American Nautical Objects

Hefty enameled solid aluminum framed passenger safety and information sign from Passenger Stateroom 139 on the Main deck of the SS United States. Fo...

These aluminum handrails which once graced the center of the grand staircase of the S S United States exemplifies the sophisticated sleek aesthetic of Mid-Century American design. When launched in July 1952 the S S United States was the culmination of years planning and design. On the heels of WW II, the U S Government saw the need to have modern ships that could be easily converted to troop transport ships in wartime constructed with safety and speed as the top priorities. They worked in partnership with the United States Line and underwrote a great deal of the liner's finished cost of 72 million as well as the future operating and maintenance cost of this proud symbol of her country and her age. The designer of the ship William Francis Gibbs had to incorporate the requirements of the government into his designs for the great liner. From her knife-edge bow across the superstructure and a pair of massive blue white and red raked funnels to the perfect arc of her stern, she sat proudly in the water and conveyed a sense of movement and speed even when still. His design incorporated a "secret" hull, numerous bulkheads which limited the grand open spaces of most liners of the time, no flammable material used in construction and fitting out other than the Steinway grand piano...