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Article: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

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    Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    40 Comments by Chris Hurren Published on 10th January 2019 04:42 PM

    2-SS Hendrik Feb 1961.jpg
    In 1962 as a raw 3rd Mate I joined SS Hendrick for a short trip around the Med., through the Suez Canal and up the Gulf of Aqaba with a cargo of film equipment and Props. for the film 'Lawrence of Arabia' starring Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif. Pictured is the 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost that was to be used to depict Lord Allenby's staff car. We also had on board 2 Rolls Royce turreted Armoured Cars. and a quantity of blank ammunition to be used in the Filming. In those days the Gulf of Aqaba only had one navigation aid which was one very bright light, right at the top. I recall that the chart we used had notations like 'Wadi conspic. (even at night)'! You can see in the photo of the car the registration No. PB 7078. I wonder if the owner of this car knows of its illustrious past?
    3-Rolls Royce Lawrence of Arabia Film 1961.jpg

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    ###i dont think there is anything a person could think of that has not been transported by our MN......i believe even locomotives to various destinations ...now that is a cargo to fear in very heavy weather....cappy

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    The worst Cargo I experienced was Lead Concentrate in the holds and lead ingots in the tween decks, all the way from South Australia back to Avonmouth in late 1958 on SS Marabank, a 1942 Liberty Ship. The make-up ofthis cargo made for a very very ‘stiff’ voyage. Hardly any pitch and a vicious roll!

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    Hi Cappy.
    Took some locomotives to Freemantle in 52, best job ever rigging the jumbo to unload.
    Cheers Des

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    Was mate on a ship called the Maratha Endeavour , German built , Indian owned. She had a 180 ton jumbo built for at one time carrying locomotives. Fortuanetly never had to rig , as all the top hamper of the mast above necessary for the rigging of such had been removed for going under the bridges at Chicago. The steam guys were massive and although those and the other associated gear was stowed in the Masthouse still had to come out for maintainance at various intervals. The blocks were taller than me and 6 fold purchases. The thing that would probably have worried me the most on having to use , would have been the stability of the ship, having a 180 tons swinging on the end of a Derrick .the ballast system would have taken some working out to compensate. However I was on the ship for a year and never had to work out. She was a beautiful ship otherwise , have her on a postcard, but again don’t know how to put on here. JS
    Last edited by j.sabourn; 11th January 2019 at 02:44 AM.

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    #3.. have never loaded concentrates on a ship except on an ore carrier or bulk carrier. On a tween deck ship I suppose the idea of loading ingots in the tween decks was hopefully to raise the centre of gravity, which was apparently not enough weight. Did you have to use shifting boards in the lower hold for the concentrates ? Cheers JS

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    When the movie came out it was greeted as a great success, but there were a few mistakes to be seen.

    The biggest was along the canal where a car can be seen in the distance, a type of car not in existence at the time of Lawrence.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

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    At the very end of the movie when he is killed coming off his motorbike how many were observant enough to notice was it a BSA or a Lee Enfield. If your looking in Lewis bet you know ! JS

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    Hi JS, no shifting boards to my memory, just a small (?) pile in the centre of the holds. Chris H.

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    Default Re: Lawrence of Arabia - Film props and Vehicles

    They boobed in the film .
    When he gets to the canal a newish Blur Flu is sailing up the canal
    Ron the batcave

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