Stefan Diklich
Member
What has become of Olympics cherubs and the reception room landing chandelier. Plus what about the all of the tables and chairs from the dining room?
Cherub
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Brian R Peterson
Guest
Hi Stefan!
When the Olympic was sold to scrap yards in 1935 ALL of her opulent interior fittings were auctioned off, so I would imagine some of the furniture was offered to collectors and the such, but I would imagine a good majority of it was recycled among the White Star Cunard fleet.
As for the staircase cherubs, there is no documented evidence that the Olympic had cherubs on any other deck aside from A. This seems to be supported by the fact that no cherubs appear in any of the auction catalogs.
The only confirmation of cherubs on A - D Deck I have seen is in my great grandfather’s travel journal he kept when he was a First Class passenger aboard her in 1933, he took many photos of the interior but aside from the A Deck and D Deck landings, he took no other photos of the Grand Staircase.
Best Regards,
Brian
When the Olympic was sold to scrap yards in 1935 ALL of her opulent interior fittings were auctioned off, so I would imagine some of the furniture was offered to collectors and the such, but I would imagine a good majority of it was recycled among the White Star Cunard fleet.
As for the staircase cherubs, there is no documented evidence that the Olympic had cherubs on any other deck aside from A. This seems to be supported by the fact that no cherubs appear in any of the auction catalogs.
The only confirmation of cherubs on A - D Deck I have seen is in my great grandfather’s travel journal he kept when he was a First Class passenger aboard her in 1933, he took many photos of the interior but aside from the A Deck and D Deck landings, he took no other photos of the Grand Staircase.
Best Regards,
Brian
Nigel Bryant
Member
Hey Brian,
Do you have any copies of your Grandfather's photographs of his travel on the Olympic? I would love to see some of his interior photographs.
Cheers,
Nigel
Do you have any copies of your Grandfather's photographs of his travel on the Olympic? I would love to see some of his interior photographs.
Cheers,
Nigel
Brian R Peterson
Guest
Hi Nigel!
Daniel Klistorner is also very interested in these items, and I would love to share them however the same obstacle prevents him from seeing these as you; my great grandfather is very protective of everything he has, especially his Olympic memorbilia and for that reason he will not allow me to scan them.
Best Regards,
Brian
Daniel Klistorner is also very interested in these items, and I would love to share them however the same obstacle prevents him from seeing these as you; my great grandfather is very protective of everything he has, especially his Olympic memorbilia and for that reason he will not allow me to scan them.
Best Regards,
Brian
Daniel Klistorner
Member
Brian,
I don't have anything solid to prove this, but there is some speculation that some of Olympic's items were 'helped to' (so to say) before the auctioneers catalogued the items and auctioned them off. This may be the reason why none of the cherubs are mentioned (even if we assume that there were only two). There are other instances where it seems some items are missing.
However of coruse, the majority of the fittings were left on the ship, and I highly doubt that any of them were reused on other ships, as everything was put under the hammer, and there was no point for Cunard White Star to buy it back.
Daniel.
I don't have anything solid to prove this, but there is some speculation that some of Olympic's items were 'helped to' (so to say) before the auctioneers catalogued the items and auctioned them off. This may be the reason why none of the cherubs are mentioned (even if we assume that there were only two). There are other instances where it seems some items are missing.
However of coruse, the majority of the fittings were left on the ship, and I highly doubt that any of them were reused on other ships, as everything was put under the hammer, and there was no point for Cunard White Star to buy it back.
Daniel.
James Doyle
Member
Brian,
If you can not scan the pictures themselves, would you be so kind to describe some of them to us? Thanks!
If you can not scan the pictures themselves, would you be so kind to describe some of them to us? Thanks!
Stefan Diklich
Member
Yeah, too bad you can't scan those pictures from your grandpas collection, they'd be great to see, but if you could describe them thats better than nothing. By the way are they rare pictures, like from different angles, or just facing the front like most?
Brian R Peterson
Guest
Hi Dan & James!
Dan, I has assumed that might have been the case, with the cherubs and other items of interest being nicked by collectors, crew etc. before they would be sold.
As for the furniture I was unsure of what they would do with it, it just seemed logical that with such large quantities and it being the midst of the Depression it would make sense to save money and recycle as much as possible, however I guess this was not the case.
James, I would be more than happy to describe the photos for you. There are 40 in all, all except one, are crystal clear like the 1920 photos.
Two are of the White Star Cunard docks and the ship as he approached it; several details that can be seen are the boarding ramps and different gangways.
Two are of the Statue of Liberty as the ship passed it on her way out of the harbor.
One is of the NY city profile at sea when they were far enough out to catch it all in the viewfinder.
There are four shots of various areas on the deck he must have found of interest like a close up of a davit, the lifeboats, looking down the boat deck from the First Class entrance and one looking over the side of the ship down at the water to show how tall the ship was.
There is a picture of the Bridge with the Captain in his white dress uniform peering out of one of the large windows.
There is a photo of the Captain and some Officers standing at attention in front of the Starboard Bridge Wing Cab.
There is a picture of his B Deck cabin, his recollection of the cabin number and location does not match the decor of the cabin found there so I am still narrowing down which cabin it actually is.
There are four views of the Forward Grand Staircase, one taken from Boat Deck looking down the stairs, one from A Deck looking up at the clock, a close up of the details of the clock carvings and a picture from the back of Boat Deck looking forward, this photo inadvertently gives an excellent view down the Port Boat Deck cabin corridor.
There is one photo of the Aft Grand Staircase, also taken from A Deck looking up the stairs.
There is one of the First Class Lounge, viewed from just inside the entrance looking towards the port side.
There is one view of the Reading and Writing Room taken standing in front of the windows looking into the room, quite a spectacular view too.
There is a photo of the First Class Dining Saloon taken from just inside the entry doors from the Reception Room.
There are two photos of the details of the stained glass windows in the Dining Saloon.
There is a photo of the Reception Room itself looking in from the Dining Saloon, and the Grand Staircase is visible, however it appears to be over exposed and is very dark, but from the details you can see it would be a spectacular and rare view if it could be corrected.
There is a photo of the Parisian Cafe taken from area where the tables remain looking out onto the dance floor.
There is an excellent photo of the Ala Carte Restaurant although I cannot determine from where it was taken, my guess is from the arched entrance to the Parisian Cafe.
There is a photo of the Smoking Room taken from the doors of the Verandah Cafe looking in.
There are three photos taken of the window detail in the Smoking Room.
There is a photo of the Verandah Cafe taken from the far starboard corner of the room looking back towards the Smoking Room.
There is a photo of a large and ornate horse shoe shaped bar, it appears to be in an alcove as it is a small area though I cannot determine where this would have been located.
There is a photo of the Swimming Bath, viewed at an angle from the changing booths looking towards the entrance; it has changed since the 1920 photo, plain white paneling hides most of the previously visible pipes and rivets.
There is a photo of the Turkish Bath viewed from the far corner looking in towards the entrance.
There are two photos I would deem extremely rare, as they are of the Dining Saloon dance floor in use, with a live band on what appears to be a bandstand.
There is a photo of the ocean as seen from A Deck Promenade, the giant windows of the Reading and Writing Room are visible in the distance to give an idea of where he was standing at the time.
There is a photo taken from the fantail looking down at the ship's wake.
The last four photos are when he was disembarking at Liverpool, with different views of the ship sailing away.
Best Regards,
Brian
Dan, I has assumed that might have been the case, with the cherubs and other items of interest being nicked by collectors, crew etc. before they would be sold.
As for the furniture I was unsure of what they would do with it, it just seemed logical that with such large quantities and it being the midst of the Depression it would make sense to save money and recycle as much as possible, however I guess this was not the case.
James, I would be more than happy to describe the photos for you. There are 40 in all, all except one, are crystal clear like the 1920 photos.
Two are of the White Star Cunard docks and the ship as he approached it; several details that can be seen are the boarding ramps and different gangways.
Two are of the Statue of Liberty as the ship passed it on her way out of the harbor.
One is of the NY city profile at sea when they were far enough out to catch it all in the viewfinder.
There are four shots of various areas on the deck he must have found of interest like a close up of a davit, the lifeboats, looking down the boat deck from the First Class entrance and one looking over the side of the ship down at the water to show how tall the ship was.
There is a picture of the Bridge with the Captain in his white dress uniform peering out of one of the large windows.
There is a photo of the Captain and some Officers standing at attention in front of the Starboard Bridge Wing Cab.
There is a picture of his B Deck cabin, his recollection of the cabin number and location does not match the decor of the cabin found there so I am still narrowing down which cabin it actually is.
There are four views of the Forward Grand Staircase, one taken from Boat Deck looking down the stairs, one from A Deck looking up at the clock, a close up of the details of the clock carvings and a picture from the back of Boat Deck looking forward, this photo inadvertently gives an excellent view down the Port Boat Deck cabin corridor.
There is one photo of the Aft Grand Staircase, also taken from A Deck looking up the stairs.
There is one of the First Class Lounge, viewed from just inside the entrance looking towards the port side.
There is one view of the Reading and Writing Room taken standing in front of the windows looking into the room, quite a spectacular view too.
There is a photo of the First Class Dining Saloon taken from just inside the entry doors from the Reception Room.
There are two photos of the details of the stained glass windows in the Dining Saloon.
There is a photo of the Reception Room itself looking in from the Dining Saloon, and the Grand Staircase is visible, however it appears to be over exposed and is very dark, but from the details you can see it would be a spectacular and rare view if it could be corrected.
There is a photo of the Parisian Cafe taken from area where the tables remain looking out onto the dance floor.
There is an excellent photo of the Ala Carte Restaurant although I cannot determine from where it was taken, my guess is from the arched entrance to the Parisian Cafe.
There is a photo of the Smoking Room taken from the doors of the Verandah Cafe looking in.
There are three photos taken of the window detail in the Smoking Room.
There is a photo of the Verandah Cafe taken from the far starboard corner of the room looking back towards the Smoking Room.
There is a photo of a large and ornate horse shoe shaped bar, it appears to be in an alcove as it is a small area though I cannot determine where this would have been located.
There is a photo of the Swimming Bath, viewed at an angle from the changing booths looking towards the entrance; it has changed since the 1920 photo, plain white paneling hides most of the previously visible pipes and rivets.
There is a photo of the Turkish Bath viewed from the far corner looking in towards the entrance.
There are two photos I would deem extremely rare, as they are of the Dining Saloon dance floor in use, with a live band on what appears to be a bandstand.
There is a photo of the ocean as seen from A Deck Promenade, the giant windows of the Reading and Writing Room are visible in the distance to give an idea of where he was standing at the time.
There is a photo taken from the fantail looking down at the ship's wake.
The last four photos are when he was disembarking at Liverpool, with different views of the ship sailing away.
Best Regards,
Brian
Nigel Bryant
Member
Dear Brian,
Wow, they certainly sound awesome. Pity we can't see the photographs. Thanks for the descriptions though, they certain allow imaginations to run wild! The Grand Staircase prints sound awesome, especially that one you mentioned looking down the stairs. Can you see the back wall of the foyer? Was all this area painted white and green?
The Reception and Dining Rooms would be of interest, to see all renovations especially in the Reception area.
Cheers,
Nigel
Wow, they certainly sound awesome. Pity we can't see the photographs. Thanks for the descriptions though, they certain allow imaginations to run wild! The Grand Staircase prints sound awesome, especially that one you mentioned looking down the stairs. Can you see the back wall of the foyer? Was all this area painted white and green?
The Reception and Dining Rooms would be of interest, to see all renovations especially in the Reception area.
Cheers,
Nigel
Daniel Klistorner
Member
Brian,
Regarding your grandfather's cabin, we have discussed it's style before, and there were only two such cabin on the Olympic. One was on B deck and one on C deck. We'll talk in 1933 terms, when B deck became A deck, and C deck became B deck. The cabins were A47 and B72. There were no other cabins on Olympic that were in that style, so he had to be in A47, which is very similar to the number he remembered. You mentioned he had a deck plan, if he marked his cabin, it should be very easy to dertermine exactly which one he was in, or else he may be able to determine anew which cabin he had.
Regards,
Daniel.
Regarding your grandfather's cabin, we have discussed it's style before, and there were only two such cabin on the Olympic. One was on B deck and one on C deck. We'll talk in 1933 terms, when B deck became A deck, and C deck became B deck. The cabins were A47 and B72. There were no other cabins on Olympic that were in that style, so he had to be in A47, which is very similar to the number he remembered. You mentioned he had a deck plan, if he marked his cabin, it should be very easy to dertermine exactly which one he was in, or else he may be able to determine anew which cabin he had.
Regards,
Daniel.
Brian R Peterson
Guest
Hi Nigel!
In the Forward Grand Staircase photo looking down the steps you can see the back foyer wall, it is the same shade as the rest of the room, so I would imagine the whole room was stained green as white would certainly stand out.
I would like very much to see that Reception Room photo retouched to the proper exposure to show the print, however since only the photo survives I think is just a dream.
Best Regards,
Brian
In the Forward Grand Staircase photo looking down the steps you can see the back foyer wall, it is the same shade as the rest of the room, so I would imagine the whole room was stained green as white would certainly stand out.
I would like very much to see that Reception Room photo retouched to the proper exposure to show the print, however since only the photo survives I think is just a dream.
Best Regards,
Brian
James Doyle
Member
Brian, Thanks so much. It really allows us to picture the scenes with our imagenations.
Sahand Miraminy
Member
Hey,
WOW this is so awesome, maybe its better not to see the pictures though. The mystery is just as fun as the known facts!
SAHAND
WOW this is so awesome, maybe its better not to see the pictures though. The mystery is just as fun as the known facts!
SAHAND
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