For the content of these next two pages I'm relying upon a 12 page supplement inserted within the second issue
of the “Ocean Times”, the newspaper printed aboard Cunard ships. It is probably one of the most
ephemeral pieces of ephemera to survive from the Maiden Voyage.
Its importance is that along with recognising artists it carries several adverts that help identify some of the
contractors and furnishers who were hired by John Brown's shipyard and the ship's commissioning architects to
outfit particular areas of the ship.
Below is the banner header of the supplement's front page, below which was a large picture of Caronia's Main Lounge.
Some pages carry nothing more than two large photographs of the ship's interior spaces, with their captions.
Liner & Cruise Ship
“WE are paying much attention to making our new passenger ship at Clydebank rather
attractive for cruising, without seriously detracting from her usefulness on the North Atlantic”,
was the introduction to the Caronia given in 1946, by the late Sir Percy Bates. He had already shown that
flair for the needs of the future which led him to force the mighty “Queens” upon an astounded
world, and see them immeasurably justified.
[Left:]
A glimpse of the 3rd limewood panel carved by Donald Gilbert, F.R.B.S.; just an image of
the 4th yet to be found.
Cruising means that broad clear decks are much more important than on the North Atlantic in winter, and
leads among other things to the single funnel, the tripod mast abaft the bridge, the terraced decks leading
down from the Verandah Café, a Lido with gay colours and festooned fairy lighting and an outdoor
Swimming Pool (covered with deck boards when not required).
Supplement Advertisements
To save space, instead of scanning the many advertisements that are in the Supplement, which of course would
mostly be images of text, I have concatenated them into transcribed lists below and on the next page,
in no particular order…
E. Pollard & Co.
Clerkenwell
Joinery in the Cabin Class and 1st Class Barbers’ Shops and Beauty Parlours was executed by Pollards to
the design of Messrs. John Brown and Co., builders of the “Caronia”. Decoration of the port and
starboard Garden Lounges was carried out under the direction of Messrs. McInnes, Gardner & Partners,
architects. In both cases a good example of high quality specialised Joinery by Pollards.
Booth & Fox Ltd.
Brimsdown, Enfield, Middlesex
When you travel on the “Caronia” you sleep on one of the World's best pillows. Manufactured by
Booth & Fox Ltd., Down Quilt & Bedding Manufacturers
“R.M.S. Caronia”
Our craftsmanship and knowledge is expressed in the execution of the
decorative work of the Cabin Lounge. Fine Furniture and Decoration by our Company is known in many parts
of the World
Grafton Furnishing Fabrics
St. James's Buildings
Manchester 1
Garden Lounges on the Promenade Deck on either side of the Theatre are decorated in two shades, cream parchment
and pale marine blue. Concealed lighting comes from canopies over the inner walls while continuous glazed screens
look over the sea.
The starboard side Garden Lounge was nominated as 1st class on transatlantic crossings. The port side was not only
allocated to Cabin Class but regularly used for meetings, port formalities and currency exchange.
Chair Makers
The rattan chairs, known as the “Aster” range, in the Garden Lounges were hand-made by Ellmores of Thurmaston
B.I. Callender
Norfolk House
Norfolk Street
London W.C.2
From Southampton to Saskatoon…
from Peckham to Peru, in fact wherever electric power is used, the name B.I. Callender's has become a by-word
for the finest in electric cables and equipment. At sea too, from funnel to fo'c'sle…, you can take it from
us that in all quarters of this vessel B.I. Callender's ship wiring cables are giving you continuous, reliable
service.
Like the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, the Caronia, latest addition to the Cunard White Star fleet, is also,
equipped with B.I. Callender's cables.
Fredk. SAGE & Co. Ltd.
Craftsmen in
Architectural Joinery & Metalwork
Holborn Hall, Gray's Inn Road
London, WC1
All the Entrance Halls,
including Shops and Staircases
for First Class and Cabin Class
on S.S. Caronia
constructed by Sage under the
supervision of the Architects
Messrs. A. McInnes,
Gardner & Partners for
Messrs. John Brown & Co. Ltd., Clydebank
As much attention in detail has been given to the ship's artistic decoration as to every other aspect of her
construction and equipment. Besides the group of bronzes splendidly sited in the first-class Lounge, by Mr.
Barney Seale, and the lacquer decorations by Mr. F.H. Coventry there, the larger of the private dining-rooms
has three window screens of silver metal, glazed with tinted opaque plate glass, on which are engraved devices
to the designs of Mr. John Buckland Wright.
Over the built-in sideboard at one end of the room is a clean-cut carving in limewood designed by Mr. P.J. Bentham
representing a girl astride a swimming sea monster.
[Left:]
The limewood carving designed by Mr. P.J. Bentham
Made by Waring & Gillow
José Mari de Uzelai (Ucelay), the Basque artist and refugee in Britain of the Spanish Civil War, was commissioned in 1946
to produce 4 large drawings in the First Class Smoking Room. These tell the story of navigation from the time of
“Henry the Navigator” until the present.
As already mentioned, Miss Margaret Blundell has carried out two mural panels depicting a mid-European country
dance and a hunting scene.
In the smaller Private Dining Room attached to the Balmoral Restaurant was another carving by Mr. P.J. Bentham. This was a
round plaque that decorated the space above its sideboard and depicted another mythical sea monster being enticed
with food.
[Right:]
The 2nd limewood carving designed by Mr. P.J. Bentham
Made by Waring & Gillow
The “PDRs” as they were colloquially called were very busy places on almost every voyage, before they were
removed in the 1965 refit. Mostly, during the day, they were used for meetings of small groups. Otherwise, their main
use was as separated dining spaces for special occasions.
Light, Airy Bedrooms
Sitting Rooms for Main Deck Suites
LIGHTNESS, airiness, characterise the bedrooms, which are nearly all outside rooms. There is, nevertheless, the
widest variety in the designs of their decoration and fitting.
[Right:]
Main deck suite sitting room:
Walls are panelled in Flame Maple with horizontal dividing beads in gilt metal
which also enriches the fawn coachwood furniture, in tawny shade matching upholstery.
Curtains are turquoise silk.
Two of the sitting rooms on either side of the Main Deck are lit by five large sash windows, instead of portholes,
while four bedrooms adjacent have two such windows each.
One of the sitting rooms has walls of figured white sycamore with slip panels of crossbanded toned sycamore.
Sycamore and brown oak are used for the sideboard, bookcase and loose furniture.
There is a large decorative painting in the settee recess. A sectional mirror opposite has small decorative
motifs, which are continued in the silver bronze and glass swing doors.
The curtains are red silk with gold medallions, the carpet fawn with borders of beige and cream. Handtufted
rugs have a tiled effect in beige, fawn and brown, while the furniture is covered with red silk coteline.
Main Schemes
The majority of the bedrooms, distributed over six decks, follow one or other of three main schemes.
These are :
Bleached silky oak, Oetapsco and avodire veneers with matching furniture
Rexine in cream and blue with African cherry, French walnut and silky oak ; and
Painted walls of delicate primrose grey and cream with African cherry, Australian walnut and bleached mahogany furniture
Each bedroom has a telephone for service within the ship, or with any part of the World by radiotelephony.
The air supply and its temperature is entirely under the control of the occupant. All staterooms have
private toilet facilities and most are equipped with tub baths and showers or shower baths.
Fredk. SAGE & Co. Ltd.
