American Shipper

Bruce Carson · Nov 16, 2005

It might be hard to nail down. Strange that there's no name showing on the bow.
A C-2, but not in Lykes Bros. livery.
Hard to tell in black & white but it may be the United States Lines funnel.

Bruce C.

R651400 · Nov 16, 2005

United States Lines. American or Pioneer eg 1945 "American Merchant" class.

Peggy747 · Nov 16, 2005

I go for Lykes line ship, by the fact that she is not flying a courtesy flag it appears like departing Gladstone Lock (Liverpool)homeward bound itnto an ebb tide she would make an unassisted turn to starboard out to sea and the derricks will be lowered soon, often once cargo was finished loading there was a mad scatter to get going and the derricks came down last, its unusual that no name is to be seen.
Keep them coming Danube2 Peter

danube4 · Nov 16, 2005

Hi All. Thanks for your comments. I now seem to recall seeing the American Merchant, or trader in Liverpool in late 40s or early 50s. She looks like one of those. Lykes had an L on the funnel. Barney

danube4 · Nov 16, 2005

I have looked at this picture(Enlarged). The building behind bow has Neon Signe on roof. National something company, can't make out middle word. There is a sky-scraper right of the ships bow, not in pic. look like more on left of pic. Did United States Lines have an Eagle on there House Flag. The flag above the American flag looks like it could be a bird. Barney

R651400 · Nov 16, 2005

I still go for United States Lines' "American Merchant." See gallery latest.
Lykes Lines had same painted along hull and President Lines would have spread eagle on the funnel.
Background if a far-east port, the US lines ship would be named Pioneer *****.

danube4 · Nov 16, 2005

Malcolm. Thanks for your help. I go for American Merchant also. A bit of white paint on side of your pic, but they look like same ship. Barney.

Bruce Carson · Nov 16, 2005

Both APL and USL had spreadeagles on their houseflags,
APL had white on red, USL was dark blue on white.
The APL was much more stylized than the other.
It has to be an United States Lines ship, but the name will probably remain a mystery.

Bruce C.

danube4 · Nov 16, 2005

Bruce, Malcolm, Peter. Thanks for your comments. Its been very interesting morning.

Barney.

gdynia · Nov 16, 2005

Would say its definetely a USL Vessel as Lykes Lines always seemed to paint the top of their derricks black so the grease off the blocks did not show.

American Shipper

Bruce Carson

R651400

Peggy747

danube4

danube4

R651400

danube4

Bruce Carson

danube4

gdynia

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