Manufacturer: Syracuse China
User: Meteor III Launch Plate
Date of plate: Feb. 25, 1902
Notes: Wilhelm II governed the German Empire from 1888 to 1918, making him the last German Emperor. He was also the King of Prussia and belonged to the House of Hohenzollern. His grandmother was Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman who owned several sailing yachts and enjoyed races in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Sometime in 1901, he commissioned American designers Cary, Smith & Barbey and the American shipyard Townsend & Downey Shipbuilding Co. to design and build his newest racing yacht on Shooter Island, Staten Island. The yacht was to be completed in time for the 1902 racing season with special specifications made by the emperor in the building of the vessel.
From an article in the New-York Tribune dated Jan. 4, 1902: "The yacht for the German emperor by Townsend & Downey Shipbuilding Company from designs by Cary, Smith & Barbey, is almost plated, and it is hoped that she will be launched the early part of February. She will be the largest schooner yacht afloat, the architects say, her dimensions being 161 feet over all with a beam of 27 feet. With awnings set and curtains at the side, there will be ample room on deck to give a ball.
"To carry out the Emperor's commands her finish throughout will be plain, yet substantial. All her deck work, such as the deckhouse, skylights and rail, will be of selected teakwood, and all capstans, winches, etc. of bronze. Aft is a deckhouse of steel cased with teak. This deckhouse serves as the main companion leading below, and in addition will be used in dirty weather and will allow a view of what is taking place on deck. The stairs from the deckhouse lead to a vestibule, where are found a chart case, shelves for chronometer and nautical instruments, and a locker for hanging oilskins. Aft, opening from the vestibule, is the ladies' cabin, fitted with two berths, sofas, a writing desk and a large marble washstand and mirror. There is a bathroom on the starboard side, opening directly from the ladies' cabin.
"Opening from the passage leading from the vestibule to the saloon are three staterooms and a bathroom for gentlemen in waiting. Each room has a bureau, marble washstand and sofa. The owner's room is on the starboard side, just aft of the saloon. It is a large one, being about thirteen feet long. It contains a brass bedstead, several wardrobes, dressing table and writing desk. The room has a large has a large skylight; in fact, it is a feature of the yacht that every room is ventilated not only by deadlights through the side in the usual manner, but also by means of skylights. For supplementary ventilation there are fitted mushroom ventilators along the side, made of a special pattern, according to sketches furnished by the Emporer. Just aft of the owner's stateroom is a bathroom, beyond which is a valet's room.
"The staterooms are few in number, but of large size. The main saloon extends the whole width of the boat and is eighteen feet long. There is a transom on each side, a piano at the after end, while there is an open fireplace at the forward end. The large extension table in the center will seat twenty-four people.
"Throughout the owner's quarters the woodwork will be mahogany enamel painted ivory color touched up with gold, with only a small amount of the trim showing the natural wood, thus carrying out the Emperor's idea of simplicity. Forward of the saloon are a large owner's galley, and an entirely separate galley for the officers and crew. There are four good rooms for the officers. Forward of the crew's galley, and separated from it by a steel bulkhead, is a very roomy forecastle, fitted with berths for twenty men. The forepeak has ample room for boatswain's stores, and two tanks containing oil, to be used in heavy weather.
"The Emperor is taking an extreme interest in his yacht and has given detailed orders as to how she is to be fitted below. All questions relating to the design, rig and outfit have, however, been left entirely to Messere. Cary, Smith & Barbey."
The launch of the Meteor III became quite a big deal in February 1902. Held on Shooter Island, there were two- to three thousand invited guests, including Prince Henry of Prussia and Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, who christened the yacht.
Despite the hype, the Meteor III's racing record was not impressive, and in 1909, she was sold to a Dr. Carl Dietrich Harries, who rechristened her the Nord Stern (North Star). Over the years, the Meteor III had 11 more owners and according to an article in the Jun. 22, 1946, New Yorker by Lillian Ross: "Today, the Meteor III, whose name was changed to Aldebaran, lies in the yard of a shipbreaker by the name of John Witte, only a few miles from where she was built."
White body plate with a slightly scalloped rim that has raised scrollwork on the outer edge of the rim. In the well of the plate is a drawing of the Meteor at full sail on the water. Also in the well is the date of the launch: Feby 25th 1902. On the left center rim is a drawing of an American eagle and on the right center rim is a drawing of a German eagle. The rest of the rim is covered in words relating to the launch of the Meteor.
Sources:
New-York Tribune – Jan. 4, 1902 – information about the yacht
New Yorker – Jun. 26, 1946 – article about the end of the yacht
Yachtemoceans.com – photo of the launch
Contributors:
Attorney Anthony Draper: plate photos
Ed Phillips: author