced more than 18,000 aircraft for the allied forces, including nearly 6,000 Sopwith Camel single-seat fighters. Financial troubles after the war resulted in Sopwith closing his company, but then re-forming it under the name of his chief engineer and test pilot Harry Hawker.