Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers
Lot 129
A WW1 era German bulkhead ships barometer, by repute taken from RMS Berengaria, formally known as SS Imperator. Brass body with hinged glass fronted lid, and central button for adjusting the needle alignment. White dial with German text, but no apparent makers mark or dates. Notes: information supplied by the vendor suggests that the item once sat on the bridge of the SS Imperator, later the RMS Berengaria. The piece was acquired by a relative of the current owner and has thus been passed down through the family. SS Imperator was a German ocean liner, first launched in 1912 as part of the Hamburg America Line. At the time of her completion in 1913, she was the worlds largest passenger liner. During WW1 she remained in port at Hamburg, and was seized in 1919 by the United States Navy. For a short time Imperator was part of the U.S. Navy, and served as a troop transport ship, transporting U.S. servicemen back to the United States from the European theatre of war. As part of War Reparations, Imperator was handed over to the British Cunard Line company, by way of some compensation for the loss of RMS Lusitania at the hands of the German Navy. She was renamed RMS Berengaria, and sailed as the flagship for Cunard from 1919-1939, and was later scrapped between 1939 and 1946. Dimensions: width 17.2cm x height 17.2cm x depth 7.8cm. Condition: some damaged to the glass front, but the brass case is in good order. There a 6 cracks to the glass, all emanating from the adjustment knob to the centre. The brass casing is free from dents or other kind of damage, plus the dial is also in good order. The wooden plaque backing is not original to the piece, having been added later by a former owner (this can be easily removed by undoing the screws).
