Mauretania scrap souvenirs

[Lucy Burkhill]

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone could please help me with this. I bought two items on ebay a while back which were made from the Maury's decking, one is a little barrel, the other is a napkin ring. They have on them a gilt plaque which states "From the decking of the Mauretania the Old Lady of the Atlantic". Could anyone tell me where these were produced and by whom? Also where would they have been sold in 1935, ie in gift shops, department stores, on board Cunard ships, by mail order etc? I think they are delightful, tactile little items, if a bit sad, being scrap souvenirs after all.

I notice that these items frequently keep popping up on ebay - right now there's an inkwell made from her decking, previously there has been things such as letter racks etc, all bearing the identical gilt plaque with the above inscription.

Also, I have often wondered if any parts of her famous engines were made into souvenirs- turbine blades in particular would have made wonderful and evocative mementoes!!

If anyone out there can help I will be most grateful!

Regards,

Lucy

 

[Eric Longo]

Dear Lucy,
Some of the souvenirs were produced at Blyth, Northumberland and some bear a screen-printed aluminum plaque that names Hughes Bolckow Shipbreakers Ltd.. In addition, some of these souvenirs were possibly made at the Thomas W. Ward Yards as well. There is a matching set of six napkin rings from Mauretania on eBay right now. I've seen at least two varieties - each naming both yards mentioned above. This is the scarcer variety from my experience. They look to be in original very good used condition.

Best,
Eric

R.M.S. Mauretania: Farewell to the Tyne

 

[Lucy Burkhill]

Hi Eric,
Thank you for replying to my question. Regarding the items made at Blyth by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreakers, was the wood from Maury taken to Blyth from Rosyth where she was actually broken up? It's interesting that you mention that some souvenirs also were possibly made at Thomas Ward's yard. I was unaware of this, I know that Ward's had a breaker's yard at Inverkeithing, just the other side of the Forth Bridge, and virtually next door to where M met her end, so I guess it would have been easy for Ward's yard to acquire scrap wood from her with which to make souvenirs. As they handled the scrapping of the Olympic, I presume that they must also have made souvenirs from her as well? I have seen the set of napkin rings on ebay.

Regards,
Lucy

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From Art Daily:

The last bell from the Mauretania in private hands to be offered in Maritime sale

quote:

LONDON.- A gleaming brass bell from RMS Mauretania (sister of Lusistania, c.1906), which latterly hung in Cunard’s offices in the Liver Building in Liverpool will be offered by Charles Miller Ltd on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 in his sale of Maritime & Scientific Models, Instruments & Art in London (25, Blythe Road, W14).

More at http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=50886

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Liverpool Echo:

Only bell from the Mauretania to remain in private hands to be offered in maritime sale

quote:

A GLEAMING brass bell which once rang out on one of the greatest ships of all time is to go up for sale.

The magnificent ship’s bell is from Cunard’s Edwardian superliner RMS Mauretania, known as the lucky sister of the Lusitania which sank after being torpedoed by a German U-boat in May 1915.

More at http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2011/10/20/only-bell-from-the-mauretania-to-remain-in-private-hands-to-be-offered-in-maritime -sale-100252-29627342/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From Maritime Matters:
Pinewood With Peter (Seeking out MAURETANIA in Movieland)
See Pinewood With Peter (Seeking out MAURETANIA in Movieland) | MaritimeMatters | Cruise ship news and ocean liner history

 

[Geof Watson]

Hi everyone, does anyone know what happened to the Mauretania's lifeboats