Soap Drama

[Capt Bill Davies]

As a sailor in the Blue Funnel we were give Lifebuoy Carbolic Soap (Red) which seemed to do the job OK.
The officers were given Knights Castille if I remember correctly. We, as peggies, were also supplied with a greenish soap for domestic cleaning which was cubed placed into an mt Greengage Jam tin which was perforated at the bottom by a beer can opener and wires attached that formed a handle to hang over the hot water tap. All the suds you need for washing up.
On my transition into the world of knives, forks and teacups (with saucers) in May 1961 the same soaps were being distributed in the various British tramp companies I sailed with for the next 7 years that stored in the UK.
Any variations on this.

Keep it clean now!

Brgds

Bill

[Albert Bishop]

Nothing posh like Lifebuoy on any of my ships Bill Shell and BP had a white soap with their logo on it. But remember well the green soap and the tin with the holes in it. That must have been a regular MN practice. Cheers Albi

[Willie Saunders]

We used to bleed lovley soft hot water from the cylinders of the steam winches for the washing up, much better and quicker than carrying it from the pump midships, and waiting for it to boil in the messroom geyser. Also white Sunlight soap in a perforated tin,because no hot running water in the messroom, of course.

[Trader]

You brought back a few memories there Bill. As you know I was, like yourself, a "Blue Flu peggy". Inspections every day except Sunday, that was linen change day when we were given a big bar of the greeny/brown soap and had to cut it up to give all the cabins a piece each. Woe betide you if you gave a bigger piece to certain cabins (rooms in Blue Flue).

Talking about linen do you remember some companies had blue linen for ratings and white for officers. In Blue Funnel we all had white sheets but the ratings sheets were inferior to the officers sheets. I remember one 2nd. Steward , who gave the linen out, saying that he had run out of ratings sheet so he had, reluctantly, to give us officers sheets. His words were "tell them that these are officers sheets and not to wank all over them". He was a real jumped up tosspot.

Alec.

[John Pruden]

i to was a blue flu Peggy and remember the soapy showers with the empty tins with holes in? we were posh we had tepol as well for cleaning

[Tony Wilding]

mostly we had the red soap, watts watts officers got camay, if u nicked it and forgot to hide it on cabin inspection all hell broke loose, but in 1960 in valencia spain for 6 bars of red soap a night of passion was the reward SO I AM TOLD. !

[Glan Phillips]

Tony.....6 bars of soap ?......cost of living must have gone up, 1950 in Barcelona 1 bar would get you nooky....(again, I dont know whether my buddies were telling me the truth !!!)

Glan

[Jim Brady]

Yes the old brown soda soap,very versatile but what a good job it did.You would always see the tin with all the holes in it hanging around the hot water tap,inside was all the chopped up pieces
of the brown soap.
Sometimes you did'nt have a hot tap,just a steam pipe into the sink (Who remembers that).Fill the sink with cold water and stick the tin onto the end of the steam pipe and give the steam the full blast.I sailed on a few ships where we had Teepol we thought we were in Hollywood.Just how contrary were we,a tanker I was on the issue was Knights Castille,Lifebouy was sold from the bond,we wanted Lifebouy.Most probably if Lifebouy was the issue we would've wanted Knights Castille.
Regards.
jim.B.

[Tony Wilding]

YOUNG PRETTY ONES WERE MORE EXPENSIVE ! WELL THATS WHAT SHE SAID.

[Neil Morton]

Teepol and cheese cloth,closely guarded by 2nd steward. issued only for soujie of bulkheads,Lifebouy for crew bathing,Knights Castille for the hofficers, Sunlight in the suds tin,Hudsons washing Powder for the dhobi,washing soda for the silver dip, and for me Cussons Imperial Leather and Surf for the dhobi and Flash for the alleyway scrub out ;took the shine of the lino a treat.