Ashtray including a representation of a Halifax bomber, made by London Aircraft Production staff, presented to E C Ottaway, 1941-1945

During the Second World War, London Transport used many of its maintenance facilities in the manufacture, assembly and test flying of Halifax bomber aeroplanes. The manufacturing unit was known as London Aircraft Production (L.A.P.). This ashtray was produced and presented by staff at L.A.P. to Mr Eric Ottaway, the Joint Managing Director, who then kept it on his desk. It is made of cast metal and consists of three components: a tray, a stand and a model of a Halifax bomber. Ottaway trained as an engineer and joined London Transport in 1925. He started to work for L.A.P. in 1940 and became Joint General Manager three years later.