Not Just "Paquebot" - Or "How Many Threads Can You Pull From A Cover."

Just a simple "PAQUEBOT" cover from the era. Probable one of millions of this popular collecting field.



A Norwegian Motorship M.S. Hindanger for the Inter-Ocean Line

(Not your image of a grand ocean liner of the day)


Built in 1929 by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Newcastle on Tyne
Take a look at all the warships they built between 1880-1925.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Whitworth

Inter-Ocean Line
http://www.timetableimages.com/mari...s/intoce.htm



I was not able to find exactly when the trip started, or when it arrived in Le Havre, but it appear the mail was off-loaded, and received the following back stamp.
The day before Normandie's maiden voyage on 29 May 1935



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Normandie

(Now that's an Ocean Liner!)


Left Le Havre 29 May 1935. She reached New York City after four days, three hours and two minutes, taking away the Blue Riband from the Italian liner Rex.

I like to think this cover was in a mail bag in a bottom hold somewhere, making it way back to the US. Unless it went by Air Mail (don't think so), this would be the fastest way back. (Would that put it in N.Y. on June 2ed or 3rd?.

Somehow it made it's way to the grand town of Ludlow, Calif. (pop. 10 as of 2010 census) arriving on June 7,1935.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow,_California

More that you would ever want to know about ludlow (but interesting)
https://www.thedesertway.com/ludlow-ca/

It would seem Ludlow was a ghost town long before it officially DPO'ed That's Discontinued (not dead) Post Office.

A United States Post Office was founded in 1902. Originally called Stagg, in the honor of an engineer on the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad, this office was officially changed to Ludlow in 1926. The post office was discontinued in 1974.Now the closest post office in Amboy 28 miles away.

This is whats left of the post office.


This whole thing was started by D.C. Bartlet of Green Lake Station, Seattle WA. (Who would seem was a pretty big deal in the Universal Ship Cancellation Society.

https://www.uscs.org/society-archiv...e-c-bartley/

The cover was addressed to Mrs. J.L. Sherraden, who I'm thinking was misspelled when the cover was originated.:
"I lived in Ludlow in the forties as a kid, and knew everyone in town. Went to school in the still standing school house that was later converted to a residence. Jack Sheridan was the bus driver who took the older kids in to Barstow to every school house. His wife, Vernie, was the postmistress."
~Mike L. McNeill

Two more fun facts:

World War II: 11 Sep 1942 the M.S.Hindanger in station #11 of convoy ON-127: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean by U-584(Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one of her 40 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMCS Amherst(Royal Canadian Navy),which scuttled the ship.

S.S Normandie had been seized at the start of the war.In new York harbor while being converted to a troop ship on 9 February 1942, it caught fire, rolled on its side partially submerged.


Guess that's all for now, let me know if I missed something, I'm sure there are more strings to pull.
pat

"I'm not an expert, but I play one on TV"

Armstrong had its finger in a lot of engineering pies. During WWII, my mother and several of her schoolfriends worked at its armaments factory. Lord Armstrong acquired Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, which, with its beach, is my favourite place in Great Britain.

My familiarity is with the "Whitworth" side of things..
Engine rebuild on a 1954 Morris Minor
Nuts and bolts were always "Whitworth"

Joseph Whitworth had made their name through the development of the 'British Standard Whitworth Thread', which soon became the accepted standard for design for bolts, nuts and screws throughout the UK engineering industry.

Didn't they film the movie "Baghdad Cafe" somewhere near those parts?

Ludlow, California doesn't quite live up to its Shropshire namesake then!

Wonder if they'd be interested in the "Sister Cities" program?

Twinning arrangements always seem unfair. If you're in a grim English, post-industrial town, you should have your spirits lifted by association with somewhere pretty in France!

"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way"
Pink Floyd.

I must say, I grew up in council housing, it was great fun,
fond memories (as a kid mind you)
Getting up to harmless mischief with gangs of kids.
We made our own fun.