Category:RMS Queen Mary

1935 catalogue entry for the Dinky model [image info]

Cunard's thousand-foot-long RMS Queen Mary ocean liner was announced in 1930 as the line's largest ship, with work on "Hull 534" starting in 1931.

Dating these models is made more confusing because the Queen Mary's construction was paused or slowed due to the world recession, and as a result, she didn't go into service until 1936, which makes some collectors a little confused as to how the Dinky model (for example) could have been already being advertised for sale in 1935.

However, advance publicity around the ship made it a favourite for modelmakers and toymakers, with manufacturers such as Meccano Ltd. getting their models ready and advertised well in advance of the ship going into service. The shape and specifications of the Queen Mary were not a secret, and in this case, model designers had even more time to get ready for the ship's launch than usual.

Naming rumours

An unconfirmed but persistent rumour has it that Cunard originally wanted to name the liner "Queen Victoria", but having approached the King to ask if they could name their ship after "Britain's greatest queen", the King quickly wrong-footed the Cunard representative by replying that yes, he was sure that his wife would be happy to have the liner named in her honour...