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British shipping companies (T)

Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: shipping lines |
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See also:

Thames & Medway Towing Co.

[Thames & Medway Towing Co. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 9 September 2005

Thames & Medway Towing Co., London - white burgee, black "M"; the "M" is formed so, that two "T's" can be visualised.
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 9 September 2005


Edward C. Thin

[Edwd. C. Thin houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Edwd. C. Thin (#754, p. 72) as red with a white "T" framed in a white rectangle.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/37
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021


V.T. Thompson & Co.

[V.T. Thompson & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

Viginti Tertius Thompson, born 9 June 1862 of Robert Thompson and Sarah Barbar. He married Violet Allison at South Shields on 4 August 1888, and after a divorce, married Euphemia Barnes of Plymouth.
He was a shipowner, ship broker, coal exporter, and timber merchant, with the main office of V. T. Thompson & Co. in Sunderland, with branches in Newcastle, and London.
In 1921, he was doing business as V. T. Thompson and Arnell, Brokers for the Chartering, Sale, Purchase and Mortgage of Steamers, Steamship Valuers, etc., at 31 Great St. Helen's, London.
He was High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1924. Viginti died on 16 March 1946 at age 83.

George H. Graham
http://ghgraham.org/vigintithompson1862.html

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of V.T. Thompson & Co. (#1486, p. 107), a Sunderland-based shipping company, as white, in the center, a red square diamond charged with a white "T".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#72
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021


Thompson, Anderson & Co.

[Thompson, Anderson & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Thompson, Anderson & Co. (#1404, p. 103), a Liverpool-based company, as blue with a white cross with three vertical arms, below (most probably), 12 white stars.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#68
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021


Thompson Steam-shipping Co.

[Pacific Steam Navigation Co. houseflag] by James Dignan

Brown 620: Thompson Steam-shipping Co., Ltd., London
Funnel: Yellow with a red T; a black top.
Flag: White, a red, approximately square, diamond in the center, with a white T. The T is about one-third as high as the flag; the square is half the flag's height across.

The flag shown of white with a red diamond bearing a white "T" is, as James states, the flag of Thompson Steamshipping Co. Ltd. (title from Lloyds, some sources show "Steam Shipping"). Neither it nor the company have any connection with Pacific Steam Navigation Co. The flag shown was however also used by V.T. Thompson & Co. of Sunderland in the U.K. who operated at the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th centuries with no apparent connection and the two companies (Thompson Steamshipping dated back to 1892) had different funnels to differentiate them. The initial editions of Stewart shows the flag being flown superior to a red pennant with a white "name" being presumably that of the ship. Brown 1958 incorrectly ascribes the livery to E.G. Thomson Steam Shipping Co., presumably the E.G. Thomson (Shipping) Ltd. who were connected with William Thomson & Co.
Neale Rosanoski, 24 May 2004


Thomas & Appleton

[Thomas & Appleton houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Thomas & Appleton (#798 , p. 74) as quartered white and red, charged with a black "T" and a white "A" in the respective white quarters.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/39/
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021


W. Thomas Sons & Co., Ltd.

[W. Thomas Sons & Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of W. Thomas Sons & Co., Ltd. (#1878, p. 126), a London and Liverpool-based company, as swallow-tailed, red with the white lettering "W. T & Co. / L.".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#91
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021


Robert Thorman

[Robert Thorman houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Robert Thorman (#1075, p. 88), a Sunderland-based company, as square, yellow with a red eight-pointed star.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#53
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021


W.J. Tillett & Co.

[W.J. Tillett & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021

The W.J. Tillett Steamship Co., Ltd. was voluntarily wound up by its Members on 2 March 1921.
[The London Gazette, 5 April 1921]

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of W.J. Tillett & Co. (#901, p. 79), a Cardiff-based company, as red with a white border and a black "T" inscribed in a white disc.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/44/
Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021


Townsend Thoresen

[Townsend Thoresen houseflag] by Ivan Sache, 30 December 2001

Townsend Thoresen flag from about 1965 when the Danish Thoresen company merged with Townsends until about 1984 when the title TT European Ferries was adopted.

Ted Harrison, 11 December 2001


Townsend Thoresen European Ferries

[Townsend Thoresen European Ferries houseflag] by Ivan Sache, 30 December 2001

Townsend Thoresen European Ferries from 1983 when P&O acquired the company now P&O European Ferries. By 1988 the Townsend logo had disappeared and the P&O house flag was used.

Ted Harrison, 11 December 2001


Toyne, Carter & Co.

[Toyne, Carter & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

The Fowey shipbroking firm of Toyne Carter & Co was founded in 1896 when J.P Carter (1872-1957), of Coppack, Carter & Co, Connah's Quay, joined in partnership with C.L. Toyne (ca.1870-1921), who had become established in business in the port some time earlier. Before long the firm became one of the principal shipbrokers and agents in Fowey, a position which resulted from the partners' involvement with the china clay shippers in and around nearby St Austell. The export of china clay in the early days was handled through the liner ports, local merchants selling in small amounts which would then be held until there was sufficient to make up a coaster cargo. It would then be shipped in casks to Liverpool for outward shipment. Toyne Carter & Co ran an office in Liverpool for several years for this reason, but subsequently arrangements were made to charter ships to carry china clay directly from Fowey.
The first shipment in what became known as the 'Clay Line' left Fowey harbour for the United States in 1904. With the growth in the demand for china clay, more and larger ships were arriving to load for destinations all over the world; some, like those of the Holland Steamship Company and the Glynn Line, on a regular basis, and with these the company forged particularly strong links.

The company owned ships on several occasions, both steam and sail, most notably the three-masted schooner "A.B. Sherman". A war prize, she was acquired by the firm in 1918 in poor condition, restored at great expense and returned to service in 1921, when the post-war boom had passed its peak. With freight rates down and cargoes difficult to find, the "A.B. Sherman" traded under the company's flag for only a short period. The consequence of this episode, which came close to bankrupting the company, was its change into a limited liability company in 1921. It remained one until 1968, reverting back into a partnership then. In 1977 Toyne Carter & Co was acquired by English Clays Lovering Pochin & Co Ltd, St Austell.

https://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/492029.html
National Maritime Museum

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Toyne, Carter & Co. (#1364, p. 101), as white with a black clipper surrounded by the red letters "T", "C", "&", and "Co." in the respective corners.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#66
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021


Trader Navigation Co., Ltd.

[Tavistock Shipping Co., Ltd. houseflag] by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, the house flag of Trader Navigation Co. Ltd, London. A red rectangular flag with a white disc in the centre bearing a black letter 'T'. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn."

The company was formed in 1936 by the grain merchants and merchant bankers Bunge & Co. Their first tramp vessel was of the 'ARCFORM' type, designed by Sir Joseph Isherwood for economy of hull form during the depression. She was re-named 'English Trader'. All the company's later vessels had the same suffix. By 1970 it was far more economical to charter rather than to own vessels and the company sold off all its ships except 'Essex Trader'. The firm was taken over by the Bostrom Group of Sweden in 1971 and the company name was dropped in 1975."
Jarig Bakker, 1 September 2004


Transatlantic Carriers Ltd.

[Transatlantic Carriers Ltd. houseflag] by Phil Nelson, 11 April 2000

from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963

Stewart and Styring noted that the company was renamed to Canatlantic, Ltd. and the newer flag had no lettering, but did not have this depicted. Retained for historical accuracy, listed as out of London.


Trechmann Steamship Company

(Trechmann Bros.)

[Trechmann Steamship Company houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021

Peter Otto Eduard Trechmann (Otto) as well as owning a successful cement manufacturing company had shares in sailing vessels from 1859. He purchased his first two steamships, the "Emma Trechmann" and the "Wilster", in 1871. Two of his sons, Otto and Albert, became involved in the shipping business and in 1895 the company became Trechmann Bros. In 1897 the company name changed to Trechmann S.S. Co. Ltd., with the Trechmann brothers as managers.
At the beginning of the First World War the company had four steamers. They lost the "Hartdale" in 1915, the "Hudworth" in 1916 and the "Numina" in January 1918. The "Kingfield" was sold and the company ceased trading in May 1918.

Peter Otto Eduard Trechmann (known as Otto) was born at Wilster, Holstein, Germany in 1819. He arrived in England between 1841 and 1850 and became British National. Otto never forgot his roots as three of the Trechmann steamers were named "Wilster". By 1851 Otto was listed in the census as a merchant and ship broker. In the 1861 census he was listed as a coal exporter, steam ship owner, cement manufacturer employer of 90 men and in 1871 his profession was listed as a coal exporter, steam ship owner, cement manufacturer employer of 100 men and German Consul for Hartlepool. Otto died aged 72 at Norton on 17 May 1892.
Otto Kramer Trechmann was born at Stockton-on-Tees in July 1854. Otto was appointed German Consul for Hartlepool in 1894 and his brother, Albert, appointed German Vice-Consul. Otto died aged 63 at Hartlepool on 14 January 1917.
Albert Frederick Trechmann was born at on 17th September 1857. Albert was the director of five companies, a Justice of the Peace and he was a member of four provincial Philatelic Societies. Albert died aged 80 at Stockton-on-Tees on 11 December 1937.

https://www.hhtandn.org/venues/5064/trechmann-ss-co-ltd
Hartlepool History Then and Now

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Trechmann Steamship Company (Trechmann Bros.)(#353, p. 53) as horizontally divided black-white-red, charged in the center with the black letters "O.T.".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#18
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021


Trinidad Shipping & Trading Co., Ltd.

[Trinidad Shipping & Trading Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Trinidad Shipping & Trading Co. , Ltd. (#1624, p. 114), a Glasgow-based shipping company, as horizontally divided blue-white-blue.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#79
Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021


Tropical Fruit S.S. Co., Ltd.

[Tropical Fruit S.S. Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

The year 1904 was marked by a decided increase in the fleet owned or controlled by the United Fruit Co. The Tropical Fruit Steamship Co., Ltd., was organized for the purpose of providing better freight and passenger facilities, more especially between the United States and the American tropics. This company made a modest start with three banana steamers, the "San Jose", "Limon", and "Esparta". This was the modest beginning of the Great White Fleet [...]
Extracts form the company's Annual Report indicate the increase of the Great White Fleet: three more steamers were delivered in summer 1908, another three in 1910, another three in 1912; that year, the company owned 18 steamers and purchased another four, which increased the fleet to 25 units, in addition to the 16 owned by Elders & Flyffes, Ltd., and numerous chartered vessels. In 1926, the 86 steamships owned by the company made 1,273 round trip voyages, steaming 5,200,022 miles, and carried, in addition to bananas, 66,848 passengers, 993,683 tons of freight, and 196,480 bags of mail. The company owned 92 ships in 1934

F. U. Adams, "Conquest of the Tropics", United Fruit Historical Society
http://www.unitedfruit.org/gwf-notes.html

The Great White Fleet is presented in the FOTW website under "Chiquita Great White Fleet".
http://crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us~hfgr.html#greatwhite

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows a similar house flag for Tropical Fruit Steamship Co., Ltd. (#1532, p. 109), a Glasgow-based shipping company. Here the white lozenge is separated from the indentation of the flag by a red part.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#74
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021


Trustees of the Clyde Navigation

[Trustees of the Clyde Navigation houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 21 April 2021

Glasgow Town Council became trustees of the River Clyde in 1770, with responsibility for managing the river, dredging, and harbour development. The River Improvement Trust was set up in 1809, with ferries being added to its responsibilities in 1840. It was replaced by the Clyde Navigation Trust in 1858.
The Clyde Navigation Trust was reconstituted in 1905, to raise the number of trustees to forty-two. Nine extra representatives of the shipowners and harbour ratepayers were added, bringing their total to eighteen. Ten were appointed by Glasgow Corporation; two each by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants' House, Trades House and Lanark County Council; one each by the burghs of Dumbarton, Clydebank, Renfrew, Govan and Partick, and one by Dunbarton County Council.

https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA05209
The Glasgow Story

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of the Trustees of the Clyde Navigation (#21, p. 37) as swallow-tailed, white with the white letters "C N" (first line) and "N° 17" (second line). Each vessel carried on its own number on its house flag.

https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#2
Ivan Sache, 21 April 2021


British Shipping lines: continued