Costs at Merchant navy outfitters

[Rodney Mills]

J Gowers. J, what did he have on his sleeve? I.E. buttons, stripes? Cheers, Rodney.

[J Gowers]

Rodney here are another couple of photos, it was buttons on the sleeve. Just noticed most of them have nothing on the sleeve, Bob is in the middle of the second photo.

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[Geoff Bray]

Hi There ,
Some good memories here, and photos. I remember after serving my engineering apprenticeship in Birkenhead, I got accepted by Bowater's as a Junior Engineer. I remember my poor widowed mother going over to Liverpool to "Greenbergs"
on Park Lane, with a list of clothes to buy, the year was 1962. I think my doeskin uniforms was about six or seven pounds, and we got out of the store after about ten pounds or so. I rose to the merry height of part A seconds, and sailed a few times on CP Ships as second,( Beaver Boats) I swallowed the anchor in 1970, having been married in 1969. My uniform has been to the cleaners many time, over those years.( it was hard to avoid those gravy stains on your lapels, with all the Great Food, But I still have it in my closet after all these years it is stored in a moth proof garment bag (not that we have moths here in my house) now living in New Jersey USA.
Sailing in those days, were Glorious Times that I will always treasure.

Geoff Bray
Good Stuff on this website

Geoff Bray

[j.sabourn]

#23. Being with Bowaters who had their finger in the paper industry Geoff did they give you any perks like paper collars to your off white shirts , or were you obliged to go and buy a plastic one which were very useful especially during water rationing. How they had the nerve to require you to wear pristine gear at all times beats me, maybe the 12/- a year they allowed apprentices was to ease their consciences . They called it washing money to buy soap while conveniently forgetting the water. Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I did a few trips on the NZ coast as a bosun, out as we called them; Leading Hand's, but there was no uniform on any MN ships I was on. I think the reason for the uniforms in J Gower's posts was to distinguish the Petty officers positions on the Armed Merchant Cruiser's .
Des

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#4 The biggest drawback to doeskin I found Tony was that the material was very liable to collect dust and other muck from bulk cargoes such as grain ,iron ore, phosphates , and myriads of others like cement etc. it was a poseurs material for ceremony’s and not for a working ship. light Serge or Murton cloth was more practical or maybe a large French letter pulled over the head with eyepieces cut out. ? Maybe ok for saloon use and then back into a boiler suit would then retain its sheen. As someone already said the days of the likes of Woods naval outfitters are gone as has the words when being measured “ what side do you dress Sir ?”, never heard an honest man say “ in the middle please “ . Often wondered if made any difference being right or left handed. Cheers JS

Bit of a slip there John, open to being called a D Head.
Des Sorry

[j.sabourn]

The last time I wore mine Douglas was for 1 day only and was brand new but not doeskin as that was too expensive and was either that or a morning suit. It has been worn once since the occasion shortly after December 31st 1990 by person unknown as was lent out 2 years ago to an unknown person for a theme dinner being held simulating a passenger ship dinner , and any other apparel appertaining to such went as well. I did not attend the dinner my excuse being I might get seasick , plus I had no wish to know who wore as may of had to have drycleaned after. It hangs also in the wardrobe and will be my shroud and my covering in the box or canvas on my demise. Want my moneys worth to the last. As to an earlier post re uniforms it was supplied by a well known London Outfitter purely because had to be correct to the finest detail and who better to do than someone who makes a living by doing so . Cheers JS

[Harvey Stanger]

1966, apprentice engineer for Hunting and Son. Had 3 days notice to get equipped to join first ship. Went to Franks near Newcastle Quayside as they were open on Sundays. Managed to get all the required gear for under £20, but seemed a lot of money at the time. Only wore uniform on high days and holidays. More often used Duty mess wearing boiler suit.

[Clive Burrows]

I must have joined in the dim distant past 1968-1976. Uniforms were provided free, at Liverpool. Doeskin double-breasted jacket (with braid) and trousers, white shorts and shirts with epaulets and shoes. White boiler suits in the engine room (sick of 5 years in Blue as an Apprentice). When we got to Hong Kong we had a half dozen tailored in lightweight cotton with extra pockets front, back, and side of legs. Easy wash in the tropics, when the engine room was like a Turkish bath. You could not get breakfast, lunch or dinner unless in full MN uniform. Even got married in my Doeskin Blues, but with more braid on my arm after Glasgow Nautical College. It was a letdown to return to the Aussie coast (double the wages $ compensated) where boring Kharki was standard with white boiler suits in the engine room. Left the sea after 9 years to wear a business suit and tie for the next 45 years instead of a boiler suit.

[Tony Taylor]

1966, apprentice engineer for Hunting and Son. Had 3 days notice to get equipped to join first ship. Went to Franks near Newcastle Quayside as they were open on Sundays. Managed to get all the required gear for under £20, but seemed a lot of money at the time. Only wore uniform on high days and holidays. More often used Duty mess wearing boiler suit.

I was trying to rcall the name of that place the other day, was a real old place I still have a navy blue wool roll neck sweater I got there plus a few other bits, had enough left for a half in the Crown Posada next door.

[Julian Norman]

The summer before I went to sea as a cadet with Cunard I worked to be able to afford the extensive items on their uniform list only to be told I didn't need half of it when I flew out to join my first ship in Cape Town.