A Little Boy Looking up at the Majestic

[Brian Probetts (Site Admin)]

RMS Majestic (1922)

Perhaps my favorite model at that vestibule gallery at Cunard's long-ago headquarters at 25 Broadway in Lower Manhattan was the Majestic.

It was superbly created, by Basset Lowke, the Rolls Royce of ship model makers, and measured a huge 18 feet in length.

The great masts seemed ​to tower higher than usual, for example, the three funnels had their graceful slant and what seemed to be dozens of lifeboats were tucked everywhere.

The rigging was perfect, the brass propellers shining and every detail, including passenger benches on deck, added to this fantasy-like creation.

I would stare longer at that model of the Majestic than any other in that Cunard collection of some fifty years ago. When Cunard left 25 Broadway and moved uptown(1968), to Park Avenue, and smaller quarters, the model of the Majestic was given to the then brand new South Street Seaport Museum, also in Lower Manhattan.

The Museum was more informal in its early years and, most unfortunately, the model of the Majestic later ​disappeared. Presumed stolen, it has never been seen again.

[Doc Vernon]

What a grand old Lady she was!
Cheers

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Brain.
There must have been a lot of blind police officers in town, to steal a model of that size must have taken an awful lot of effort and moving. More than likley to have been taken to some posh palace.
Cheers des

[vic mcclymont]

It reminds of all the builders models in the reception areas if the Clyde Shipyards.
Each reception areas adorned by various models of the ships built by the respective builder over the years.
When the yards closed and the demolition squads moved in, most of the models were thrown in the skips, some were saved.
The McLean Museum has a selection on display.
Regards
Vic