Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: ocean dominion steamship | ot africa line | oregon steamship | orient steam navigation | orkney steam navigation | osborn and wallis | overseas containers |
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image by Ivan Sache, 26 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of
Oakley, Street & Co. (#694, p. 70), a London-based company, as red with a white
cross patty.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/35/
Ivan
Sache, 26 April 2021
image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Ocean
Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#1126, p. 90), a Grimsby-based company, as triangular,
white with a red disc.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#55
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Ocean
Transport Co. (#1406, p. 103), a London-based company, as tapered swallow-tail,
white with a blue star.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#68
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
image by Jarig Bakker, 3 November 2005
O.I.L. Ltd., Woking - white flag, bordered red; black "OIL".
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 3 November 2005
image by Jarig Bakker, 3 October 2005
Olau Line Ltd., Sheerness - white flag, two lying parallelograms, top one
red, bottom one blue, separated by a thin white space. This might have been a
Finnish firm, operating the ferry Vlissingen - Sheerness, used by the good old
Magic Bus.
Source:
Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 3 October 2005
I've come across a flag image printed on a
British pictorial envelope -- so it may never have existed in reality -- but
I was wondering if you might recognize it. I'm attaching the image, drawn by
Henry Anelay for the League of Universal Brotherhood and in support of the Ocean
Penny Postage movement in 1848. It's the one on the mainmast of the steamer
(that is, the one that is not the British flag).
A
second envelope (stationery, actually) has
a variant of the flag above. One may be correct and the other in error, or both
invented -- again, I'm not sure.
Peter Shulman, 10 September 2011
The stationary obviously has the barquentine-rigged steamship One Penny,
flying the house flag of the Ocean Penny Postage line. The company name is
displayed on the fore course sail, as some companies did in the past, and the
ship's name including part of the company name was also a common practice. That
house flag, at least for ships flying the ensign of Welcome, appears to display
the sealed reverse of an envelope. The pennant flying from the fore is clearly
the One Penny's name pennant. Finally, the paddle box bears a representation of
the company's purpose, if rather more crude than was usual.
The envelope
might be showing the One Penny too, or maybe a One Penny before or after her.
Here too, she sails for the Ocean Penny Postage line, but at this time, she was
apparently registered in the country of Union, as she flies the Union ensign.
This difference also seems to bring a different house flag, namely a white field
with on it the white reverse of an envelope, while even in this image the design
is not clear enough to determine for certain whether it has a seal. Here too she
flies her name pennant, but the paddle box does not seem to show any lettering,
making it much more agreeable.
Considering that I don't know of the
countries of Welcome and Union, I would declare these as complete fiction. In
today's age, there would be a chance that the Ocean Penny Postage movement would
in fact have had such flags made, but since this was around 1850, this would
have been quite costly, and I think they would not have gone beyond the version
in the prints.
There are several more versions of the print. I think the
only flag-wise difference, apart from what see here already, is that at least
one version has the text on the ensign of Welcome reading "A WELCOME EVRYWHERE".
The older versions are apparently those which show a design like that of the
envelope, with the Union Flag as their ensign, where the British red ensign was
flown by the real British mail ships. The choice may have been motivated by a
desire to make it more understandable for Americans, as the movement existed on
both sides of the ocean, asking for a one penny resp. two cent rate for the
transatlantic leg of mail transport. Most mail between Europe and North America,
here described as "The World", went through Great Britain, and the low rate
would therefore be a benefit to all. The movement felt the resulting increase in
mail flow would compensate the lower income per envelope.
While it is all
just fiction, in my opinion, I would point out the details of the house flag.
The saltire lines are drawn is such a way that they resemble an envelope, with a
seal on it, yet the resulting flag cleverly mimics the flag of the actual mail
company, the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.,
which was a saltire bearing a crown.
The depicted Union Ensign shows that the
artist is quite capable of indicating thickness of saltires, even at that size,
so the likeness to an envelope, rather than to the actual flag, is quite
deliberate. It's also a quite enjoyable visual pun.
Peter Hans van den
Muijzenberg, 20 April 2012
image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Orders &
Hendford (#1285, p. 98), a Newport-based company, as white with a monogram
composed of a blue "O", a red "&" and a blue "H".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#63
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.
From the website of the National
Maritime Museum, "the house flag of the Oregon Steamship Co. Ltd,
London. An olive, green rectangular flag with a black diamond in the centre
bearing a letter 'O' in white. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre
bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is
attached."
Jarig Bakker, 22 August 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Orient
Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#1078, p. 88), a Grimsby-based company, as red with a
yellow border, a yellow star and a yellow crescent.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#53
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
Based on Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 15 October 2003
Orient Steam Navigation Co. (Anderson, Green & Co,. Ltd., Managers)
Houseflag: white, with blue St. George's Cross and gold crown in center.
Jarig Bakker, 16 October 2003
British. Formed circa 1877 with trade routes to Australia and later New
Zealand and by the 1950s to San Francisco, Vancouver and Honolulu.
P&O purchased
majority interest in 1919 and the balance of the company in 1965. The next year
the company was fully absorbed into P&O.
Phil Nelson, 16 October 2003
The art-work on the crown at a specimen in the
National
Maritime Museum is quite different.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg,
6 May 2019
image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same house flag
(#1195, p. 93).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#58
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
See also: White Star Lines
image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 May 2010
image located by Neale Rosanoski, 26 February 2004
Orient Steam Navigation Co. The Stewart series uses this company as an
example of the development of a house flag although it includes one discrepancy.
The original flag combined those of Anderson, Anderson & Co. (blue with a white
saltire) and Frederick Green & Co. (white with a red cross surmounting a blue
panel), who combined as Anderson & Green (also shown as Green & Anderson) in
1874 to operate the Orient Line, forerunner of the Orient Steam Navigation Co.
which was formed in either 1877 or 1878. This combined flag was blue with a
white saltire and overall an undefined white diamond bearing a red cross over a
blue panel. Stewart does not show the panel in his
example but it is by Loughran 1979. Whichever is correct was used until c.1880
when the white with red cross and crown format was adopted, presumably being
based on the similar flag used by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. who were
associated in these early days, but this has the red letters "OSNC" in the
respective quarters. This was altered slightly by
the addition of a small "o" after the "C" with Loughran quoting 1888 and Stewart
c.1892 but both then agreeing that in 1908 the letters were done away with,
coinciding with Pacific Steam being no longer connected.
Neale Rosanoski, 26 February 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 10 November 2005
Orkney Islands Shipping Co., Ltd., Kirkwall - red flag, near top and bottom
rectangles; in center "O", containing "I", all white.
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 10 November 2005
by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.
From the website of the National
Maritime Museum, "the house flag of the Orkney Steam Navigation Co.,
Kirkwall. A rectangular flag divided diagonally into four broad white and five
narrow red stripes."
Jarig Bakker, 23 August 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021
On 28 February 1917, Georges Eadie retired from the ownership of Ormond Cook,
Ferguson & co. leaving his two former associates, Ormond Cook and David Neilson
Ferguson as the sole owners of the company (The Edinburgh Gazette, 23 March
1917). Ferguson retired from the company on 15 September 1921, leaving Ormond
Cook as its sole owner (The Edinburgh Gazette, 20 September 1921).
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Ormond
Cook, Ferguson & Co. (#1734, p. 119), a Glasgow-based shipping company, as
quartered red and white per saltire, charged in the center with a black disk
inscribing white "R".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#84
Ivan
Sache, 4 May 2021
by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.
From the website of the National
Maritime Museum, "the house flag of Osborn and Wallis, Cardiff. A white flag
with the monogram 'OW' in blue in the centre. The flag is made of a wool and
synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and
toggle is attached."
Jarig Bakker, 23 August 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Osborn &
Wallis (#334, p. 52) as white with a red "O.W." monogram.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#17
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021
Yellow, a white disc with a wide blue border
(making an "O") and a blue "T" inside.
Jorge Candeias, 03 Feb 1999
Believe this should be a British company as
OTAL appears to be a subsidiary of Thamesport.
Al Fisher, 03 Feb 1999
OT Africa Line. Brown 1995 shows this flag for the Swedish company O.T. Shipping A/B which appears to have originated as O.T. Rederierna which was declared bankrupt by the Swedish Government in 1982 with its assets disposed of to A/B Shipinvest which was formed for that purpose. However it continued to be shown in Lloyds as O.T. Shipping A/B until the early 1990s. Brown makes reference to the OT Africa Line service as having the same flag but with the addition of "OT AFRICA LINE in white outlined blue across the centre which I have presumed to resemble as attached (below). On my original visit to site for OT Africa Line, also known as OTAL, at www.otal.com, I have noted that it was formed 1975 and was based in Nigeria. It showed a logo of the OT flag with the legend plastered over it but not forming part as it extended beyond the flag borders [see logo below]. However 10/1999 it, together with its associate Antrak International, were sold to the Group Bollore of France but remain independent from their shipping arm Delmas [all this from the site]. I have just had another look at their site and are now not at all sure where their HQ is at present. The ships appear to be split between Antak and Delmas and that latter has some registered in the name of Otal Investments Ltd. formed 2001. I can only conclude from the maze that the original name was sold by the Swedes together with the flag and its continued appearance on the website means it still exists but in what context is another matter.
by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.
From the website of the National Maritime Museum, "the house flag of Overseas Containers Ltd., London. A rectangular blue flag bearing the letters 'OCL' in white. The flag is made of synthetic fibre bunting with a cotton hoist. A rope is attached."
In use since 1971.
Jarig Bakker, 23 August 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 25 April 2021
Oversea Transport Co., Ltd. operated three ships, "Abaris" (1904-1916), "Parracombe"
(1928-1940), and "Welcombe" (1930-1940).
http://www.mariners-list.com/site_pages.php?section=Shipping+Companies&category=English&page_name=George+Pyman+
Mariners L
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the
house flag of
Oversea Transport Co., Ltd. (J.S. Pyman) (#540, p. 62), a
London-based company, as white with a black disc inscribing a white "P", the
black letters "OTC°" placed along the hoist.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#27
Ivan Sache, 25 April 2021
image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Overton
Steamship Co., Ltd. (R.R. Clark) (#1242, p. 96), a Liverpool-based company, as
white with a blue disc in the center.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#61
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021
Captain John Williams a native of Porthdinllaen, had been Master of the 130 ton
schooner "Mary Watkins" since she was built in 1850. But like so many mariners
from the north coast of Llyn, in 1857 aged 36, he became managing owner of his
first vessel, the same "Mary Watkins". And this would indirectly become the
foundation stone for one of the biggest shipping companies owned by a Llyn
family. He continued to command his vessel, along with his crew of eight local
men, and sailed her to many different places, from the West Indies, Black Sea,
and to Brazil and other exotic destinations. Capt Williams and his wife Mary
(she was the daughter of Plasymhenllech) had three sons, Owen, born in 1862,
Robert 1863, and Watkin in 1864, and during this time the family moved to live
to "Tyncoed" in the next village Edern.
Ship owning must have got into his
blood, (or the healthy profit he was enjoying) because by 1871, the 205ton Brig
“Sharp” had joined the fleet, only to be lost in less than a year. But this
didn’t deter him, and in 1872, he acquired the 554ton barque “Lauretta” which
cost £4,250, but he sold the "Mary Watkins" in 1873, and then in 1875 he bought
the even bigger 1296 ton ship “Amoor”, which cost a staggering £7,750. By now
Capt Williams had left the sea, and was looking after his shipping interests
full time, which he continued to do so until he retired in 1887 aged 66, when he
sold his two remaining vessels.
His youngest son Watkin, had been drawn
to the sea as well, and had served on his fathers ship “Amoor” and by the late
1880s he was First Mate on the 1451 ton steamer “Jenny Otto” owned by G. Otto of
London, and trading mostly to the Mediterranean.
Owen his oldest brother
was working as a clerk in a Cardiff shipping company, but his father’s business
ventures interested him, and his first flurry into ship owning came in the shape
of shares in the barque “Caroline Spooner” in 1889 which he bought from the Rev
John Morgan, who was rector of Edern church at the time. And his brother Watkin
soon followed, by buying shares with him in the 2404 ton steamer “Hesperides” in
the early 1890s, this would become the start of a partnership that would last
thirty five years, and they would become owners of over 20 steam and motor
vessels of up to 6900 gross tons.
From 1900 and up to the great war of
1914-1918, Cardiff became the coal capital of the world, in 1906 alone over
seven million tons of the stuff was exported to the four corners of the globe,
and by 1913 this had raised to over 10 million. The two brothers from Edern,
were well placed to take advantage of the rich pickings to be had, their “Golden
Cross Line” became a household name throughout Wales. But on Llyn they were
affectionately known as “Llongau Pwllparc”, for the family had moved there from
Tyncoed in the late 1870s, and many Llyn and especially Edern seamen sailed on
them. The great war decimated their fleet, with seven ships lost. And when they
dabbled in motor vessels instead of steam in the early 1920s things took a
definite turn for the worse, and by 1930, the company folded with debts running
into many thousands of pounds. But the sheer guts of these two brothers, has got
to be admired, and Pwllparc ships quite rightly will always be remembered on the
Llyn, as one of the greatest chapters in our maritime history.
https://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/pwll_parc/golden_cross.htm
Rhiw website
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Owen
& Watkin Williams & Co. (#1218, p. 94) as blue with a yellow cross patty fitchy.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#59
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021