Medway Queen & Wight Marina Matchbox

Sometimes, some of the most interesting and rare items are those that cost just a few pennies. This matchbox dates back to the time when the Medway Queen was a thriving club on the Isle of Wight. She was moored alongside the Ryde that had become a 'boatel'.

Items such as this box of matches were sold in large quantities but most boxes were discarded once used. We're therefore lucky to have had this box donated. It complements some other material that we have from the Wight Marina such as the recently donated saucer (see below).

We always welcome similar material in the PSPS Collection. Do you have any material from the Wight Marina? Let us know if you do!

Mersey and Blackpool Steamship Company Spoon

This spoon was used aboard the Jubilee Queen. She was acquired in November 1935 by the Mersey & Blackpool Steamship Company, for a short-lived service from Liverpool to New Brighton, Blackpool and Fleetwood. The service only operated from Easter 1936 until June of that year. The handle has a cast panel with the name of the company on it.

In July 1936 the Jubilee Queen was transferred to the Jubilee Shipping Company who also ran a few trips from Liverpool to Blackpool, but again, the service was short-lived. Jubilee Queen was finally sold for scrap in 1937. Our soup spoon must be quite a rare survivor from one of the shortest lived of all steamer operators.

Waverley Plaque 1992

This plaque was produced by a specialist metalworker in 1992. It was produced on a vintage press that was taken around steam fairs in the UK. The plaque was a limited edition and was sold as a souvenir. Thisd particular example was purchsed from the Science Museum in London.

Waverley 1980 Calendar

Several calendars have been produced showing Waverley over the years. The one above dates from 1980 and includes a colour postcard on each page. These well-known postcards show Waverley at various locations mainly on the Firth of Clyde.

We have five calendar showing Waverley in the PSPS collection. In recent decades, Waverley has been depicted on several calendars showing steam subjects. A particularly good example in the collection is a view of Waverley alongside Bournemouth Pier. Do you have a calendar showing Waverley, Balmoral or Kingswear Castle?

Lemon Crush Bottle Label

This label comes from a series showing colour illustrations of Clyde steamers including Maid of the Loch, Waverley and Jeanie Deans. They were designed and printed by the family firm of J. and J. Murdoch Ltd of Albion Street, Glasgow. The company were label specialists and majored on soft drinks or mineral waters. Mr John Murdock, the manager of the company persuaded Lawson's of Greenock who had the contract to supply the railway steamers with soft drinks, that a set of labels needed to be designed and printed showing a different steamer for each drink. They prooved to be very popular.

Deckchair from the Crested Eagle

When war was declared in September 1939, a young steward aboard the Crested Eagle decided to 'borrow' two of the wood and canvas deckchairs for his parents. We're pleased that he did that as the deckchair above is now a rare survivor from the famous old paddle steamer that was lost at Dunkirk.

The deckchair was acquired by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society some fifteen years ago for its museum collection. Its in excellent condition and includes its original but now slightly-faded canvas seat pad and back rest. Originally, the canvas was blue. Passengers during the 1930s paid a few pennies for a deckchair or to sit in special areas.

Few of these deckchairs survive and we know of no other material surviving from the Crested Eagle. Our chair then is a rare and interesting reminder of happy days cruising on the Thames with Eagle Steamers during the 1930s.

Margate Piermaster's Log, 1960s

This rather ordinary looking register gives us a fascinating glimpse back into the past! It is the book used by the Piermaster at Margate to record all of the pleasure steamers that arrived and departed from his pier during 1965 and 1966. It is therefore a very significant object in that it records the very last call by a General Steam Navigation Company steamer after a long and significant period of operation lasting some 140 years! I wonder whether the Piermaster realised on that final day of making his entry that the end of pleasure steamer services had ended?

Each day in the log shows times of arrival and departure, numbers embarked and disembarked, weather conditions and of course any other information such as what happened when things didn't go to plan!

The log provides a fascinating glimpse into the past and when combined with photographs, handbills and other objects from the Collection allows us to gain a full insight into what happened to the steamers in the 1960s. The register contains details of each call by a General Steam Navigation Company pleasure steamer at Margate Pier. Times as well as numbers embarked or disembarked are included as well as weather conditions and other notes. This gives us a fascinating insight into pleasure steamer services on the Thames at the time.

The PSPS Collections is pleased to confirm that a further series of log books from the Margate Piermaster have recently been donated to the Collection and are available for researchers now. The Collection also holds a number of similar records recording the services provided by P. & A. Campbell on the Bristol Channel.

This little box was made from the timbers of the wreck of the Princess Alice and is therefore very precious. It is covered inside in crimson velvet and on its lid, is a handwritten note stating "This wood formed a portion of the wreck of the SS Princess Alice which sank in the Thames on Sept 3rd 1878 and over 600 lives were lost". It has a little lock at its front and therefore may have once contained something precious. It was made as a momento to remind people of the tragedy. Many such souvenirs were kept by the family of those that perished to remind them of their loved ones. It is special to think that this little box has such a unique story to tell.

It was rescued from the steamer by an enthusiast during the 1920s and formed part of his own treasured collection at his home until purchased by Harold Collard Stone during the 1960s. It then became part of the Paddle & Pleasure Historical Trust Collection and was displayed at many venues across East Anglia until being rescued and restored by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society during the 1990s. It has therefore seen quite a few changes in ownership and is a a very rare survivor from the famous 'Belle Steamers' and a treasured part of our own collection today.

The back of the seat shows a fine marquetry-inlaid panel of the Belle Steamer crest and finely turned details. The heavy-weighted base shows traces of gilding that once enhanced the fine-cast plinth. The seat is the original horse-hair one and has a fine crimson velvet cover.