TEV Maori USSco

Price: NZ$310.33

Code: UNQ 00256

This is a lovely model of a well loved vessel one of several bottles we have of this makers.

The Turbo Elecrtic Vessel MAORI III 1952 – 1974 At 8,303 Gross Registered Tons, the third Maori was designed by William Waters, (1922 – 99), the Union Steam Ship Co’s last in-house naval architect, and commissioned to replace the much admired Rangatira of 1931. She made approximately 6,000 crossings of the Cook Strait and steamed 1,082,134 nautical miles in the transport of 1,239,772 passengers.

These amazing bottles dating from the late 1940’s onward were made in Wellington by a maker who’s name is as yet unknown, but were sold from the tobacconists in the Wellington Railway station for many years.
They are all distinguishable in four ways, one; the red Turks head whipping on the neck of the bottle, two; the stand style and colours, three; the wood the stands are made from being usually apple box material common on the wharves of the day and four; the bottle itself being a Teachers Whiskey United Glass Bottle Manufacturers Ltd from 1922 onwards .
They are usually Union Steamship ships which may be another clue as to there maker. An I have even bought one as far away as the The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles Innse Gall (“islands of the strangers”) in Scotland, so they also have travelled far from our shores in there bottles.
The labelling is sometimes missing or faded but the ships modelled are often distinguishable by there details and the fact they have all been in Wellington Harbour at some stage of there life, and were obviously observed and modelled by the craftsman.(New information on the maker has just been supplied by his family see below)

Bottle is in original condition and base has an aged patina.

Maker John Francis Langdon, usually known as “Jack”, 1904-1961

The photo included with details of the bottle is of the maker and was taken in the 1950’s. It is on Queens Wharf in Wellington and The building on the back left is now the Wellington Sea and City Museum, which actually has three of his models on display.

In the Late 20’s and early 30’s he worked as a seaman and he sailed on the Monowai around the pacific. He then worked for Wellington Harbour Board at the signal station, monitoring the shipping traffic in Wellington harbour, which is when the family believe he did most of his model making.
Its very obvious to me now why his models are so appealing from a maritime perspective, as he himself was a man of the sea. I would like to thank the family for providing and allowing me to publish this background of Jack on my site, as I Have been searching for the bottles maker for many years now, its great to be able to provide more information on these wonderful parts of our marine heritage.