Damaged model, looking for the original details on it

[Kevin Kenny]

A friend was just given this damaged model and was wondering if i knew anything about the model or the original ship. Anyone have an idea?

kevin

[amateur]

Nice model, although my huess is that there was the usual artistic license by the builder.

It reminds me of the steam barques around 1900. 
any provenance that could guide us in the search for the original?

 

(actually: I doubt what the function of the original was: not navy (no guns). No  hatches, so not bulk transport. Passenger transport?

Also: the pucs I can find show one-funneled ships. This one has two, but also a complete barque (?) rigging.

 

Artistic license, or a clue towards the original ship?

 

does it have a name on the transom?

 

jan

[Nightdive]

 

The visually closest one I could find is the SS Peruvian of the Allan Line. 

 

Could very well be some other migrant ship of that era. 

[Kevin Kenny]

I think  got it spot on Jan. Thanks so much, i will pass on the good news

 

[Kenchington]

The model is a bit naive, maybe not quite to scale, and perhaps the details should not be taken too seriously. However, the double white bands on red funnels are distinctive and might give a clue. Unfortunately, the only line I can find that used that pattern was the Nelson Steam Navigation Co., which ran a service to Buenos Aires and maybe other South American ports. The only fleet list I can find for them shows the earliest ship as 1903, whereas the model is clearly of something much earlier.

 

Peruvian is a much closer match. Her mainmast looks to have been proportioned and rigged for square yards (as in the model), though none were crossed when the photo was taken.

 

Trevor

[Keith Black]

 From my research for the Tennessee sail/ steam vessels built in the early 1860's were more dependent on sails than steam due to lack of coal carrying capacity and steam engine design infancy. In the beginning steam engines were used more for docking than actual sea travel. It was not uncommon for those ships built in the early 1860's to have been refitted with newly designed engines as steam engine development was in a constant state of flux till the perfecting of the triple expansion engine. 

[Kevin Kenny]

John Longstaff found a much better match. The key is the shape of the bow.

[amateur]

Although this one has a mast too many….. 
 

Jan

[Kevin Kenny]

Hi Jan The model has 4 mast as does the Arizona, so perhaps its the Arizona and not the Peruvian 

[JacquesCousteau]

I was under the impression that was a topmast that had fallen off the mainmast, not a separate mast in itself. If it's actually a separate mast, then the model seems to have three behind the funnels and one ahead, whereas Arizona has two ahead and two behind. Arizona also looks to me to have a much larger superstructure amidships, vs the line of deckhouses on the model. Are there other photos of the model from different angles?

[Kevin Kenny]

Thats all i have. The owner of the wreck seems happy with what we sent so  i will leave it there . Thanks for all the help.

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  I'll throw my 'hat in the ring' with the following observations.  Once can see on the model that the shrouds from the main top mast are still attached (although slipped) to the main topmast fallen backwards - there is no 'fourth mast'.  Besides, the broadside photo of the Arizona shows the second of 4 masts situated in front of the funnels.  The deck of the model is clearly seen to have no hole there for a mast, and the mast spacing (if there was one) would be way off from the photo of the Arizona (much too close).  

  The  Arizona bow goes almost straight down to the waterline, whereas the model has a definite curve (unfortunately cut-off so it does not go to the extreme bow, ergo does not show a bowsprit - which the Arizona does not have).  The Peruvian has a distinctive wide white stripe on the funnels ... yeah the model has two, but perhaps was made by someone from memory.  The Arizona has no stripes at all - and the wisp of steam discharged from a vertical pipe alongside the rear funnel is not a wide painted white stripe, which neither funnel has.

  And note that the Peruvian's thick steam vent pipe is located behind the aft funnel, as on the model.  The Arizona has a thinner steam vent pipe ahead of the funnel.  The Peruvian's funnels are nearly vertical (as on the model), while those on the Arizona have a significant rearward rake - as are the masts.  The model's masts are only slightly raked, and that conforms to the photos of the Peruvian.

 

  Check out the complete Wikipedia coverage of the Arizona - she was 450 feet long (!) ... compared to the 373' of the Peruvian.  The Arizona would look odd indeed if it didn't have a 4th mast for its remarkably long hull.  The diminutive Peruvian would have only accommodated 3 masts, considering that it was originally 312' long.  Its rebuilding to 373' after 10 years would account for the longer distance between the fore mast and main mast.

  There are more observations a keen eye can discern to support the arguments in favor of the Peruvian, but why beat a dead horse?

[Keith Black]

44 minutes ago, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

I'll throw my 'hat in the ring' with the following observations

I agree with you a hundred percent, Johnny. 

[Kevin Kenny]

Johnny

thanks you for your feedback. I have past your comments on to the owner of the model and leave it to them to figure it out. Thanks for taking the time

best regards

kevin