QE2 - a ship of many parts

[Twynkle]

There are lots of images and clips of QE2 being constructed - seemingly there's little here about what was used and where it came from!
As well as the raw materials of her hull and superstructure, all sorts of things made her interior special.
She was built at a time when the steel industry, manufacturers of aluminium, glass, timber and furnishings etc etc were a significant area of trade in the UK, post-war.
Who might know about the suppliers, and what they supplied?

For example - all the glass for portholes and windows (inside and out) etc - did Pilkingtons get the contract?
And the steel - did this come from John Summers and Sons?
Suppliers for the crew accommodation etc
The lights and lighting - maybe these need to be a topic on their own?!

[Waverley]

Delivery of the pianos.

From the John Mason website.

Clydebank, Scotland, 1967: One of two vans delivering all the pianos to the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Cruise Ship (The QE2) before the vessel was put into service. John Mason also delivered all the pianos to the Queen Elizabeth 1st many years before.


John Mason International movers

[Michael Gallagher]

Rosie

I have a Suppliers List which naturally goes over many pages. I'll dig it out and tell you who supplied the glass.

Flagship

[Cruise_Princess]

A few months ago there was a porthole for sale on EBAY...( supposedly from QE2??)....It had my surname printed on the side..with a different spelling....presumably from the makers of either the glass or the brass surrounds.  On second thoughts I think it was the foundry .....I couldn't believe it....but it went for a fairly high sum and I missed out....didn't know I made portholes on the side......interesting stuff  though...

Thomas Utley ( Rainhill) Ltd


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=139-ro&cid=-1#-1

[Twynkle]

Thanks so much, Flagship and Cruise Princess

Rainhill in Lancashire is close to St Helens where the Pilkington glass factory was founded

Flagship - only if it's not too much trouble; it's not urgent - there's plenty of time!
There are just 'wonderings' in my mind, particularly about steel, and whether any of this came from John Summers' steel-works at Shotton, also the timber - possibly via Denny, Mott and Dickson, suppliers to Liverpool shipping lines.

 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Now I'd very much like to know more about these :

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=qe2&w=46566419%40N08&z=e

QE2 turbine patterns in wood, on display in the Linthouse at Irvine, Scottish Maritime Museum.

They look fascinating in their own right -- what were they used for?

[Twynkle]

Now I'd very much like to know more about these :

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=qe2&w=46566419%40N08&z=e

QE2 turbine patterns in wood, on display in the Linthouse at Irvine, Scottish Maritime Museum.

They look fascinating in their own right -- what were they used for?

I agree Isabelle, they look really interesting.
I wonder whether these were used together with a scaled down model of a ship's engine and used as a 3-D reference section for the layout of a ships engine room.
There's one of these from Govan Shipbuilders also shown in the flickr set.

Does anyone know whether there's a builders' model of QE2s engine room?
I wonder too, what happened to all this sort of 'paraphernalia' at John Browns after QE2 left the yard
Anything like this would be an a treat to see!  

[Peter Mugridge]

Patterns are used to create the moulds from which the actual parts are cast.

[Bob C.]

I posted this on another topic but here is a link to a phot of one of QE2's props enroute for delivery.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,37.msg23374.html#msg23374

http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=155935

[Mauretania1907]

If you can get hold of the shipping trade magazines from the late sixties, there would be many firms advertising they supplied all sorts of things for the new Curnader or for QE2, once she was launched and her name known. I am thinking of mags like Motorship:, Syren and Shipping and other marine magazines of the era. Sea Breezes would have had news and articles about her. You could ask at the local library where such magazines would be found. I am thinking if any British maritime museum has a library, you'd find such magazines there.
I have a few such advertisements for the 1907 Mauretania and I bet the manufacturers of the 60's would be bragging about their taps, linoleum, toilets etc for QE2. Not to mention makers of navigation equipment and the like. Happy Hunting.

[Twynkle]

If you can get hold of the shipping trade magazines from the late sixties, there would be many firms advertising they supplied all sorts of things for the new Curnader or for QE2, once she was launched and her name known. I am thinking of mags like Motorship:, Syren and Shipping and other marine magazines of the era. Sea Breezes would have had news and articles about her. You could ask at the local library where such magazines would be found. I am thinking if any British maritime museum has a library, you'd find such magazines there.
I have a few such advertisements for the 1907 Mauretania and I bet the manufacturers of the 60's would be bragging about their taps, linoleum, toilets etc for QE2. Not to mention makers of navigation equipment and the like. Happy Hunting.

Thank you for the tip, Mauritania1907
'Must be telepathy' - not very long ago, I found a 1969 copy of Sea Breezes.
It's A 5 in size, with 96 pages of Cunard history,
with a review of QE2 and I love it!
(Sometime I will learn how to post images, no time till after April!!)

Rosie

[Lynda Bradford]

I have a copy of a publication celebrating The Cunarders 1840 to 1969 published by Peter Barker Ltd. London and edited by Douglas Lobley.  In addition to the acknowledgement of the achievements of Cunard at that time there is also recognition of the technical progress that resulted in the building of the QE2 to meet the changing needs of the cruise and transatlantic market.

However what is significant to this post is that the publication has many adverts from QE2 suppliers which I have listed and will post here under different categories.  

Rosie started this post by asking about glass suppliers.  There are two adverts for glass supplier for the QE2 which are for:

Pilkington Brothers Ltd.  St Helens Lancashire
‘Armourplate’® toughened glass on boat decks and dining rooms

Triplex Safety Glass Co. Ltd London– supplier of Triplex Glass for the Bridge Windows on QE2

[Lynda Bradford]

More QE2 suppliers at the time of her construction.  Information from adverts placed in The Cunarders 1840 to 1969.  

You can see that in the 1960's suppliers were either based in Scotland or England.  It would be interesting to know how many of these companies still exist.  

Computer and Navigation Equipment

Sperry Gyroscope Division, Berkshire England – Twin system of Sperry Gyro Compasses and Sperry Automatic Steering  

Ferranti Ltd, Automatic Systems Division,  Manchester – Ferranti Argus Computer

Fitments and Equipment

British Ropes Group, Doncaster, England supplier for:
Viking Nylon Braidline Mooring Ropes
Staple Spunstron Polypropylene Tender Ropes
8” Manual Speedseal Couplings for Bunkering

British Ropes Groups were also sub contracted to supply:
Tow Line, Steel Wire Mooring Ropes for use with the powered winches and most of the checkwires used during launching

Carrier Engineering Co. Ltd. London
Stone-Platt Scotland Ltd. Glasgow
Air Conditioning

Otis Elevator Co. Ltd. London – supplied QE2 with 23 Otis lifts and 4 Otis Elevators

Marinite Ltd.. Springburn, Glasgow – Marinite non-combustible sheet used in the construction of the QE2.   A built in fire protection in the form of bulkhead linings, ceilings and doors throughout accommodation spaces and public rooms.  

WM Still & Sons Ltd, Hastings, Sussex, England  - Manufactured and supplied the special U shaped refridgerated buffet counter, installed on Deck 1 Lido also the countering and back bar units serving four different mess centres .  
NB “Through UCS Ltd. Clydebank Division builders of the ship – all countering units were designed to the specification of the Cunard Naval Architect and meet the exacting standards of the US Department of Health.”
Also supplier of pop up egg cookers and hot roll dispensers.  

Davey Paxman & Co. Ltd. (a member of English Electric Diesels Ltd.) Colchester, England – two Paxman 350 Kilowatt Diesel Generator sets to take over instantly so that there is not delay between a power failure and switching to the distribution system.  

Gent of Leicester – Passenger Service Call and Electric Clock Systems

James H. Lamont & Co. Ltd, Edinburgh – Manufacturer of “Securex” fittings

Manlove Alliott & Co. Ltd.  Nottingham – Laundry Equipment

The British Steam Specialties Ltd. Leicester – Newman Velan High Pressure Valves fitted on boiler mountings and superheat steam lines on QE2.  

Rubery Owen & Co. Ltd., Welding Divisions, Walsall, Staffs. – over 60  Rowan Arc welding units were used to weld the aluminium superstructure

Doncasters Moorside Ltd, Oldham Lancashire – supplier of Pilgrim Nuts.  “This British invention was used to assemble propellers to the tailshaft.  Hydraulic pressure is provided to give quicker and more accurate ‘pull up’ than ever before.”  

William McGeoch & Co. (Northern) Ltd. Glasgow – supplier of marine ironmongery and electrical fittings for the QE2.

Shanks and Co. Ltd. Glasgow – manufacturer and supplier of specially styled Shanks sanitary fixtures for the QE2

W&J Leigh & Co. Bolton, Lancashire – specialist in the manufacture of marine paints.  Supplied paints for the protection of the external hull above and below the water line of the QE2.  

John Folkes (Lye Forge) Ltd. Kidderminster, Worcs. – Forgemasters associated with QE2.  

Serck Radiators, Birmingham – designer and manufacturer of a major part of the heat exchange equipment fitted in the QE2
Pozidrive wood screws and self tapping screws used in many applications on the QE2

Stone Manganese Marine Ltd. London – equipped the QE2 with her propellers, bow thrust units, watertight doors and many of her windows.  

Houseman & Thompson Ltd. Burnham, Buckinghamshire – carried out the pre commission chemical cleaning of the main boilers, steam and feed lines of the QE2.  

Whipp and Bourne Limited Castleton Rochdale Lancashire also at London, Glasgow and Birmingham.  Designed, manufactured and supplied one high voltage switchboard, twenty four medium voltage switchboards and electrical control consoles.

Cockburns Limited, Glasgow – Cockburn-Rockwell Butterfly Valves in sizes 2 inches to 34 inches.  Cockburns safety valves and stop valves.

Newalls Insulation & Chemical Co. Ltd. Glasgow  (A Turner & Newall  Company Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London Manchester, and Newcastle Upon Tyne).  Thermal insulation contract - protecting the hull piping, ship’s turbines,  and ventilation trunking in the air conditioning system.  

Sterling Cable Company Limited, Aldermaston, Berkshire, England.  Supply of cables for the public address system plus other cables throughout the ship  

Chubb and Sons Lock and Safe Co. Ltd., London – supplier of security equipment

James Walker and Co. Ltd. – Woking, Surrey, England – supplier of packings, jointings, gaskets and seals to the marine industry

[Lynda Bradford]

Some more QE2 suppliers for carpets and fabrics at the time of her construction.  Source Information from adverts placed in The Cunarders 1840 to 1969.

 Carpets (16 suppliers, 6 advertised in this publication)

Kosset Carpets Ltd. Brookfoot, Brighouse, Yorkshire – Colombia Restaurant, Theatre Cocktail Bar, Swimming Pool Foyer, Library,  some of the special staterooms (stately blue or gold), cocktail bar (olive green), double public lounge (the biggest single area on the ship)

The Carpet Manufacturing Co. Kidderminster (CMC) – 6,680 yards of carpet.  300 yards Observation Lounge.  2960 yards Tourists Cabin.  1750 yards First Class Cabins.  1630 yards Tourists Restaurant.  40 yards Synagogue.  
Page 73

Crossley Carpets, Halifax, Yorkshire – “Kirby” a Wilton woven carpet for QE2 Art Gallery, Shopping Arcade, First Class Staircase

Gilt Edge Carpets, Kidderminster – Wilton Carpets

Templeton Carpets, Glasgow in association with S J Stockwell & Co. (Carpets) Ltd. – Wilton carpeting for 736 Club, Theatre, Grillroom and Stairs.  

Grays Carpets Ltd Ayr, Scotland – The contract division of Grays manufactured and supplied 10,000 yards of Wilton carpet specially designed for the QE2

Carpet Underlay

Duralay Ltd.  London supplier for Neoprene foam carpet underlay that conforms to the required maritime standards of fire resistance

Fabrics

Sekers Fabrics Ltd., London -permanently flameproof  fabrics thanks to Rhovyl fibres

Lister’s Velvet – first class cocktail lounge curtains and upholstery.  Grill Room wall panels.  

Sundour Fabrics and Edinburgh Weavers – suppliers of curtains and upholstery fabrics to QE2

British Replin Ltd. Ayr Scotland – furnishing fabric

[Lynda Bradford]

Source - as above

Glass and Crockery

Waterford Crystal, Ireland

Official Souvenirs

Slade, Hampton & Sons Ltd London – Official Maiden Voyage Souvenir Medals, Platinum, 22 ct. Gold, Palladium and Silver.  

JW Barrett & Sons Ltd, Birmingham – Official QE2 Symbol jewellery manufactured under licence.  

Furniture

Lurashell, London  - Queens Lounge (the Queen chairs) and Observation Lounge (Sceptre Units) seating

Morris of Glasgow – furniture for the QE2

Wemyss Weavecraft Ltd., East Wemyss, Fife – supplier of woven furnishings for QE2