Alcoa Steamship Company Art Deco Style Ashtray Cavalier Pattern Unbranded Circa deals 1969 or before

Description: Alcoa Steamship Company Art Deco Style Ashtray Cavalier Pattern Unbranded Circa 1969 or before

Condition: No cracks, crazing or repairs. Light wear to the graphics. A few browns spots.

Marks: Unbranded

Approximate size: 4 1/2" diameter

History for the Preservationist: Due to shipping shortages in WW I, Alcoa (formerly the Aluminum Company of America) developed its own shipping line to carry bauxite from its source in what is now Suriname and Guyana to aluminum mills in the United States and elsewhere. At first the line operated under foreign deals flags. From 1940 to 1969 it operated under the US flag.

After WWII, Alcoa Steamship Company acquired three unfinished Victory ship hulls in 1946.

The ships were redesigned and finished with accommodations for 96 first class passengers. Alcoa hoped entering the passenger business would give the company an edge on the competition who might want to lure away some cargo, thereby reducing income per voyage.

In 1947 the ALCOA CAVALIER, THE ALCOA CLIPPER and the ALCOA CORSAIR established regular service between New Orleans and South America. The ships were modern and provided excellent service. But the mounting costs of U.S.-flag operations and the advent of air travel forced the company to abandon their passenger service in 1960.

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