Summary. Discover how McGeoch’s top-notch electrical control equipment became integral to the Queen Elizabeth II ship, built by John Brown Shipbuilders. Learn about McGeoch’s rise to excellence in marine lighting.
McGeoch’s Voyage with the Queen Elizabeth II: Illuminating a Legacy in Marine Excellence
John Brown Shipbuilders built the Queen Elizabeth II ship on Clydeside for the Cunard Steamship Company.
She was launched on 20th September 1967 by the Queen and began her maiden voyage on 2nd May 1969.
As highlighted in our September blog, McGeoch utilised the annual British Industries Fair event to showcase and secure orders for its rapidly expanding product range, including domestic and marine lighting and ship’s brassfoundry, manufactured at Warwick Works in Birmingham.
In 1956, the McGeoch stand at the event attracted an impressive list of overseas visitors, leading to the establishment of key contacts in countries engaged in shipbuilding. These included Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Holland, Israel, Norway and Sweden. Shipbuilding thrived in Australia and Canada, with a strong preference for British-made ship fittings despite political independence.
At home, the principal Clyde Shipyards still had enough tonnage on the stocks to contribute largely to McGeoch’s order book. John Brown had ‘Saxonia II’, ‘Ivernia II’, ‘Carinthia’ and ‘Sylvania’ and Fairfield had ‘Empress of Britain’ to name only the largest ships. Other British yards were also busy enough to supplement the company’s output substantially.
McGeoch’s reputation for high quality marine lighting and electrical control equipment successfully continued throughout the next decade. In 1966, along with numerous naval contracts, McGeoch received orders for Kungsholm fittings from John Brown and secured a major contract for Queen Elizabeth II cabin furnishings, slated for completion by 1968. This was to be a splendid climax to the company’s 136th year of business!