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Souvenir cigarette case from SS ORCADES
Souvenir cigarette case from SS ORCADES

Souvenir cigarette case from SS ORCADES

Maker (1878 - 1966)
Datec 1950
Object number00026690
NameCase
MediumPlastic, metal
DimensionsOverall: 13 x 92 x 77 mm, 64.41 g
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Glenn Rankin
DescriptionA plastic souvenir cigarette case from SS ORCADES featuring a colour illustration of the Orient Line ship with its distinctive corn-coloured hull. The case belonged to Bill Rankin who worked as assistant steward and tourist class waiter on the passenger vessel.HistoryRMS ORCADES was built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, England for the Orient Line's UK - Australia passenger service. Launched in 1947, ORCADES left on its maiden voyage to Sydney on 14 December 1948 - taking eight days off the normal travel time between England and Australia, and reducing the voyage to four weeks. In 1964 ORCADES was fitted as a single class ship for 1,635 passengers, and began to operate Pacific cruises, based in Sydney. The popular ORCADES remained in service until the 1970s, until it was eventually scrapped in Taiwan. The ORCADES also played a role in carrying thousands of post-war migrants to Australia from Europe. SignificanceThis cigarette case from SS ORCADES is a memento from the career of merchant mariner Bill Rankin. Bill worked as assistant steward and tourist class waiter on the ORCADES and the ORONTES which carried thousands of post-war migrants to Australia.