Post
by aukepalmhof » Mon May 31, 2010 9:37 pm
Her real name was PRINZESSIN CHARLOTTE VON PREUSEN.
14 September 1816 launched under that name as a river passenger paddle-wheeler.
Designed and built by the Englishman John Humphreys and his son John Barnett Humphreys, built at Pichelsdorf near Berlin.
Dim. 136 x 19 x 6ft. (draught). Tonnage given in Log Book 236 tons.
Steam engine manufactured by Boulton, Watt & Co., Soho 14 hp., speed 7.5 km/h
Accommodation for 300 passengers.
One cabin in the forward part of the vessel the other on the after end, between the paddle boxes.
Before the paddle-wheels a large funnel (30 ft.) which could also used as a mast for a sail.
There was a main steering on the afterdeck, but to pass safely through the narrows she carried three hand rudders on her stern. The hull was built with two keels, but she was not double hulled.
02 October 1816 trials and her maiden voyage on 27 October 1816 was from Spandau to the summer retreat of the King at Pfauen Island.
01 November 1816 used as a tug, the first time a steam vessel towing on inland waters in Germany, towed two loaded wooden barges, one empty Oderkahn ( a vessel used on the River Oder) and 5 small vessels together downstream to Spandau.
1817 In regular service until 1818 but sometimes also used for daytrips to Potsdam. Carried also the Royal Mail from Bellevue to Potsdam.
Her fate is obscure. It was impossible to keep her floating during the winter due to ice, and she was then put ashore in 1822.
1824 On orders of the King sold (it looks the King was also shareholder in the vessel) the hull without engine, boiler and paddlewheels were auctioned and sold for 72 Thaler on 12 March 1825.
(The stamp design depict her without paddlewheels, so far I can see)
Source: Mostly translated from Enzyklopädie der Maritimen Philatelie (Navicula)
