RMS Queen Mary - Ocean Liner of the Past

Front Cover, Queen Mary, The Cunard White Star Quadruple-Screw Liner, Ocean Liners of the Past Reprint from The Shipbuilder & Marine Engine-Builder First Published in June 1936. GGA Image ID # 2023f0ed96

On the Front Cover

The photograph on the front of the jacket shows the RMS Queen Mary being dry-docked at Southampton on 6 November 1949 for her annual overhaul. Photograph from Conway Picture Library.

From the Inside, the Dust Jacket Flap

Queen Mary, The Cunard White Star Quadruple-Screw Liner has 250 photographs and 85 illustrations and diagrams, with 82 pages of advertisements from the original magazine, The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine-Builder.

One of the most famous ocean liners of the past, the Queen Mary has evoked more British and American sentiment than any ship since the Mayflower of 1620. More than ten years after the end of an extended trading and war career, she is still afloat in the United States and filling a new role solely because of American interest and the expenditure of a great deal of American money.

Neither the Great Eastern nor the Mauretania, both great favorites in the United States, was singled out to be the recipient of American financial support. That mark of favor was kept for the Queen Mary alone.

It is perhaps curious that the RMS Queen Mary should have attained this singular distinction, for, apart from her great size and speed, she was a conventional ship, much more so than her companion vessel, the RMS Queen Elizabeth, and much less imaginative than the Normandie.

The British capacity for taking the rough with the smooth during the long battle for the transatlantic record between the Normandie and the RMS Queen Mary amused the Americans and added to the immense popularity of this solidly British ship.

The volume mainly comprises a facsimile reprint of a Souvenir Number of The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine-Builder. The original issue was dated June 1936 and was published to commemorate the maiden voyage of this much-loved ship.

Original copies of the Souvenir Numbers are few and far between. Still, there are other reasons for this reprinted title being highly treasured. A valuable addition is a specially written illustrated epilogue by Leslie Reade, continuing the story of the ship's career after its launching.

This is the story of a living ship. The esteem and affection in which this great liner is held on both sides of the Atlantic will ensure that she will remain a link between the British and American peoples, perhaps for many years to come and in memory beyond that.

General Index

• Introduction by Leslie Reade
• The Cunard White Star Line
• Clydebank and the Atlantic Ferry
• The Design—General and Structural
• The Building of the Hull
• The Launch and Completion of the Ship
• General Equipment
• Emergency Arrangements
• Navigating Equipment and Wireless Telegraphy
• The Main Propelling Machinery
• The Steam-generating Installation
• Electrical Machinery and Equipment
• Passenger Accommodation
• Illumination
• Facilities for Exercise, etc.
• Ventilation and Heating
• Passenger Services
• Sea Trials and Maiden Atlantic Crossings
• Epilogue on the "Queen Mary" by Leslie Reade

With the following plates:

• I—"Queen Mary"
• II, III, IV—Inboard Elevation and Deck Plans
• V. Forward and After Main Engine-rooms in Profile, Section and Plan
• VI. Longitudinal Elevation and Plan of Main and Auxiliary Boiler-rooms
• VII. Decorative Panel in the Restaurant on "C" Deck
• VIII. Decorative Panel in the Restaurant on "C" Deck
• IX. Painting for one of the Private Dining Rooms
• X. Another Painting for a Private Dining Room
• XI. Longitudinal Section of the "Queen Mary"

Back Cover, Queen Mary, The Cunard White Star Quadruple-Screw Liner, Ocean Liners of the Past Reprint from The Shipbuilder & Marine Engine-Builder First Published in June 1936. GGA Image ID # 2023f1ea3a

On the Back Cover

On the back of the jacket, the RMS Queen Mary is seen approaching Cherbourg from New York with the Queen Mother aboard. On 23 November 1954, Commodore Sir Ivan Thompson was in command. Photograph from Conway Picture Library.

Publisher's Note

Below is a reproduction of the Index page to the original Souvenir Number. Readers are asked to note that the reference to color plates refers to the original volume. In this new edition, reproducing these color plates has been impossible.

Original Index from The Shipbuilder Magazine

The Cunard White Star Quadruple-Screw North Atlantic Liner "Queen Mary."

The "Queen Mary" (Colored Plate)

His Majesty King Edward VIII. (Master of the Merchant Navy and Pishing Fleets) (Portrait)

His Late Majesty King George V. (Portrait)

Her Majesty Queen Mary (Portrait)

Sir Percy E. Bates, Bt., G.B.E. (Chairman of the Cunard White Star, Limited) (Portrait)

Chapter I. — The Cunard White Star Line — The Founding and Early Ships of the Cunard Line — The Advent of Iron Ships — Early Screw Steamships — The White Star Line — Competition on the Atlantic — Twentieth-century Activities — The War and Post-war Years — The Blue Riband — The Merger and the Present Personnel — The New Epoch (with Portraits of the Rt. Hon. Lord Essendon. Sir Thomas Royden, Bt., C.H., Sir Thomas Brocklebank, Bt., Captain G. S. Horsbnrgh. Mr. G. McLaren Paterson. Mr. J. Austin and Mr. E. C. Leach, and two more Illustrations)

Chapter II. — Clydebank and the Atlantic Ferry — The Early Record of the Clydebank Works — Messrs. John Brown and Company's Régime — The Blue Riband of the North Atlantic — The War Years — Post-war Activities — The "Queen Mary" — The Present Clydebank Works — The Personnel of the Company (with Portraits of Sir Thomas Bell. K.B.E.. Mr. Stephen J. Pigott. Mr. D. McL. Skiffington and Mr. J. M. McNeill, and another Illustration)

Chapter III. — The Design — General and Structural — General Considerations — Research Work — General Arrangement — Structural Design (with three Folding Plates and three other Illustrations)

Chapter IV. — The Building of the Hull — Early Stages — Paintwork — Preparations for Launching (with 11 Illustrations)

Chapter V. — The Launch and Completion of the Ship — Introductory — Launching Experiments Launching Arrangements — Stress Calculations and Observations — Checking Arrangements — Lubricants — Pinal Preparations — Observations Recorded — Post-launch Construction — Models (with 17 Illustrations)

Chapter VI. — General Equipment Steering Gear — Anchor and Warping Gear — Anchors and Cables and other Mooring Equipment — Winches — Derricks — Blocks — Miscellaneous (with eight Illustrations)

Chapter VII. — Emergency Arrangements — Life-saving Appliances — Watertight Doors — Fire Protection (General) — Fire Protection of Machinery Spaces (with 11 Illustrations)

Chapter VIII. —Navigating Equipment and Wireless Telegraphy (with 14 Illustrations)

Chapter IX. — The Main Propelling Machinery — General Arrangement — Main Turbines and Gearing — Condensers, Propellers, Shafting — Engine-room Auxiliary Machinery Turbogenerator Auxiliaries, etc. — Ancillary Materials. Fittings and Equipment for the Main and Auxiliary Machinery — Feed-water Softening Plant — Starting Platforms — Workshops — Ventilation of the Machinery Spaces — Heat Insulation (with one Folding Plate and other 47 Illustrations)

Chapter X. — The Steam-generating Installation — Main Boilers — Auxiliary Boilers — Boiler Mountings and Fittings — Auxiliary Machinery in the Boiler-rooms — Steam Pipes and Valves (with one Folding Plate and other 10 Illustrations)

Chapter XI. — Electrical Machinery and Equipment — Turbogenerators — Emergency Generators — Emergency and Low-voltage Batteries — System of Distribution — Switchboard Equipment — Electric Cables — Electric Motors—Electrical Control Gear—Miscellaneous (with 23 Illustrations)

Chapter XII. — Passenger Accommodation — introductory — Cabin-class Accommodation — Public Rooms on the Promenade and Sun Decks — Glass-work — Entrances and Stairways — Cabin-class Staterooms — Special Staterooms — Tourist-class Accommodation — Third-class Accommodation — Deck Coverings — Various Materials and Furnishings (with four Coloured Plates and other 56 Illustrations)

Chapter XIII. — Illumination — The G.E.C. Lighting — The B.T.-H. Lighting — Thyratron-reactor Lighting Control — The Ballroom and Verandah-grill Lighting Circuits — Switches, etc. (with 15 Illustrations)

Chapter XIV. — Facilities for Exercise, etc.— Promenading and Games Spaces — Cabin-class Gymnasium — Squash- racquets Court -Cabin-class Swimming Bath — Turkish and Curative Baths — Tourist-class Gymnasium — Tourist-class Swimming Bath (with seven Illustrations)

Chapter XV. — Ventilation and Heating — The Thermotank Ventilation System- The Carrier Air-conditioning Installation—Heating Apparatus for the Staterooms (with three 11lustrations)

Chapter XVI. — Passenger Services—Kitchens, etc.—Insulated Storerooms, etc.—Table-ware. etc.—Banking and Office Facilities—Call System—Telephone Installation—Electric Clocks—Passenger Elevators and Service Lifts—Entertainments -Hairdressing Saloons -Surgical Equipment- Sanitary Equipment Water-service Piping in Connection with Sanitary Arrangements—Sewage Disposal—Electrolyzes—Calorifiers (with 16 Illustrations)

Chapter XVII. — Sea Trials and Maiden Atlantic Crossings (with Portraits of Commodore Sir Edgar Britten. R.D., R.X.R., and Mr. Llewellyn Roberts (Chief Engineer), and three other Illustrations)

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

• Main title: Queen Mary, the Cunard White Star quadruple-screw North Atlantic liner: ocean liners of the past.
• Published/Created: New York: Bonanza Books, 1979.
• Description: 287 p., [7] leaves of plates (2 fold.): ill.; 31 cm.
• ISBN: 0517279290
• LC Classification: VM383.Q4 Q84
• Related titles: Shipbuilder and marine engine-builder. Cunard White Star quadruple-screw North Atlantic liner Queen Mary.
• LC Subjects: Queen Mary (Steamship)
• Notes: Largely a facsimile reprint of a special souvenir number of The Shipbuilder and marine engine-builder, June 1936.
• LCCN: 79013209
• Dewey class no.: 387.2/43
• Type of material: Book