QE2 - a ship of many parts

[Twynkle]

Something about the lovely sheets 'Made in Scotland' for Cunard!
It would be interesting to know how many different manufacturers made the cotton sheets,
Were blankets ever used in earlier days on board QE2?

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/pictures/dram-good-show-a-famous-scottish-distillery-1-2356385

(Yes, I know(!) - the clip is really about the 'Angels Share' - can't wait to see the film!)

[Cunarder Man]

Angels' share, great film.

[Lynda Bradford]

Given that the Mill was a distillery by 1966 it is unlikely that linen was produced for QE2 by this mill and looking  at the list above I cannot see information on blanket manufacturers, but it is likely that blankets were used. 

[cunardqueen]

[Rod]

Quiz question.....QE2. We have discussed portholes in various places....can anybody tell me where else on the QE2 where portholes were an essential part of the ship...CLUE...they are not on the ships side!

[Twynkle]

Inset into doors?!
to / from the galleys
to / from the Board Room
to / from the decks
Specially in / out the Yacht Club
as well as lots more - probably!

Come to think of it - there's a fair bit about the wonderful doors on QE2 that's yet to be (like all else), explored in greater detail.

BTW - Great Thinking, Rod!

[Lynda Bradford]

Something about the lovely sheets 'Made in Scotland' for Cunard!
It would be interesting to know how many different manufacturers made the cotton sheets,
Were blankets ever used in earlier days on board QE2?

I still cannot find anything on who made the blankets for QE2.  But an interesting fact on suppliers from a "Pride of British Industry" publications that more than 300 British firms contributed to the building and furnishings of the QE2. This publication also has information of onboard stock records for 1969 state that 26,200 pillow slips and
23,000 sheets were in stock.  But no mention of blankets ! 

I need to think about Rod's question, although Rosie has probably answered this.   

[Jeff Taylor]

Simpler in the old QM/QE days.  Each ship had one, 5-day complement of bed linen/tableclothes, etc and dropped it off in NY, replacing it with the other ships complement on arrival.  The next ship would pick it up clean the following week.  Kind of hard to do with only one ship!

[Twynkle]

Maybe this is a bit off topic - but didn't QE, like QE2, have her own laundry on board?

To get back to the bedding in passenger staterooms - wouldn't it be interesting to know more?!
Eiderdowns were much in use in GB in the Sixties, many were made to order by the ever present shops like Heals, Liberty, Maples /  Waring and Gillow, Fraser's or John Lewis. Some were full of down and covered in beautiful fabrics.
Do you know whether  the passengers at all grades were able to have lovely bedding beneath those interesting counterpanes?
Rosie


(PS to Mods -  Maybe this needs to go to the topic on Staterooms?)

[Twynkle]

ooops - It was a copy of the former post - not too sure why!
And I can't delete all of it!
looks like this needs to be hurled overboard!

[cunardqueen]

  But no mention of blankets !   

Ok so its not blankets but they did use Harris Tweed..

[Rod]

QE2 did indeed have her own laundry. Washing machines could take 500 lbs at a time. Dryers heated by steam, along with things like the flaywork ironer to iron sheets table clothes etc, collar and cuff machine, sheet folder at the end of the ironer, shirtpresser, commercial ironers.

My quiz question, Beardy Rich might get it!

[riskygizmo]

Re Rod's quiz
I'm guessing (didn't ask Dad, honest) but do you mean the little viewing windows into the boiler fireboxes? I remember looking through one when he took us down below and thinking that it was like peering into the fiery heart of hell

[Rod]

Close but no ceegar Risky!

[Michael Gallagher]

Sheets and pillow cases came from Eckersleys Ltd - Wigan
First Class cabin upholstery - Harris Tweed, London
Curtain material - David Ison Ltd, London
Curtain lining - S A Jones Ltd, London
Bedspreads - Margo Fabrics Ltd, London
Bedcovers - Wemyss Weavecraft Ltd, Fife

[cunardqueen]

  First Class cabin upholstery - Harris Tweed, London
   

LONDON    What would those folks in the Western Islands make of this..
They might just accept Scotland.. But England 


 

[Twynkle]

Sheets and pillow cases came from Eckersleys Ltd - Wigan
First Class cabin upholstery - Harris Tweed, London
Curtain material - David Ison Ltd, London
Curtain lining - S A Jones Ltd, London
Bedspreads - Margo Fabrics Ltd, London
Bedcovers - Wemyss Weavecraft Ltd, Fife

Thank you!
Harris tweed's really hardwearing, isn't it- otherwise brocade might have been used as the more glam upholstery fabric.
So - as well as sleeping between lovely Lancashire cotton sheets, do you think the passengers slept under blankets and 'Eidies' too?
Thered been duvets on the 'continent' for very many years then, however they weren't much in evidence in GB in the 60's, and def not in the Adelphi, and I'd guess they wouldn't have been used  on board QE2 either - although I may well be mistaken!

By the way, do you know if Gilchrist  and Soames and the Bronnley people were the main suppliers (washing stuff! - the term 'toiletries, somehow doesn't go with QE2!!) from the beginning?
It was really surprising to note the cost of these little bottles
http://uk.gilchristsoames.com/view_product/159/170/London_Traveler

[Michael Gallagher]

The Harris Tweed contract was given to a London office / branch (Curzon Street) - thats where Cunard would send payments.

Edgar Bros (also on Curzon Street) provided the fabrics for the Suiterooms.

Carpet in First Class cabins came from The Royal Carpet Factory Ltd - Wilts

Tourist Class cabin carpet came from Woodward, Grosvenor & Co - London

[Michael Gallagher]

Gilchrist and Soames came to QE2 in 2007

Bronnley came to QE2 in 2000

Hunter provided the toiletries in 1999 and 2000

[Michael Gallagher]

Mention was made about the Pianos above. Rushworth & Dreaper (Liverpool) provided four grands and nine uprights and all had matching stools.