Olympic in New York

[181218]

The little baboon brain has taken a liking to this picture from the G auction

You like ? It made me think !! This is very rare....Anyway made me think about the New York skyline in 1911. I had no idea they had started to build such tall buildings or should I say sky scrappers so early. The guy that took the photo is in an even taller building. I've seen other pictures of the Olympic like this but always thought they must have been taken from statue of liberty. Anyone know what the tallest building was in 1911/12 and when New York started to noticeably build such tall buildings ?

Wonder if this will make the estimate of $750 - $1000 ? I will put a bid in If I can but would be a bit shocked if it did come to this price.

Anyway what about New York although it is certainly 1911 the picture does look very modern !
More like the 1930's....

 

[Michael H. Standart]

New York's skyline started to take shape very early in the 20th century. The Flatiron Building, so I understand, was one of the very first to be dubbed a skyscraper, and was built in 1902. The advent of steel girders for construction made it possible to get away from purely stone structures. That Manhattan has a lot of bedrock has made it possible to build a lot of very large structures which otherwise could never have been built there.

 

[David F. Smith]

Miles and Michael,

There is a very easy way to narrow down the date of this picture. Just count the lifeboats on the Olympic. A pre-Titanic sinking version would have eight showing on this side right?

David

Um, what size is the original photograph?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>A pre-Titanic sinking version would have eight showing on this side right? <<

For the most part...yes. Keep in mind however that it wasn't until a major refit was done in 1913 that the extra davits were added. Prior to that, they had to make do with whatever collapsibles they could get.

 

[Jonathan Granato]

This has prob. been discussed in another thread, but did Olympic's passenger loads fall significantly after it was brought to light that she hadn't enough lifeboats, i.e. the crew's refusal to board her after the Titanic disaster?

 

[Jeremy Lee]

Miles,

Regarding your photo, my guess on that building under construction is the GE Building, completed in 1933.

Picture taken from the Empire State Building?

The tallest building in 1911/12 was the MetLife Insurance Comapany Tower at 213m., but then the Woolworth Building was already on its way up.

 

[181218]

Thanks for the information. I never had any doubts that the picture of the Olympic was not taken in 1911, as it is most certainly her maiden voyage. However I found the building in the picture very interesting, as they looked so modern - like the 1930's and this was new to me.

wow is the building above 1912 ? I'm not sure when America took over from Britain as the the worlds super power but from the looks of these buildings maybe this happened in the early 20th century ?

I'm also always looking at fashion book from round about 1911/12 and thinking - this looks more modern like the 20's ! Maybe some of these looks I am looking at were around but did not catch on for few more years.

I'm sure you have all seen the picture of the Lusitania arriving in New York with all the horse drawn taxi's awaiting her passengers ! I would not be surprised if just 6/7 years later when Olympic came a lot of these horse drawn taxis would have been replaced by motor cars !
.

 

[181218]

The picture was taken from the Singer building. My mother thinks it might have something to do with the sowing company. Written or typed on the back of the photo is: This how the Olympic looked as she arrived in New York from the Singer building after her triumphant maiden voyage 1911.

I'm not sure what the size of the photo is. I am sure the real photo in person would be a lot more clear.

 

[Jeremy Lee]

Yeah, but the picture above is the GE Building completed in 1933. My guess is that the unfinished building you have in the photo is this one.

 

[181218]

Hello I was unaware of an unfinished building in the picture. So it must have taken them some time if they started building around 1911 and finished in 1933 ?

 

[181218]

*GE Building completed in 1933*

Oh I get you now. No it cant be a 1933 building. This picture is off the Olympic in 1911. There are many other pictures of the Olympic on her maiden voyage in the an issue I have of the Titanic commutator and all the tiny details are identical. It is to much of a coincidence that the same boats that came out to meet Olympic from her maiden voyage would be dotted around in almost exactly the same positions many years later in a 1930's photo. Commutator No. 162 has a whole lot of very nice pictures of the Olympic arriving at New York in 1911 for me to compare the details to.

If you think this picture which has been listed as the Olympics maiden vovage in this auction ( not that this says much ) is not from 1911, then fair enough. We will have to agree to disagree

I on the other hand feel 100% sure this picture was taken in 1911.
.

 

[rob scott]

"The Woolworth Building
Cass Gilbert, 1913
New York City

The woolworth building reigned as the tallest structure in New York City for over 17 years. It was called the "cathedral of commerce" because it adapted the gothic style to the form of the skyscraper. The Gothic style was typical of many early skyscrapers, with its ornate ornamentation and vertical thrust. " -from the Chrysler Building site

and you can look up some blds here too:
NYC Buildings

 

[181218]

Thanks - these links are of interest ! The first link shows the Singer building from which the Olympic photo was taken ! Looks like New York had very tall buildings very early on...I thought by 1912 they certainly would have had tall buildings but nothing quite like some of the buildings in the links below. These buildings look very modern for there time.

You learn something new everyday !

Skyscrapers: 20th Century - 1

Skyscrapers: 19th Century

 

[Jeremy Lee]

If its 1911, then I'm quite sure that its the Woolworth's Building.

 

[181218]

Well look at this one for 1913 !

I don't know if 1913 means the date of completion or the date they started building ?