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| Lusitania Hat Band / Cap Tally |
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| RMS Lusitania: 1907 - 1915 |
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| The Great Cunarder |
| Goetz Lusitania Medal - May 5th, 1915 |
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| British propoganda version with date "Nov 22, 1918" on the box." |
The
RMS Lusitania - Next to the RMS Titanic, she is probably the most famous shipwreck in the world and
almost equally as hard to find relics from her past. What once was a beautiful liner is now a near unrecognizable mass of
steel and fishing nets on the ocean floor. In September of 1982, the only salvage expedition to the wreck took place, where
artifacts were retrieved and scattered to public and private collections. Presented below are four original items from the
Lusitania that went down with her on May 7th, 1915.
- The first is a pocketwatch
mechanism in its casing which was being shipped to London on her final voyage. Many of these mechanisms and the casings
were recovered and sold on the market. Purchased from Peter Boyd-Smith.
- The second is a stunning
piece of Second Class china - an "Ormond" pattern soup bowl. This was the primary pattern of china used onboard the Mauretania
and Lusitania in both First and Second class. Probably purchased from Peter-Boyd Smith sometime after the 1982 expedition, it
ended up in a Southern California Lusitania collection through which we purchased it. The bowl is chipped and cracked,
with discolored crazing throughout. Dating marks are not recognizable aside from a 'J' imprint. Another bowl identical to
this is held by Cobwebs of England and can be viewed at: http://www.lusitania.net/memorbilia.html. Lusitania.net is run by Mitch Peeke who
has a great collection of information and photographed items from the ship, including a photo of a pillow recovered from the
1st Class Music Room after the sinking.
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two below is an actual piece of the famed liner. It is a large 22lb bronze piece with hose and pipe fittings
on the front and rear sides. There once were steel clamps holding the lid in place and after years on the ocean floor, the
lid still swings open on its hinge. Current investigation is taking place as to which part of the ship this may have come
from and it's purpose. Originally purchased in England from Peter Boyd-Smith after the 1982 expedition. These beautiful artifacts give
silent testimony of the tragedy that fell upon the ship that fateful day in 1915.
| RMS Lusitania Pocketwatch Mechanism in Casing. |
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| You can still hear the loose mechanism inside when moved. |
| Salvaged 'Ormond' Soup Bowl |
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| Shown with 'Ormond' pattern tea cup - Dated 1903. |
| Bronze Machinery Fitting w/ Opening Lid |
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| Salvaged from the Lusitania in 1982. |
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| RMS Lusitania Salvaged Film |
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| 1982 Expedition |
| Film Cell Close-Up |
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One of the rarer and most fragile items is this piece of film salvaged from
her wreck by Oceaneering in 1982. This represents five cells from the sadly now lost-to-time "The Carpet from Baghdad." Despite
its time on the bottom, you can still see the images on the film. No copy of the film was known to exist until some of it
was salvaged from the wreck 27 years ago. It's hard to imagine something like this surviving on the ocean floor in the mangled
wreck for all of these years. Sold at auction with the remainder of the film and other items, this piece was purchased from
Brian Hawley in 2009.
| Lusitania Souvenir Ladies Fans |
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Shown above are two beautiful souvenir paper fans
from the Lusitania. On both sides, the first wooden piece at each end is stamped 'Cunard - RMS Lusitania'. One one
side, every wooden piece has 'RMS Lusitania' in gold. Each retains the original small ribbon as well. Both of these hail
from the McCall Estate, where both mother and daughter were passengers onboard the ship and kept until sold in 2009. According
to the Mersey Maritime Museum, which holds one of these fans: "This delicate souvenir was probably presented to a lady passenger at the Captain’s
Gala Night in Lusitania’s ballroom." Due to the fragility of these paper and wood fans, not too many have survived the
past 94 years. Both are in remarkable condition!
| RMS Lusitania Souvenir Napkin Ring |
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| Purchased onboard the great liner before she sank. Hallmark E.P.N.S. |
The "Laurel Leaf" silverware pictured below is the style of silverware which
was used onboard the great Cunarders. We have four pieces of this silverware, the 8" soup spoon, fork, and butter knife
- along with the 5" tea spoon pictured with the Mauretania tea set. This pattern has the laurel on both sides of
the handle with the Cunard rampant lion logo between. This silverware has been popular with the line but it is unclear how
long it was used, though it is believes for a few decades. We believe in the 1920s & 30s, the Mauretania and Aquitania
used this pattern and a pattern similar to WSL's 1910 Reeded pattern. More will be posted as it becomes available. Pictured
on the previous page is a pair of silver plated asparagus tongs dating to the 1920s. Plain in design with the standard
Cunard logo on the side.
| Cunard Logo in the Laurel Leaf Pattern |
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| Cunard Steamship Compamy Silver Sugar Bowl |
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| Dated 1914 - Possibly used onboard Mauretania or Aquitania. |
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| Sinking of the Lusitania |
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| Original film, casing was replaced at some point in time with a protective film cover on the outside |
Presented below is a rare original 16mm
film reel of the "Sinking of the Lusitania" which was released on July 20, 1918 by Winsor McCray. This movie would
have originally been produced on 35mm film, and the 16mm version was produced for in-home viewing. The entire 12 minute movie
is intact ranging in approximately 300ft of film. Updated casing for protection from the previous movie gallery owner. Stills
from the film are shown below: The full version can be viewed here: YouTube "Sinking of the Lusitania" 1918
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| McCray with a painting used to help create the film. |
| The torpedo hit |
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| Sinking |
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| Still from the movie reel. |
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| Lusitania Sinking |
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