French Line - S.S. Normandie 1935-1941 - U.S.S. Lafeyette 1941-1945
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A special thank to the three ssmaritime supporters for sending their most welcome photos & images
Part Three
Contains:
Memorabilia, Menus and Deck Plans, etc!
Please Note: If you have arrived here via a search engine, having searched for the “Normandie” then you may wish to first read Part One of this three page Feature. Click HERE or take a quick look at this Page Three and then use the link at the bottom of the page to Page One.
A Brief Introduction to a Great, but sadly she was not a Successful Ship:
The Coat of Arms of “Paquebot NORMANDIE”
The S.S. Normandie was a
remarkable French Ocean Liner built for the French
Company, “Compagnie Générale Transatlantique” (CGT), but
it is better known worldwide as the “French Line”. She entered
service in 1935 as the world’s largest and fastest passenger
liner, and she crossed the
A postcard of the S.S. Normandie whilst she was at anchor during her first year in service
Guests who sailed on her maiden voyage were presented with a commemorative “commemorative Maiden Voyage Medal” as seen below.
In addition many sent a letter using the special “First Day Cover envelope” provided by the ship featuring the newly created ‘Normandie stamp’.
Here we see
better view of the stamp, which was unused
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Food and Drink items from the “Normandie”:
The company’s full French name was of course “Compagnie Générale Transatlantique” and it is generally abbreviated as “CGT”, although the Line was generally promoted as the “French Line”, but throughout the ship “CGT” was to be seen everywhere!
I will commence with a group of items that originate from the First Class Dining Room, although I am not sure in the “Sauce (Gravy) Boat” was from First, Second, or even Third Class.
1935 silver-plated ice bucket from the “Normandie”
(By
“Christofle”, Paris)
Silver Plated Tea Pot from the “Normandie”
(By “Christofle”,
Paris)
Silver Plated Sugar Thongs
(By “Christofle”, Paris)
-
A First Class Diner and a half a dozen Oyster Plate
By
Jean Luce but made by “Haviland Limoges”, France
Cup and saucer
By Jean Luce but made by “Haviland Limoges”, France
This is a
Rene Lalique
A passenger
most likely helped themselves to this glass as a souvenir
A Diner Plate from the First and Tourist Class Café Grill
Also by Jean Luce but made by “Haviland Limoges”, France
Here is a Sauce (Gravy) Boat with the CGT logo as ll items have
On
the bottom is a stamp “Alfendide” means
it is made from an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc
Model of the S.S. Normandie:
Beautiful models of the "Normandie" are freely available, just check online
or for the one shown ENTER HERE
Please Note: I am not connected with the firm who makes these models, and I have not told them I have placed them on my site
If
you decide to buy a model from, them or anyone, ssmaritime need not be
mentioned as I have always been 100% non-commercial
*********************
Other Items of Memorabilia:
A souvenir
plate with the S.S. Normandie painted on it
A Normandie
ashtray from the First Class Smoking Room
A Souvenir
ashtray purchased on board the Normandie
A Souvenir
Badge obtained in Tourist Class
-
Two sides of
a special memorial medal, for those who sailed on the Normandie
*********************
Posters:
During the “Normandie’s” short life, many beautiful posters were released and I am delighted to show four of these below. I am sure all ship lovers will enjoy them!
-
Left: This poster was released long before her maiden voyage
Right: An excellent poster promoting her Trans-Atlantic voyages
-
Here are two
beautiful posters, the ship at night and a daytime voyage to
An original
“French Line” advertising Poster
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A beautiful painting:
Above is an excellent painting of the S.S. Normandie by a superb maritime artist James Flood. You may have noted, that the S.S. Île de France is seen passing aft off Normandie’s bow, whilst near her stern are two French battleships, the F.N.S. Provence and the F.N.S. Bretagne. (PS; the painting is sadly only a print of course, would love to have the real thing).
*********************
Menus:
At this time I have a Gala Diner Menu and several Lunch Menus, all being from the First Class, and you will note that the lunch menus provided idea of the mammoth range of food that was on offer at each meal!
Cover for a
Gala Diner dated July 21, 1935
And a fine
menu indeed!
The Menu above includes the following items;
Sterlet Fresh Caviar
The Turtle in Sherry.
The Delights of Sole of Marie Louise.
Fondu Artichoke.
Rack of Lamb with Parsley and Fondant Apples.
Lettuce Salad with Tomatoes.
Caprice Glazed Biscuit.
Sweets from the
A Fruit Basket.
Lunch Menu
cover - June 23, 1935
Lunch offered an amazing range of items to eat
can you imagine what diner would have
been like?
Another Lunch
Menu Cover dated November 20, 1936
That is the
most spectacular Lunch anyone could imagine!
Above & below: Four Menu covers from a series of Diners
These menus were found in a very poor condition and badly damaged,
I cleaned
them up as much as possible, and they are still precious!
*********************
An early photograph
of the “Normandie” as she departs
Deck Plans:
This may be unusual. But I have a range of deck plans below, all of which are of her as built in 1935, however on Pages One and Two, I do have updates of plans, with inserts wherever there were changes made during her 1936 refit. For at that time a large new Tourist Class Lounge and Café Terrace was constructed aft on Boat Deck as well as other changes having been made as described on the relevant pages.
Click HERE for a larger view online
Please Note: When opening a plan for a larger view it will open small, but just click on it and it will enlarge to its correct size. To return to this page, just click the back arrow on the top left.
*********************
Next is a partial Deck Plan, showing a much larger Sun, Boat and Promenade Decks, with a link to an extra large plan online.
Click HERE for a larger view
Please Note: When opening a plan for a larger view it will open small, but just click on it and it will enlarge to its correct size. To return to this page, just click the back arrow on the top left.
*********************
Next is a full Deck Plan revealing “Normandie’s” nine decks containing all her passenger accommodations.
Click HERE
for a larger view
Please Note:
When opening a plan for a larger view it will open small, but just click on it and
it will enlarge to its correct size. To return to this page, just click the
back arrow on the top left.
This a very
rare postcard of the S.S. Normandie arriving in
*********************
The magnificent
S.S. Normandie is assisted to the “French Line Pier” by a Moran tug
in
In Conclusion:
I trust this page filled with Memorabilia, Menus and Deck Plans, etc, will have been full of interest to all who admire this beautiful looking liner, even though there were a good number who really did not like her “over the top” first class interiors, it was just too much for many, but her Second (Tourist) Class and her Third Class were so good that it made this ship so very special, if only the French Line had publicized and promoted these high quality classes to the public so much more, I am sure that she would have been far more successful and would have departed Le Havre and New York booked out on every voyage!
*********************
Remembering the Great …
S.S. Normandie
A delightful piece
of art of the S.S. Normandie seen arriving at
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S.S.
Normandie INDEX:
Page One -
Construction, Maiden Voyage & First Class Interiors.
Page Two – Second (Tourist) & Third Class Interiors, Her Career, WW2 and her sad demise.
Page Three –
Memorabilia, Menus and Deck Plans, etc - This Page.
Other French
Line Ships:
S.S. Ile de France - 1927 to
1959.
S.S.
Paris - 1921 to 1939.
“On
Board the Normandie”
To view a 6
minute YouTube “British Pathe”
video of her maiden voyage departure use the link below
S.S. Normandie departs on
her Maiden Voyage
“Blue Water Liners sailing to the distant shores.
I watched them come, I watched
them go and I watched them die.”
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