Caronia At Her Fitting-Out Berth
Here we have several views of Caronia at her fitting out berth at John Brown's yard. The ship slowly taking shape and being readied for a glittering career. Although Caronia made a great deal of money for her owners, the John Brown shipyard actually made a loss on her construction!
This is an early shot not long after launch where the shackles are still attached to the bow, with some emphasis on constructing the ship's bridge. At this point, the ship's green livery would not yet have been decided upon, so the hull is painted in either white or pale grey undercoat. Panels carrying the various shades of green were still being tested on decks of cargo ships in the fleet.
Caronia at fitting-out berth
[Photo: Cunard Publicity Department]
The photo also tells another story, inasmuch as how individual the pieces of her construction were. The extract below shows two workers carrying pieces for assembly on to the ship.
Photo extract:showing workers carrying assembly pieces
[Click on above images for larger versions in new window]
The young man behind (probably an apprentice) is carrying drawer frames, though it's a bit of a mystery as to what the guy in front has over his shoulder. From its size, we can only assume it's made of wood.
What this photo also shows is the straight and continuous shape of the first 11 feet of Caronia's stem that reached below the water line. Contrast that with the rake after the repairs made in Japan in April 1958.
More Fitting-Out Berth Photographs
[Above:]
Caronia's clipper bow is seen to good effect as she is made secure in her fitting-out berth only minutes
after her launch.
[Top Left:]
The graceful lines of Caronia's cruiser stern, with the chromium lettering proudly showing
her home port of Liverpool.
[Left:]
Caronia's massive funnel, one of the largest single funnels ever built, has its top ring lifted into place.
[ Photos: The Tilling Collection
Caronia still awaiting the fitting of her unique and distinctive tripod mast, the tallest fitted to any ship, seen at her fitting-out berth at John Brown's ship yard.
[Photo: Topical Press - Planet News]
