Number 313 • spriNg 2020 PowerT HE M AGAZINE OF E NGINE -P OWERED V ESSELS FRO M T ShipsHE S T EA M SHI P H IS T ORICAL S OCIE T Y OF A M ERICA E XCALIBUR , E XOCHORDA , E X E T E R & E XCAMBION : The Original “Four Aces”16 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE MANHATTAn’S LUXURY LINER ROW 10 THE FOUR SISTERS OF THE GRACE LINE 26 TO SHINING SEA: MANHATTAN & W ASHINGTON 36 EXPERIENCE THE ACTION of WORLD WAR II AFLoaT! Aboard the Liberty Ship JOH N W. BROW N CRUISE from Baltimore on the Chesapeake H H H H H H H H H H H H MAY 30 AUGUST 8 T eh SS JO HN W. B the great fleet of over 2,700RO war-built Liberty Ships and the last operational SETEMBER 19 WN is one of the last operating survivors from 2020 troopship of World War II. The ship is a maritime museum and a memorial to the shipyard workers who built, merchant mariners who sailed, and the U.S. Navy Armed Guard who defended the Liberty ships during World War II. The Joh W. Bro WN is fully restored and maintained as close as possible to her World War II configuration. Visitors must be able to walk up steps to board the ship. N T shi exciting 6 hour day cruise period entertainment and flybys (conditions permitting) of wartime aircraft. Tour includes lunch, music of the 40’s, on-board museums, crew quarters, bridge and much more. See the magnificent 140-ton triple-expansion steam engine as it powers the ship through the water. May 30 “ssD refor Victory” Aug 8 “Action in the Air” – special – encouraging cruise with everyone 10 or more to dress WWII in 40’s aircraft attire Sept 19 “Know the Port of Baltimore” – history of the port and today’s port H Order your tickets online at: www.ssjohnwbrown.org H For information call: 410-558-0164 Visit www.ssjohnwbrown.org for special pricing, group rates, gift certificates and more. Last day to order tickets is 14 days before the cruise. Conditions and penalties apply to cancellations. Project Liberty Ship is a Baltimore based, all volunteer, nonprofit organization. FLoaT! AR II A ORLD W PowerTHE MAGAZINE OF THEShips STEAMSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA N of W E ACTIO NCE TH ERIE MA NIFEST • N u m ber 313 • spr i Ng 2020 EXP THIS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE has been continuously published by The Steamship Historical The Original Society of America since first appearing as The steamboat Four Aces bill of Facts in 1940 . by Eric Pearson . 16 THE STEAMSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, INC., (SSHSA) was organized in 1935 as a means of bringing together those amateur and professional historians interested in the history and development of steam navigation, past and present, and incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1950 as a tax-exempt education corporation . IN ADDITION TO POWERSHIps, THE PILOT HOUSE . 4 the SSHSA produces other books and Q&A WITH publications of marine interest, a m anhattan’s Luxury STEAMBOAT BILL . 5 list of which is available online and Liner row FULL STEAM AHEAD . 7 from the Warwick headquarters . by William H . Miller . 10 REGIONALS SSHSA MEETINGS are normally High Seas . .55 held annually . Several local Mid-Atlantic . 59 chapters also meet regularly . New York . 61 MEMBERSHIP in SSHSA includes Overseas . .62 subscriptions to powerships, the s hips of grace: New England & The Four sisters of the Eastern Canada . .64 Telegraph, and Ahoy! Dues West Coast . 66 are in various classes, beginning at grace Line $50 0. 0 for Annual Members . by James Zatwarnicki, Jr . 26 Great Lakes / Seaway . 70 Southeast & Gulf Ports . 73 FOR FURTHER DETAILS, write: Southwest Pacific . 75 Steamship Historical Western Rivers . 77 Society of America, TUGBOATS . .80 2500 Post Road, To shining sea: REVIEWS . 83 Warwick, RI 02886 ss Manhattan HEARD ON THE & ss Washington FANTAIL . 85 Visit our websites by Peter C . Kohler . 36 FROM THE www.sshsa.org H Order your tickets online at: www.ssjohnwbrown.org COLLECTION . 86. www.shiphistory.org H For information call: 410-558-0164 ON THE COVER: Dining room interior view of the “Four Aces ”. A place of international tension in the pre-war years . – Björn Larsson Collection . ABOVE: Brochure illustration of the excalibur – Björn Larsson Collection . Visit www.ssjohnwbrown.org for special pricing, group rates, gift certificates and more. PowerShips (formerly titled Steamboat Bill) (issN 0039-0844)—founded in 1940 by Jay Allen—is published quarterly as a cooperative effort by the steamship Historical society of America, inc., 2500 post road, Warwick, RI 02886, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the activities of marine historians in the field of self-propelled vessels. material for possible publication is always welcome and should be sent to the editor; Jim pennypacker, 4 snead Ct., palmyra, VA 22963. No remuneration can be made for such materials, and no responsibility for it is accepted, although every effort will be made for its safe handling. All contributions are subject to editing. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the society; the burden for accuracy rests with the contributors. Contributors represent that they are the sole author of their Work, that the Work is an original work of authorship which does not infringe on the copyright rights of others, and that the author has the unencumbered right to publish the material. Subscription to PowerShips is by membership of $50.00 (us$) per year in the steamship Historical society of America, inc. $30 of each member’s dues goes toward receiving PowerShips. single copies of available issues may be purchased. periodical postage paid at Warwick, RI, and additional offices. pOsTmAsTer: send address changes to SSHsA, 2500 post road, Warwick, RI 02886 USA. phone +1 401 463 3570, fax +1 401 463 3572. No part of PowerShips may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher. PowerShips s pring 2020 • 3 PowerShips EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jim Pennypacker 17 Church st., 2nd Floor, Lambertville, NJ 08530 email: [email protected] The Pilot House phone: +1 610-883-7988 ASSOCIATE EDITORS P eter T. Eisele 74 Chatham street, Chatham, NJ 07928 The Four sisters, the Four Aces, email: [email protected] Laurence Miller 11321 sW 134th Avenue, miami, FL 33186 Luxury Liner row and more . email: [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS HOPE YOU ENJOY THE THEME OF THIS ISSUE: U.S. PASSENGER LINERS. We don’t usually William G.T. Barber Ted Blank have a theme, but we originally meant to publish this issue in conjunction with our Charles H. Bogart David M. Boone Peter T. Eisele William A. Fox Ocean Liner gala, which was dedicated to united states Lines. unfortunately, the John A. Fostik Roddy Sergiades gala had to be postponed in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. We have Donald Leavitt James L. Shaw Mark Shumaker Rich Turnwald Irescheduled the gala for saturday, November 7, and we’ll other updates with you as soon Julia Winters G. Justin Zizes as we’re able. We hope that by the time you’re reading this the world will be getting back EDITORIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE Jim Pennypacker Laurence Miller to normal and you can enjoy these stories of some of the world’s finest ships. Roland Parent Jim Shuttleworth Marifrances Trivelli Mary L. Payne Matthew Schulte Terry Tilton A lso in this Issue ART DIRECTOR John Goschke, Cornerstone media, inc. HE ADVENT OF LEISURE TRAVEL • T offered an opportunity to many people looking for an email: [email protected] escape from the grind of modern life – a visit to the sun-drenched tropical waters of ADVERTISING SALES the Caribbean. James Zatwarnicki Jr. presents the story of the famous four sisters of R ichard L. Barwis, IV, Cornerstone media, inc. 674 Fairhaven street, palm bay, FL 32907 the grace Line, which set the standard for the tropical comfort and luxury we have email: [email protected] all become accustomed to. phone: +1-321-220-0346 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER • Actress tAllulAh BAnkheAd once sAid, “i Articles Wanted M atthew S. Schulte, M.S. email: [email protected] never, ever go to the West side – well, except We’re continually looking for PRINTING to catch the boat to europe!” in Lives of the articles for the upcoming issues of Perfection Press 1200 industrial Drive, Logan, iA 51546 Liners, William miller reveals how Luxury powerships . If you would like SSHSA HEADQUARTERS Liner row was, in many ways, a New York City to write an article, send me a note 2500 post road, Warwick, RI 02886 email: [email protected] phone: +1-401-463-3570 landmark – most liners, especially the biggest (editor@sshsa o. rg) describing your Web: www.sshsa.org, www.shiphistory.org and most famous ones, used those piers built article idea and we’ll talk . In addition SSHSA OFFICERS along the Hudson. Don Leavitt, president, south ryegate, VT to articles on engine-powered ships of Barry W. Eager, Vice president, berlin, mA Acting Treasurer Eric Takakjian, Fairhaven, mA • In this STEAMBOAT BILL clAssic reprint, peter all kinds, we’re interested in articles Robert E. Hughes, Treasurer, New rochelle, NY C. Kohler presents a comprehensive history on Ocean Liners, Ship Builders, SSHSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS of two of the most popular and profitable Mechanical Aspects, Ship Models, O dd Brevik, Ormond beach, FL Douglas Bryan, Cohasset, mA Atlantic liners, united states Lines’ Manhattan Merchant Marine, Ship Preservation, Andrew Coggins, Jr., blacksburg, VA and Washington.