Union-Castle Line R.M.M.V. Capetown Castle 1940s Wooden Ships Wheel Lamp with Brass Bell Working

OFFERED ON AUCTION HERE IS THIS OLD 1940S UNION-CASTLE LINE CAPETOWN CASTLE LAMP WITH WOODEN SHIPS WHEEL AND BRASS BELL AS STAND. IT HAS AN OLD FIBRE LINED SHADE THAT LIGHTS UP BEAUTIFULLY WHEN ON.
 
UNION-CASTLE LINE R.M.M.V. CAPETOWN CASTLE WAS A PASSENGER MAIL SHIP THAT DELIVERED PASSENGERS AND MAIL BETWEEN CAPE TOWN AND GREAT BRITAIN IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY.
 
THIS LAMP FEATURES AN OLD ENAMEL RMMV " CAPETOWN CASTLE" BADGE WHICH IS SET INTO THE WOODEN BASE OF THE ITEM. THIS SHIPS' WHEEL WOULD HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FROM THE GIFT SHOP ONBOARD CAPETOWN CASTLE SOMETIME IN THE LATE 1930'S/1940'S.
 
R.M.M.V. Capetown Castle was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast (yard no.986), who also built her Burmeister & Wain designed 10-cyl diesel engines totalling 24000bhp. (Subsequent passenger ships for the mail service reverted to steam turbine power.) She was launched on 23rd September 1937 and was delivered in April 1938. Her first arrival at Cape Town was on 13th May 1938 on the mail service.
 
SHE WAS REQUISITIONED FOR THE WAR EFFORT IN 1940 AND CARRIED 164,000 TROOPS AND PASSENGERS BEFORE RELEASE IN JULY 1946. AFTER REFIT CAPETOWN CASTLE RETURNED TO THE MAIL SERVICE IN JANUARY 1947, NOW ACCOMMODATING 244 FIRST AND 553 CABIN (LATER RENAMED TOURIST) CLASS PASSENGERS.
 
In October 1960 she suffered an engine room explosion off Las Palmas which killed seven. In 1965 an accelerated eleven and a half day mail service was introduced, for which Capetown Castle was too slow. She was replaced, along with Athlone Castle and Stirling Castle , by the new Southampton Castle and Good Hope Castle .
 
Capetown Castle was used as a one-class ship carrying 776 passengers on an intermediate service taking fifteen days. In September 1966 she made two cruises to Palma but then returned to the mail service briefly because of delays to the delivery of Good Hope Castle .
 
THE LAST DEPARTURE OF CAPETOWN CASTLE FROM CAPE TOWN WAS ON 2 3RD AUGUST 1967 AND SHE DEPARTED SOUTHAMPTON FOR BREAKING UP AT LA SPEZIA ON SEPTEMBER 26TH 1967.
 
DIMENSIONS: 18CM WIDE 35CM HIGH
 
CONDITION: LAMP SHADE SOMETIME SITS A BIT SKEW AND ONE OF THE BRASS METAL WHEEL SPOKES ARE MISSING. LAMP IS STILL WORKING AND SHADE LIGHTS UP BEAUTIFULLY. SOUND BOW OR STRIKER IS ALSO MISSING. 
 
UNION CASTLE SHIPPING LINE (1900-1977):
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping company known for its passenger and cargo services between Europe and Africa, particularly South Africa, from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of two earlier shipping companies: the Union Line  and the Castle Shipping Line. 
The Union Line and Castle Line were initially competitors, both vying for the lucrative mail contract to South Africa.The discovery of gold in South Africa significantly increased passenger and cargo traffic, intensifying competition between the two lines.The companies invested in larger, faster, and more luxurious ships, leading to fierce competition and ultimately, a merger. In 1900, the two companies merged to form the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, with Donald Currie of the Castle Line playing a key role. 
The Union-Castle Line operated regular mail and passenger services, with a weekly sailing from Southampton to Cape Town. The company's ships were known for their distinctive lavender-colored hulls and black and red funnels. Notable ships included the Windsor Castle which was the last of the "Cape Mail Express" ships, and the Dunottar Castle where the Union-Castle flag was first hoisted. Other prominent ships included the Arundel Castle and  Edinburgh Castle. 
The rise of air travel led to a decline in passenger numbers on ocean liners.The Union-Castle Line phased out its passenger services in the 1970s and ceased all shipping operations by 1977. Despite its closure, the Union-Castle Line is remembered for its vital role in connecting Europe and Africa and for the luxury and comfort of its ships.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
HTTPS://WWW.BIDORBUY.CO.ZA/SELLER/3685641/ERNREX1545