Description
The 1903 America’s Cup Race was a contest between the Shamrock III, the British entry, and the American yacht Reliance. They were notable as the largest British and American boats to race for the America’s Cup — Reliance was 145 feet overall. According to maritime historians Anthony John and Ian Dear, “At just on 200 feet, Reliance’s mast was staggering to behold — it was of comparable height to Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square — and was a feat of engineering in its own right.” Two months after racing for the Cup, Reliance was broken up and never raced again.
The Savage Manufacturing Company was a Brooklyn, New York, firm that made printed tin signs and objects.
Inscription: International Yacht Races 1903. Reliance. (clockwise from top) New York, Hull-Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Larchmont, Eastern, Indian Harbor, Beverly, New Rochelle, Manhasset Bay, Sachem’s Head, Seawanhaka Corinthian, Atlantic, Brooklyn.
Marked on back with a lifeboat-shaped logo reading, “Savage M’f’g’ Co. Brooklyn N.Y. Metal Signs and Tin Boxes.”
Reference:
John, Anthony and Ian Dear, ed. The Early Challenges of the America’s Cup (1851-1937). Sydney: Pierson, 1986. pp. 75 and 87.
