Article about the shipyard in the UK where the Delta Queen was built

Franz & steamboating colleagues:
First, greetings from up in the north of Michigan. I'm just now getting around to check my forwarded E=Mails amd message and appreciate those sent. Sorry If I've not gotten around to answering yet. No bears have appeared but we've plenty of howling coyotes in packs at night in addition to eagles, otters, mink, beaver--you name it.

The article Franz posted is interesting. I've shared some data on River Clyde Yards along with DENNY BROS. in the past and that may be available in the archives of the web. Much was given to me along with detailed research in Scotland and London, England. DENNY BROS., builders of the DK/DQ, did indeed have a long prosperous career until down in the 1950s. They produced many fine large ocean ships as far back as the 1870s/1880s with the perfection of high grade steel for higher boiler pressures. CUNARD LINE was one of their customers. The company was innovative in the perfecting of prefabricated vessels of all types sent around the world. For this reason the prefabrication of the DK/DQ were in essence just another routine job, but not without it's problems. During the fabrication of the DELTA KING's hull there was a accident on the ways at Dumbarton and it was severely cracked. Repairs made with a dingy photo for insurance claims to show the work.

The one problem Jim Burns and the 'California Transportation Co.' had, in addition to distance, were the lurking eyes of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service when it came to parts and components being brought from Scotland. Jim Burns and the Dennys, in their letters and ocean cables, discuss these factors in somewhat of a foggy manner--they knew what they were talking about but a general reader at the time would go [?].

DENNY BROS. prefabricated steamers, lighters, work boats etc. found world customers. China and Asia were one main buyer and at one time the largest steamboat fleet in the world was the concern on the Irawaddy River. Tjhis vast fleet scuttled at the beginning of the Japanese occupation to avoid their logistical use of the boats for the war effort. Workers in shipyards in those days experienced unbelievable working conditions compared to today along with low pay. Yet, at the time of the DK/DQ project business was booming and wages in the U.K. in general rising following the melancholy events of World War I.

All the River Clyde yards are gone now and the sites converted to new high tech businessess, parks, housing etc. Many of the old records, plans, photos of various companies were collected some years ago and rest in the business archives of the University of Glasgow along with the Maritime Museum, Greenwich near London. Again, those letters and plans never refer to the DK/DQ as other than "ships." Their nomenclature in the London archives refers to the two "ships" and they are recorded as "ferry service." Which in essence they were on the night boat run on the Sacramento.

Cheers to all and have a great summer,
R. Dale Flick

Interesting that the bigger river nearby would get the credit rather than the Leven. Offhand I can think of several misplaced geographies here like that: the old Harmar Boatyard was on the banks of the Muskingum across from Marietta in a section of town named Harmar. But its often referred to as being in Marietta or on the Ohio, which is just yards away. Downtown Memphis isn't really on the Mississippi, but rather on the Wolf River. Greenville Mississippi is on Lake Ferguson, not Ol Miss, and downtown Vicksburg is on the Yazoo, not Ol Miss. Of course, they are all rightly Mississippi River towns because sections do abut the river, but the little rivers are often left out completely.

Please note at the bottom of the article information about the recent fire on the Cutty Sark, which has resided for years in a graving dock across from London, the last of the clipper ships in existence. Although badly damged by the fire, there is hope for restoration. Since it is not floating, one is able to examine the very fine lines of the hull, virtually a functioning work of art. No wonder those ships were so fast. It is worth a visit to see this ship, so I hope that they can get it fixed.