12. Other Nautical

12.57  BOS’N PIPE.  Authentic World War II era boatswains call as used by sailors in the U.S. Navy.  This genuine early 1900’s sterling silver boatswain’s pipe also known as a “bos’n call" consists of a large round bowl attached to a gradually tapering pipe which terminates in a flared mouthpiece.  The pipe is affixed to a reinforced shank or "keel" which is impressed "STERLING" at the bottom.  A suspension loop in the keel is provided for attachment of lanyard which would have been worn around the sailor's neck as part of his dress uniform. This bos'n call was crafted by a skilled silversmith with a telling mortise joint on the bottom of the shank and a finely tapering tube with a faint seam, indicative of its early manufacture.  It measures 5 1/2 inches in length and is in perfect condition, producing a loud, shrill tone.  195

(See item 11.56)

HISTORY of the BOATSWAIN'S CALL.

The Call has its beginnings in the days of the English Crusades, 1248 A.D., as a method of alerting troops to arms.  Documented in 1485 A.D., the call was used as an honored badge of rank, then being worn by the Lord High Admiral of England.  Undoubtedly it was worn because it was used as a method of passing orders, and therefore signified authority.  When the Lord High Admiral, Sir Edward Howard, was killed in action off Brest in 1513 while commanding French Galleys, a "Whistle of Honour" was presented to him posthumously by the Queen of France.  From about that time onward the call was no longer used as a badge of rank, reverting to its original use as a method of passing orders only.  About 1671 the name Call was well established, lasting to the present day.  In the U.S. Navy the call is often referred to as a Boatswain's Pipe.

12.56  MOTOR LAUNCH BOOKENDS.  Absolutely charming matched pair of heavy bronze bookends beautifully cast in the form of a power boat plowing through wavy seas.  The cabin cruiser with open cockpit is depicted with the uniformed helmsman at the early-style vertical wheel.  The sleek craft creates a rolling wake with the bow rising above the waves as it races past a forest and lighthouse on the cliff above.  The casting details of every aspect of these quality bookends are exceptional -- statuary quality.  7 inches long by 4 inches wide and 3 ½ inches tall.  Each bookend weighs 3 pounds.  Circa 1930.  This pair will make a significant statement in a power boat enthusiast’s library!     695 /pr

12.55  CIGAR CUTTER WITH PROVENANCE.  Early 1900’s gentleman’s cigar cutter in the form of a detailed ship’s engine order telegraph.  This charmingly decorative as well as functional object was used to snip off the ends of old fashioned hand-rolled cigars as was popular in the early part of the last century.  This device is of German  manufacture.  Both sides of the telegraph head bear the engraved inscriptions “VORWARTS:  Machine Achtung, Langsam, Halb and Voll.”  And the other side of the sector “RUCKWARTS:  Scotten Dicht, Langsam, Halb and Voll.”  Below, on both sides is a quarter inch opening backed by a revolving knife blade on the inside.  Rotating the E.O.T. handles cleverly moves the knife within to cut off the tip of the cigar while moving the indicators over the speed indications.  Adding to the realism of the E.O.T. are little faux oil lamps on both sides.  Greatly adding to the desirability and value of this all brass object is the fact that the circular ashtray base is engraved "D. EUROPA” referring to the grand German passenger liner S.S. EUROPA.  No doubt this was sold as a valuable memento of an ocean cruise.  6 inches high overall and 5 1/8 inches in diameter at the base.  Outstand functional and cosmetic condition throughout.  The best of its genre we have ever seen.  325

S.S. EUROPA (later named LIBERTÉ), was a German ocean liner built for the Norddeutsche Lloyd line (NDL) serving the transatlantic passenger route.  Launched in 1929, she and her sister ship, BREMEN, were the most advanced, high-speed steam turbine ocean vessels of their day.   Both ships won the prestigious Blue Riband, an unofficial accolade given to a passenger ship which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in record time.
EUROPA was not active during World War II, but sat in a Hamburg Harbor awaiting the planned attack on Britain which never came.   In 1945 she was captured by the Allies.  The United States claimed the ship as a war prize on May 8, 1945 and gave the vessel to the U.S. Navy, whereupon she was recommissioned as USS EUROPA (AP-177).   EUROPA began her service in 25 August 1945 as a troopship.  She first transported 4,500 American troops back home, then made two subsequent voyages in a similar capacity.

After World War II, the French line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique was awarded the EUROPA to replace the S.S. NORMANDIE, lost after catching fire and capsizing at her moorings  in New York City.   EUROPA was refitted at Le Havre, France and rechristened LIBERTÉ.  She served as the premier liner in the Company’s fleet until the premier of S.S. FRANCE in 1961.   LIBERTÉ was laid up in 1962 and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy in 1963.

12.67 EARLY SHIP COMMEMORATIVE. Genuine, early 1900's framed photograph of the American steamer identified as the S.S. STEEL WORKER.  This handsome presentation consists of a period black and white photograph of the vessel that has been hand tinted.  It is mounted under glass within a turned redwood frame in the form of a ship's wheel.  The frame is decoratively hand-painted in a distinctive style, "S.S. STEEL WORKER" with a fouled anchor. The image measures 5 1/2 inches in diameter with the entire presentation being 12 inches across. Excellent original condition. WAS 179 NOW! 89

The S.S. STEEL WORKER, call sign KDBJ, was built by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (a division of United States Steel) Kearney, New Jersey in 1920. She was of 5,860 gross tons, 3,450 net tons, had a length of 424 feet, a breadth of 56 feet and a draft of 26 1/2 feet. With a crew of 34, S.S. STEEL WORKER operated under the ownership of the Isthmian Steamship Company, home ported in New York.

The distinctive style and format of this presentation is quite recognizable and has come to our attention several times before. (See West Sea Co. items 5.13, 5.14, 5.74, 5.77 and 15.68). Although the authorship of these commemoratives is unknown, they apparently were produced by a cottage industry in the San Francisco Bay Area in the first quarter of the 20th century. They are quite collectible and are still very inexpensive for what they are -- decorative, real time ship mementoes made for the crew!

12.52  CANAL ZONE MATCHES.  Here is one of the strangest offerings we have ever had the pleasure of presenting.  It consists of a match box with original contents.  Simple enough.  But it is extraordinary in its construction, condition, timing and place in history.  The lid of the box is marked “Damp Proof CANAL ZONE MATCHES Made In Sweden Expressly For the Panama Canal Company” with two seals dating 1872, 1873, 1876, 1880 and 1881.  Incredibly, the housing of this matchbox is wood, not cardboard.  The complete contents are wooden matches housed in a sliding cardboard tray with striker panels on both sides.  Mint original condition.   A very historical relic of which few if any survived.  This may well be one-of-a-kind.  2 ¼ inches long by 1 ½ inches wide and ¾ inches thick. 39

France was the first country to begin work in earnest on an Atlantic/Pacific link across the Isthmus of Panama in 1881.  But engineering difficulties and high worker mortality forced abandonment of the project in 1884.  After a revolution, Panama became a U.S. protectorate in 1903.  In 1904, spurred by then President Teddy Roosevelt, the U.S. purchased the remaining French equipment and right to the existing excavation.  The canal was finally completed 10 years later, and officially opened on August 3, 1914.

12.49  VERY EARLY LIFERING COMMEMORATIVE.  Late 19^th century ship memento commemorating the full-rigged sailing ship “TIMANDRA (of) GLASGOW” as beautifully painted at the top and bottom of the presentation.  It consists of an original old albumen photograph of a painting of the lovely ship underway at sea with full sail.  The house flag and the British ensign have been hand-touched in red.   The nicely executed painting shows great detail including the ship’s call flags flown below the “old duster,” her trailboard and billethead on the bow and her nameboard abaft the anchor on the foc’sl.   The image, measuring 6 inches in diameter, is protected under its original wavy glass.  It is encircled by a carved wooden frame in the form of an old fashioned lifering.  The British ensign is painted on the left and TIMANDRA’s house flag “R” is painted on the right.  The periphery of the ring is fitted with a grab rope held by 4 sections of blue denim.  Quite interestingly the reverse bears the framer’s advertisement, “From THE ADELAIDE PHOTO CO.  … Portrait and marine Art. 256 Pitt Street, Sydney.”  Obviously indicating this ship’s souvenir was made in Australia.  The lifering itself measures 9 ¾ inches across.  Excellent original condition showing good age on the front.  The backing is toned with some losses, but is in tact.  Overall it displays very well.  It is a rare, early relic of its genre.  Guaranteed to be over 120 years old!   SOLD

12.38  LIGHTHOUSE.  Impressive early 1900's lighthouse made of solid bronze!  This unusually large example stands 17 1/2 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide at the base and weighs a hefty 17 pounds.  The "lantern" at the top is removable and contains its original clear glass lens. The sides of the lighthouse are cast in the form of bricks, beautifully finished and retaining their original statuary bronze surface.  There are three windows and a door in the lighthouse, all hand-painted for further realism. The massive base is cast in the form of craggy rocks with a stairway leading to the door.  The base is in its original deep green verdigris finish which simulates sea rocks perfectly!  Without a doubt this is one of the biggest and most detailed such lighthouse statues in existence   Bargain priced at that!  695

12.25  CARVED CHINA TRADE FRAME.  Lavishly-carved wooden picture frame produced for the Chinese export market during the mid-1800’s.  It is carved from a single solid piece of valuable dealwood and was made for displaying the recently-invented prized photographic portrait.  The intricate carving with floral motifs features a bird at the top flanked by two bushy-tailed squirrels on either side. Then midway down the frame are more birds on either side.  The center consists of a rectangular “rope” border housing an oval opening decorated with delicate leafy branches and an even finer beaded boarder.  The back of the frame has a 4 ¼ by 6 5/8 inch cut-out for mounting a photograph.  To these ends it retains 4 small pivoting wooden clips on all four edges to secure the mount.  The frame itself measures 11 ¼ inches tall overall by 7 ½ inches wide.  Remarkably it remains preserved in almost perfect original condition with a beautiful original age patina!  WAS 395  NOW! 195

12.41   COMMEMORATIVE SPOON.   Genuine turn-of-the-last century sterling silver spoon representing “CATALINA ISLD.”  as hand-engraved in the bowl.  Under the inscription is also a hand-engraved scene of Avalon Harbor with a large yacht, sailboats and the pier in the bay.  Surrounding the shoreline is the town of Avalon, hills and the historic Wrigley House on the right of the scene.  The stem of the spoon is ornately decorated with floral designs, as is the back.  At the junction of the bowl and stem is embossed “STERLING” and “PAT. 1901.”  Further, there are 3  fine raised maker’s hallmarks including an anchor.  The spoon measures 5 3/8 inches long overall and the bowl is 1 1/8 inches wide.  Flawless, absolutely perfect original condition.  All surfaces are bright, clean and as crisp as the day they were made over 110 years ago!  149

12.40  BATTLESHIP MAINE COMMEMORATIVE.  Late 19th century sterling silver spoon with the bowl hand-engraved with a beautiful image of the famous “BATTLESHIP MAINE, Destroyed Feb. 15, 1898.”  The stem of the spoon is decorated with floral bouquets and is signed with lion hallmarks flanking a “W” marked “STERLING.”  5 inches long.  Perfect original condition.   195

The explosion and sinking of the Battleship MAINE in Havana Harbor, Cuba with the loss of 252 American sailors’ lives eventually led to the Spanish-American War.  The incident engendered great American patriotism and a wealth of period souvenirs from a generation of buttons to dishes.  This period example is one of the more elegant and costly, having been produced in very limited numbers by skilled artistans on a precious metal medium.