S.S. United States Thermometer

About the Item

Vintage SS United States Thermometer by the British Rototherm Co. Ltd. London, England About 4.75" high and 5.25" wide. This table/desk top thermometer is in a leather clad wood case with an enameled blue, white and gold logo medallion. A very chic desk item with Jean Michel Frank and Jacques Adnet styling as well as being an authentic original artifact from America's flagship, the SSUS with appropriate vintage patina. SS United States is a retired luxury passenger liner built in 1952 for United States Lines. Built at a cost of $79.4 million ($733 million in today's dollars) the ship is the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the US and the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction. She was designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs, and could be turned into a troopship should the need arise. The United States never was involved in any wars but was operated uninterrupted in transatlantic passenger service until 1969. In the following two decades she went through several different owners, all of whom tried unsuccessfully to make the liner profitable. Over time the ships fittings were sold at auction, and repairs were made that left her almost completely stripped by 1994. Two years later she was towed to Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia where she remains today. Since 2009, a group called SS United States Conservancy has been trying to raise funds to save the ship. The group ended up purchasing her in 2011 but has had a few of its plans fall through which included a "multipurpose waterfront complex". As the group ran out of money in 2015 it began looking at potentially scrapping the ship, but more donations came in which extended fundraising. This has happened more than once since as the group continues to look at redevelopment plans. The United States still retains the Blue Riband for crossing the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger liner in regular service with the highest average speed. The Big U. #oceanliner #ssus.

Dimensions:

Height: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Width: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)Depth: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Leather

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom

Period:

1950-1959

Date of Manufacture:

1951