Photo Info Request: RMS Olympic

Leslie · Aug 31, 2017

Hi all,

I came across this photograph from Real Photographs Co. Ltd. and is, what I believe, of the RMS Olympic. I've tried finding more info on the company or what has become of it but I'm not finding much to go off of. When purchased, I was told that this photograph was from 1911.

Just looking for more information if anyone has any. Thank-you for your help!

Harland Duzen · Aug 31, 2017

Welcome to ET Leslie!

This is RMS Olympic but this photo must have been taken Post-April 1912, as after the Titanic disaster, Olympic was fitted with enough lifeboats for all her Passengers and Crew which you can see along the entire length of the Boat Deck.

Either way, congratulations on finding a new (and valuable) photograph!

Dave Gittins · Aug 31, 2017

Definitely well after 1911. Note the impractical arrangement of lifeboats. Try launching that lot in an emergency! The practice of doubling up lifeboats wasn't banned until the 1960s.

At a quick look around, I found Real Photographs Co. Ltd began in the 1940s and published many photos, especially of aircraft. The collection was sold, perhaps in the 1960s and some was reportedly damaged. It's ultimate fate seems to be a mystery.

Michael H. Standart · Aug 31, 2017

>> Try launching that lot in an emergency! <<

I think I'll take a pass on that offer! I can't imagine that getting people around to load them would have been any sweet picnic either.

Ioannis Georgiou · Aug 31, 2017

It is Olympic in 1920. That photograph was also used as a postcard.

Leslie · Sep 1, 2017

Martin Tyne said:
Welcome to ET Leslie!

This is RMS Olympic but this photo must have been taken Post-April 1912, as after the Titanic disaster, Olympic was fitted with enough lifeboats for all her Passengers and Crew which you can see along the entire length of the Boat Deck.

Either way, congratulations on finding a new (and valuable) photograph!

Thank-you so much for your help! I really appreciate it and thank-you! It's proudly on display in my apartment!

Leslie · Sep 1, 2017

Dave Gittins said:
Definitely well after 1911. Note the impractical arrangement of lifeboats. Try launching that lot in an emergency! The practice of doubling up lifeboats wasn't banned until the 1960s.

At a quick look around, I found Real Photographs Co. Ltd began in the 1940s and published many photos, especially of aircraft. The collection was sold, perhaps in the 1960s and some was reportedly damaged. It's ultimate fate seems to be a mystery.

Appreciate you looking! I came across the same info on Real Photographs Ltd. Co. but was hoping for a little more info (not from you, but in general) but like you said, the fate of it was a mystery.

I can't even imagine the procedure for launching those lifeboats!

Leslie · Sep 1, 2017

Ioannis Georgiou said:
It is Olympic in 1920. That photograph was also used as a postcard.

Thank-you!

richard de kerbrech · Sep 4, 2017

While Leslie's photo may have been taken in the 1920s, that actual print is from 1971 at the earliest. On the reverse it says 'send 10 p for list'. The 10 p (ten pence) is from the UK's introduction of decimal coinage from 1971 onwards. If it was prior to this it would be written 10 d. The 10 p was the same value as the old two shillings/florin which seems about right for 1971. I believe that Real Photographs Ltd was the collection of J. Elder and it may( and I could stand corrected here) be that it eventually passed to Ian Allan the publishers.