The Great Ships Of Original Benjamin's

As you enter the restaurant, two of the largest model ships in the world proudly greet you. The first is the Queen Elizabeth which is a 30 foot model of the famous ocean liner. Her wonderful elegance and design reveal an era long gone and sadly missed. This model is dedicated to all the service personnel who sailed aboard her during World War II, when she was used as a troop transporter.

In our lobby, directly behind the Queen Elizabeth, stands the award winning giant “Mayflower,” a 35 foot model used in the 1952 Warner Brothers Movie, Plymouth Adventure starring Spencer Tracey and Lloyd Bridges. The movie won an academy award for Special Effects. The model is fully rigged, sails bent and yards braced.

The collection of model ships at Original Benjamins restaurant has grown into one of the finest collections in the world: ocean liners, barks, barkentines, schooners, sailing warships, battleships, freighters, pond yachts, half hull models and an eleven foot seaworthy steam powered tugboat. Each dining room displays its own class of ships. The latest room is dedicated to the Americas Cup Yachts.

The newest arrival at Original Benjamins isn’t a model. She is “Blithe Spirit”, a 44 foot antique ocean racing yacht. The yacht was built at the historic yard of “George Lawley and Son Corp., Neponset, Massachusetts in 1940. Six Lawley built yachts have competed for and defended the Americas Cup races beginning in 1871. Only 200 Lawley built yachts survive to this day. Lawley and Son also built flying boats in W.W.I and the U.S. Navy’s first airship “DN-1.” Blithe Spirit was designed by world reknown Olin and Rod Stevens, founders of “Sparkman & Stevens.” Olin Stevens designed seven other successful Americas Cup Yachts including the J-class yacht “Ranger.” In 1937 Ranger claimed the top honor as being the finest and fastest J-boat ever built.

Blithe Spirit is the privately owned yacht of Original Benjamins model maker James N. Frost, better known as Jimmy. The yacht will be fully restored by Jimmy Frost on site. Also, onsite beside Blithe Spirit, is Jimmy’s model shop where he continues to build some of the world’s largest models.