posted on October 10, 2006 03:27:00 PM
I have to say I know NOTHING about ships much less Viking Ships (we have a pontoon boat but I don't that qualifies as a ship). I listed a real photo postcard yesterday of an unidentified Viking ship at an unidentified location. The only clue was the name "raoul Amundsen" on the back (he was the first to the South Pole). I decided he must be one of the guys pictured on board the ship and listed it as such. I get an almost immediate bid. Then I get an email from another ebayer who says that the ship is called the "Raoul Amundsen". I googled and found that there was a Raoul Amundson ship arriving in St Paul MN in September 1930. I decided to cancel the bid, correct the listing and relist. High bidder emailed me back and said it was not the Roaul Amundsen but the Viking ship that was shown at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893(he was mad I cancelled his bid). Try as I might I could only find one Google reference to the Raoul Amundsen.
Here is a view of the ships:
Do you who know about ships think that the postcard (on left) is the same as the one on the right (the Chicago VIKING), or positively NOT that one? I told the guy that the keel on my boat looked deeper and the Chicago boat has 13 of those round thingies on the side and my boat has a least 16.
The Raoul Amundsen boat had a rather illustruous career after its visit to the US - bringing refugees during WWII from Norway to Iceland and was sunk by the Germans and the captain was tortured. Here is the URL: http://fortress.uccb.ns.ca/historic/english_vikings.html
I was kind of surprised I with such a colorful history I couldn't find more about it. Could the website be wrong?
TIA for any help you can give me.
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posted on October 10, 2006 06:37:18 PM
I think? the round thingys on the side of the ship are the shields the soldiers/warriors use? So there could be more or less?
the pics aren't big enough here to distinguish identifying markings.
posted on October 11, 2006 03:14:40 AM
My father built a lot of ships in his day and in my opinion I believe it's the same ship. I think the reason the keel appears different in the photo on the right is the angle of the camera. The true identifying piece is the masthead on the front of the boat and it appears to me that all 3 photos match in that respect. Plus the bidder was angry that you cancelled the bid so he sees something we don't see. I would think you have a very valuable postcard and it should bring a premium price.
posted on October 12, 2006 09:49:35 AM
I think Capolady has given you some good advice. Is there any way to sharpen the left picture to see the clothing the men were wearing? Maybe that could be a further clue as to the age.
World's Fair items are of real interest to collectors in my experience (I'm sure you know that already).
posted on October 12, 2006 09:57:26 AM
Thanks for the help. I think I was not clear when I first posted:
There are two different ships pictured. The one on the far right is from the Chicago 1893 Fair and I think is still in Chicago. The one in the center is the Raoul Amundsen pictured at Louisborg in 1932 (this is the best I could do and the only pic I could find). The Raoul Amundsen came to Minneapolis in 1930 and then returned to Norway and was even used to bring refugees from Norway to Iceland during WWII until the Germans destroyed it and tortured the captain. The question is: is the boat on the left (my boat) the Raol Amundsen (that was the name written on the back) or the Chicago ship (as my ex-bidder claims)?
LOL Stone - I never thought of that "Viking" angle!
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posted on October 12, 2006 10:41:29 AM
Neglus, I thought I had posted this the other day but it never showed up.
Here is an excellent picture of the Chicago boat and the story that goes with. I seriously doubt that your boat is the Chicago Boat. The Mast head is very different.
posted on October 12, 2006 03:56:12 PM
This is not the same ship. I do not know anything about ships or boats. They are definitely different vessels. Check the figure head . There are 2 different figures involved. Then check how low the one on the right is riding in the water. It is a smaller ship then the one on the left which rides much higher in the water. Also the planks that the ships are made from,they are different widths. the vessel on the right is a smaller board. There are several other differences as well.
