Photographs from MoMA’s 1944 Norman Bel Geddes’ War Maneuver Models Exhibition

[Story]

Tripped over this -

As Archives Specialist in the MoMA Archives, I am always on the prowl for images depicting how our exhibitions were installed. Sadly, up until the 1960s only about 75% of MoMA’s exhibitions were documented with official installation photographs, usually due to budget constraints. So imagine my excitement on one dark, drab winter day earlier this year when, while working in the Photographic Archive, I came across a folder labeled, “Visitors in Galleries,” and discovered that these visitors were in galleries for an exhibition for which we had no visual record: Norman Bel Geddes’ War Maneuver Models (January 26–March 5, 1944). There was a constellation of 35 photographs in the folder, and a few of these stars are presented here.

https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2015/02/25/found-photographs-from-momas-1944-norman-bel-geddes-war-maneuver-models-exhibition/

These look to be HO scale and all in sterling silver - makes me wonder whatever became of all of that precious metal.

[Story]

The original article, well worth reading
https://assets.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_3148_300061996.pdf

[Old Wombat]

They could have been melted down for their silver after the exhibition (not an unusual fate for many temporary pieces & installations once they had fulfilled their purpose), or they could be at the Harry Ransom Center in Texas.

A quote from Wikipedia;

The archive of Norman Bel Geddes is held by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. This large collection includes models, drafts, watercolor designs, research notes, project proposals, and correspondence.

[Kerick]

Well, this proves all of WW2 was fake!

[Mig Eater]

This is probably the only time the M6 heavy tank was used in action

[Story]

i wonder if ROCO got hold of some of the molds, post-war

1960: Roco began as a plastic product company, producing sand buckets and the first Roco Minitanks, which were military vehicles.

[M.A.D]

The original article, well worth reading
https://assets.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_3148_300061996.pdf

Thanks Story, that was intriguing!

MAD