British Pathe Video: Q4 Progress April 1967 model revealed

[Rob Lightbody]

Source: British Pathe Media URN 56186; Film ID 2025.08
Media: Video
Description:  Video footage of the Q4 in John Brown’s, Clydebank, including a view of the ship’s stabilisers,  the ship in the stocks, a view of where the funnel will be placed.  The model of the Q4 seen in public for the first time when Cunard Chairman, Sir Basic Smallpiece unveils the model. 

and

(silent footage of the model reveal)

Source: British Pathe Media URN 56193 Film ID 2025.15
Media: Video
Description:  Video of the model of Q4.  No sound

[Chris]

How magnificent!

She was sleek, modern, bold, daring and beautiful - one of a kind, never to be copied.

Everyonetalked about it because it was interesting.

The same can not be said about many of today's new builds, sadly.

[Michael Gallagher]

On this date Q4 was unveiled to the world for the first time. Two events took place simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. The London event was held at the Royal Festival Hall and was attended by Sir Basil Smallpeice (Chairman), Dan Wallace (Naval Architect), James Gardner (designer) and Tom Kameen (Engineering).

The New York event was held in the Main Lounge of Queen Mary. The guests gathered around a spotlit turntable. The model was hidden by flaps and at the desired time the flaps opened like a flower to reveal the model! This event was attended by Deputy Chairman Lord Mancroft and Captain Bil Warwick.

Below are photos of the Queen Mary Event.

Top picture: the flaps are closed.

Middle picture: flaps open

Bottom picture: Cunard staff

[Michael Gallagher]

New York Event: The five-foot model and Captain Bil Warwick

[Rob Lightbody]

Brilliant stuff, thank you!

Seeing that while on board Queen Mary must have been amazing.  The QE2 looks so dramatically more modern - 3 big old fashioned funnels, deck ventilators - and rivets - vs that sleek hull and white funnel - people must have been amazed.

[Bob C.]

All those times I visited QM and her main lounge and did not realize that Q4 was unveiled there.  I'll now have to make another trip!

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks for this information and the photos Michael.  I am particularly interested as I have a press release package for 4 April 1967.  Is it likely that this pack was produced for these events?


see link for information on 4 April 1967 press release that I have previously posted
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2118.0.html

I also have a photo of a QE2 model which I think is this model in the photos. 

[Lynda Bradford]

Photo of the QE2 Model which I have in my QE2 collection.  I think this photo is of the same model as in Michael's photos   There is also video footage on another topic in this board but I cannot see the tug in the video footage.  

Michael do you think my photo was issued with the press release information?

[Michael Gallagher]

Lynda

Your press pack was produced for this event. It contained an artists impression (below), several photos of the model and the following press releases:

Evolution of Q4: The Most Efficient Ship
Q4 is Not a Gimmick Ship
Comparison with Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth
Q4: the Unique Ship
Technically Speaking....
The Safest Ship Afloat
Functional Funnel
Cars and Baggage
Dan Wallace - Cunard Naval Architect
Tom Kameen - Technical Director, Cunard Line
James Gardner
Builders of Great Cunarders

[Michael Gallagher]

Pictures of the model contained in the pack

[Michael Gallagher]

And the London Event...

(left to right: Dan Wallace, Sir Basil Smallpeice, James Gardner, Lord Aberconway and Tom Kameen)

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Michael

I have the press release, the photo I posted and the photo of the artists impression of the ship, but I do not know if my Dad ever had the other photos of the model.  If he did they have not been passed down to me so thank-you for posting these. 

Do you know if the artists impression of the model was an actual painting? and if it was what happened to it?

[Michael Gallagher]

Lynda

It was an artists impression. The image was widely used in the first brochures, the maiden year menu cover, biscuit tins, teea towels... so the image lives on but haven't a clue what happened to the original.

Three other artists impressions were also created (below). Interestingly, these were not very widely used and two of them depicted Q4 in the Panama Canal. Again, who knows where the originals are?

[Bob C.]

I just noticed something in the photo in reply #7.  Look at the mast where the whistles should be mounted - no whistles.  Now look at the weather deck at the top of the midship's ladder that goes from the 1 Deck fo'c'sle to Q Deck.  Straddling the ladder is what looks to be a whistle which is where it was located in 1979.  I guess the location of the whistles had not yet been determined at that point in time.   

[Rod]

Also no radar that I can see!