A Rare Set Of First War British Mark Ii Flying Goggles Of Rfc Pilot Kia

A Rare Set of First War British Mark II Flying Goggles by The Triplex Goggle Mask & Lens Co. Ltd. - This is a set of First War Mark II Flying Goggles by the Triplex Goggle Mask & Lens Co. Ltd., used by early flyers of Great Britain, These goggles are constructed of a main chocolate-coloured leather facepiece that is sewn onto a pair of slightly yellow-tinted broad teardrop-shaped goggles within a painted grey metal frame. The two lenses are separated via a hinge, allowing for some adjustment to the face. The obverse of the leather is maker marked “Goggle Mask Flying Mark II  The Triplex Goggle Mask & Lens Co. Ltd.” in gold embossing beside the left eye. The reverse of the goggles are lined on the interior side with tan leather, stitched together using white twill. The goggles are cushioned around the lenses using brown felt to allow for a more comfortable fit. Attached to both sides of these flying goggles is a black 19 mm wide elastic band with two size adjustment sliders. These goggles appear well used. The lower right side is missing the majority of the leather facepiece, and although the upper right side appears to be mostly intact, the interior tan-coloured leather has separated from these goggles, and is missing. Some of the brown felt cushioning around the lenses has been worn off, but with the majority still present. With significant visual and olfactory signs of molding, due to age, use, and ill-suited storage conditions. In as-found condition.

Footnote: This set of goggles were worn and used by Canadian Royal Flying Corps Pilot Gerald Alfred Learn, who was shot down on June 24th 1918 while engaged with three German trip planes.