Page 1 of 2

interesting life boat ration

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:03 pm
by amram
Just acquired this life boat ration, just wanted to see if anyone had any info on these?

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:51 pm
by ViperGTS
Wow!!
Not sure if the same company "Carlisle" but ww2 first aid kit vid:

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:20 pm
by Richard w.
No, Carr & Co. Ltd. Is a factory in Carlisle, England. Still around, making biscuits, under the trade name Carr's.

The Carlisle bandage was named for Carlisle Barracks in PA, where the Army Medical Corps developed it.

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:08 pm
by ViperGTS
Awesome Richard! I bought some Carrs crackers yesterday. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know if this is ww2, or earlier?

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:01 am
by amram
ViperGTS wrote:
Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:08 pm
Awesome Richard! I bought some Carrs crackers yesterday. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know if this is ww2, or earlier?
I've seen one other of these for sale, but it was opened and empty. It was apparently from the Queen Mary and from the WW2 era.

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:10 am
by ViperGTS
amram wrote:
Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:01 am
ViperGTS wrote:
Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:08 pm
Awesome Richard! I bought some Carrs crackers yesterday. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know if this is ww2, or earlier?
I've seen one other of these for sale, but it was opened and empty. It was apparently from the Queen Mary and from the WW2 era.
If its from the Queen Mary, you have found a real treasure... but its still awesome regardless.

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:36 am
by amram
I don't this one came off the Queen Mary, the one that allegedly did had a stamp in one corner denoting it, which is absent from this one. Still neat i suppose, now whether or not to open it...

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:53 am
by Richard w.
The Wiki page for Carr'ssays that it was registered as Carr & co. Ltd. in 1884 but reverted to private ownership in 1908.

I don't know if changing from a limited company to a private one would have meant a change of the name put on the tins or not, but maybe your ration is pre 1908?

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 11:45 am
by amram
Richard w. wrote:
Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:53 am
The Wiki page for Carr'ssays that it was registered as Carr & co. Ltd. in 1884 but reverted to private ownership in 1908.

I don't know if changing from a limited company to a private one would have meant a change of the name put on the tins or not, but maybe your ration is pre 1908?

Very interesting, thanks for the info! Hopefully I can do some digging and find some answers. This one allegedly came from a maritime museum, I have copied and pasted the info that was on the listing below. Although, I have no way of knowing how accurate some of it is. I am going to send the museum an email if it still exists.

VERY RARE Not Been Opened (You will not find another Museum Item in Australia .)unused.
ANTIQUE BRITISH LIFEBOAT BISCUITS RATIONS TIN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
From South Georgia Museum
Name/Title Lifeboat ration biscuits
About this object the tin containing lifeboat and raft ration biscuits. Tin UNOPENED.
Collected from a beached lifeboat at Jumbo Cove, Busen Peninsula.
Maker Carr & Co. Ltd., Carlisle / Ministry of Transport
Maker Role MANUFACTURER
Place Made Carlisle, Scotland
Medium and Materials Biscuits, metal, canvas
Inscription and Marks Position 1: On top; Method: Printed; Content: ‘LIFEBOAT AND / RAFT RATION / BISCUITS / TO / MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT / REQUIREMENTS / 48 BISCUITS 1 LB. / APPROXIMATE WEIGHT / PACKED’
Condition with some general wear, see photos.

Measurements H. 106mm; W. 200mm; Depth. 60mm
LEITH HARBOUR
Collection
SALVAGE
Object Type Maritime
Object number SGHT.1995.4.163.2
Copyright Licence
This object is showing in the South Georgia Museum .

Re: interesting life boat ration

Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2019 6:37 am
by Richard w.
I'm looking at your photos on my big monitor, and I can see the pack date now. It's partially obscured, but is it "9/56"?