International exhibition Glasgow 1901
Official catalogue

122 dark blue on plan. Grand Avenue. Class V. CLASS V. MARINE ENGINEERING AND SHIPBUILDING-, GRAND AVENUE. g30__Collection of Models of Merchant Vessels; Steamers, and Sailing Ships; which have done, or are doing, memorable Service at Sea: and as here arranged, in chronological order, exemplity the Development of Shipping and of Ocean Navigation during the Nineteenth. Century. INTRODUCTORY NOTE. Thf shin models in this collection have been placed at the disposal of the Ship- buiHin ^ and Engineering Committee, mostly by the firms who budt the vessels they represent. The models are those of vessels of the mercantile marine exclusively, and they have been grouped in chronological order, according to the date of their pro- duction The particulars subjoined of individual exhibits have been compiled, for most part, from information supplied by the firms lending the models, and may thorpfore be relied upon for general accuracy. While the collection may bo regarded, on the whole, as fairly representative of the types, and notable pioneer vessels evolved durin- the century’s development of shipping and steam navigation visitors wdl no doubt5discover numerous omissions. This, though regrettable, is not sut pt i sing, the models shown are, for the most part, those of vessels built locally, and therefore more readily available ; other vessels built or owned by firms in distant parts of the kingdom though taking notable place in the history of shipping development, have not been so easy to procure on loan from their owners, who, not unnaturally, are jealous of the safety of such historic treasures. To some extent, however, the omissions are made "ooc/in the Exhibition, through the presence of notable models at the stall« of the Companies and firms exhibiting independently. The very limited space at our disposal prohibits anything like a full and connected epitome of the growth of shipping and steam navigation as exemplified bv notable vessels but a few outstanding facts as to the early stages ot steamship XXueüon «“e oalleafor, owing to the Pr0»e„t eoUeolion bojng, .»«>.« deficient The “Comet” was followed in 1813 by the Elizabeth, sliont y iaX and in the same year, by the “Clyde” of 72 ft. keel by 14 ft beam with engines of 14 h.p. Still larger vessels soon followed, amongst these being toand the “ Marjory,” latter of which-60 tL long-»» taken to the Thames in 1815, and was the first steam boat plying on that river. The earliest channel steamer was tho “Rob Roy,” of 90 tons and 30 h.p., built by Denny of Dumbarton, and engined by David Napier. She was the first steamer to cross^to Belfast and was afterwards placed on the Dover and Calais service. Iho first steamerto ply between Leith and London was the “ United Kingdom, «nftloT built in 1826 by Steele of Greenock, and engined by David Napier. The ramifications of steamship service had so greatly extended, that in 18Ld the “ Enterprise,” of 500 tons and 120 h.p., built by Gordons & Co., on the rhames, j j Vw Mandslev made the passage to India. Iron as the structural material ^^^anal^bargos, etc.) dates from about 1821, when the “Aaron f°r ^adeHorsley and put togetlær on the Thames. The first iron sea- was the “Royal Sovereign,” built in 183) by Tod & M‘Gregor, a firm going • 1 have iustlv been referred to as “the fathers of iron-shipbuilding onthTÄ “yalXrign,” like the “Prints Royal,” built in 1841, and included in the present collection, plied between Glasgow and ^verpool. The first steamer to cross the Atlantic, from Britain, entire ly under stca n ” hnilt in 1837-38 by Menzies of Leith, and engined by inomas Wingate of Glasgow/ The “Great Western,” built at Bristol, also’ same time, the two arriving at New York within afew hours of eae othuIn 1SW the Atlantic was crossed by tho “ Britannia,” the pioneer steamer ol the CunftrU fleet, of which a model ia shown.