Officer's Bunk - Any advice on this piece?

Cool thing! Have to think the provenance correct or an outright ruse. Think the brass tag is not really original to the piece. Can't imagine that a bunk would be marked property of.... since built in to the ship. I am not seeing the kind of wear one would expect. What other advice are you seeking.

 

Welcome to the forum, Joseph.
I like your bunk.

 

Appreciate your assessment. Thoughts on the value of this piece?

 

Value is really dependent on your market. Here in my semi-Podunkville Midwestern US location, I would be hard pressed to see this sell for more than $500.00 at retail. That may even be pushing it. It would be significantly less at auction or other wholesale type venues. Could see this going for significantly more in or near a big city.

 

I don't know about a captain's bunk, but it could easily be a real ship's fitting. As for price, that varies by location and of course greatly depends on who knows about the shipping line. Here in central Connecticut, maybe a few hundred dollars if you had the right buyer. I don't see it hitting Brad's number, although it might in the New York area or in one of the $$$$ coastal cities.

 

JMHO
sounds a made-up story.
Ben Macdui SS was a coal cargo ship constructed in Aberdeen and sank off the coast of Norway.

 

Well that may be...but ...
" The last time she docked at her home port , the tears of joy from the crews wives & girlfriends ran awash over the dock like the soft summer rain.
The Captains family was there to greet him one last time and as he stepped off the ship..............she sank !!!!

 

I think that's been got at. It's a nice ships bunk, yes, but that plate looks much much later.

I also think that provenance note is mistooken. This is the Ben Macdui. http://www.aberdeenships.com/single.asp?index=100865 . Sunk in 1908. That plate is NOT a nineteenth century one!

The Benmachdui was built in Dundee, not Aberdeen.
Built as the DEN OF AIRLIE for SS Den of Airlie Co Ltd (Barrie), Dundee; Yard No 620; Launch Date 27/061911; Gross tons as built 5364; In 1912 renamed ARCHIMEDES; In 1932 renamed BENMACDHUI; Vessel had survived a bombing attack by German aircraft off Yarmouth on 10th February 1941; Crew of 54 & 6 gunners.

The Benmacdhui (II) was on passage from London & Immingham to Hong Kong with a general cargo & explosives, the vessel foundered and was lost after detonating a German laid mine 15 E.N.E of Spurn Head with the loss of 2 of her crew.

 

Post war rebuilding program by Ben Lines.

http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=4953

 

Ah, well found. A Clyde steamer then, if that's the one. She'd never have had anything as fancy as that bunk. We didn't have the resources or materials, for one thing.

 

I would see if Vegaskip responds to a querry in this forum, in 2014 he said he sailed this ship in the 1950's.
http://forums.clydemaritime.co.uk/s...NMACDHUI&sid=bedd4c6d353cea6e025ee2a8a4aac0cd

 

https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?236711