SOLD TO BENEFIT CANCER RESEARCH U.K. (SKYE BRANCH) A FINE BO...

Hammer

£30,000

SOLD TO BENEFIT CANCER RESEARCH U.K. (SKYE BRANCH)

A FINE BOARDROOM MODEL FOR THE REFITTED ROYAL MAIL LINES CRUISE LINER S.S. ATLANTIS, 1929, EX-ANDES (1913), PROBABLY BY BASSETT-LOWKE, CIRCA 1929

the 74in. laminated and carved hull with bilge keels, lowered companionways, port holes and three gilt brass propellers, lined and lacquered decks with painted and gilt brass fittings as appropriate including anchors with silvered studded chain and winches, hatches with lined covers, oxidized brass cranes, masts with rigging, radio aerial and crow’s nest, bridge superstructure with lamps, binnacle, telegraph etc. over, swimming pool with sunbeds around, main superstructure with covered lifeboats and motor launches in davits, stayed funnel with hooter and safety valve extension pipes, ventilators, engine room lights, water tanks, deck rails, companionways, emergency helm and other details, mounted on four oxidized brass columns on raised display base with plates, contained in original glazed wooden case loosely mounted on table stand. Overall measurements – 70 x 86 x 24in. (178 x 218.5 x 61cm.); the case 34in. (86.5cm.)

Intended for the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., ownership was transferred to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. on the stocks as thus she was launched as the S.S. Andes in 1913 for their Southampton-River Plate service. A handsome vessel registered at 15,620 tons, she was capable of 17kts. During the First World War she was converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser and was in the action with her sister Alcantara against the German raider Greif which was sunk, the Andes picked up survivors. In 1917 she repatriated British submarine crews stranded in Murmansk as a result of the Russian Revolution and in 1919 resumed her pre-War service. In 1929 Andes was given a major refit at Gladstone Dock in Liverpool and was converted into the dedicated cruise liner Atlantis. Accommodating 450 First Class only passengers, her bridge was separated from the main superstructure to make way for a swimming pool and she was represented in a fine white livery suitable for the Mediterranean. Serving for ten years in this capacity (and appearing at the 1935 Spithead review), when hostilities broke out in 1939 she was converted to the 400-berth hospital ship No.33 based in Alexandria but was used in the evacuation of Norway in 1940 and was used for repatriating prisoners-of-war and allied servicemen until 1946 by which time she had steamed 280,000 miles carrying 35,000 wounded. From 1948-52 she was chartered to carry emigrants to Australia and New Zealand in a single 3^rd Class capacity of 900 and was sold for breaking at Faslane in March 1952.

Starboard standing rigging on foremast detached at top and swimming pool 'water' has shifted in one corner; witness marks for old plates for and aft; otherwise in very fine overall condition.