The SS Deutschland was significant in being the fastest ship of its time by winning the Blue Riband for the Atlantic crossing in 1902 in 5 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes at an average speed of 23.32 knots.

Model made by Mr. A. W. Rogers, who won the "Model Engineers" medal in 1913 for this model.

The SS Deutschland was a passenger liner owned by the Hamburg-Amerika Line of Germany. She was launched in 1900, with accomodation for 2050 passengers in first, second, and third classes. On her return to Plymouth across the Atlantic after her maiden voyage to New York, she won the Blue Riband from the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse in a time of 5 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes at an average speed of 23.32 knots/hour. The Deutschland was the first and only 4 stacker built for the Holland-Amerika Line.
She was indeed a fast ship but this came at the expense of passenger comfort. Her engines were so powerful that they caused severe vibrations in her passenger accomodations, which made her unpopular with passengers, to such a degree that the ship was nicknamed 'The Cocktail Shaker '.
In March 1902 she was carrying Prince Henry, the brother of the Kaiser, back from the US. He wanted to send wireless messages but was prevented from so doing by a dispute between the Marconi system and the Slaby-d'Arco wireless system as used on the ship. This incident became one of the most important moments in the early history of wireless transmission.
In 1910 Hamburg-Amerika withdrew the Deutschland from transatlantic service, and converted her to a dedicated cruise ship taking 500 first class passengers, and the ship was renamed SS Viktoria Luise. Because of her still troublesome engines the Viktoria Luise was not used by the German government in WW1. In 1921 she was pressed into emigrant service to the US and renamed Hansa, and finally sold for scrap in 1925.

Ship model, steam, passenger liner, "Deutschland", scale 1/8" = 1 ft . Finished in red and black, mounted on wooden base in glass case, the case set on a table ... Medal "Model Engineers", 1913, won by Mr A W Rogers for the above model ... Case for medal, red with blue linings ... model made by A W Rogers, Newcastle, Australia, c. 1912 ...(SB.

Details include deck rails and companionways, bollards and cleats, navigation lights, four funnels with safety valve extension pipes, forward funnel with steam whstle, twenty- two covered ships' boats, davits, ventilators. Twin screws with four bladed propellers.

Made: 1913

B2084

1913

800 mm

400 mm