Construction & Delivery
Completed for a cost of £40,000 (a sizeable sum during the midst of the great depression) in 1935 by Lobnitz & Co on the Clyde, Renfrew, Scotland hull No. 987, the William C Daldy departed for her new home in Auckland, New Zealand. Upon arrival in her home port on 30/01/1936 after a voyage of 82 days, she was
dry-docked for inspection. Let the pictures say the rest!
For a schematic layout of the tug Map 1 or Map 2. Please note that these may take some time to download if you are on a dialup modem as they are high resolution images!
‘William C Daldy’ Bow view in frame
30-Jul-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Stern view in frame
30-Jul-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Bow view 85% plated
14-Aug-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Stern view 85% plated
14-Aug-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Bow view before launching
01-Oct-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Stern view before launching
01-Oct-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ Being launched
01-Oct-1935 NZNMM
‘William C Daldy’ in fitting out basin after launch
01-Oct-1935 NZNMM
Arrival of Auckland Harbour Board’s new tug.
31-Jan-1936 ©NZ Herald
‘William C Daldy’ in Calliope dry dock for inspection prior to
acceptance by Auckland Harbour Board
Feb-1936
‘William C Daldy’ in Calliope dry dock for inspection prior to
acceptance by Auckland Harbour Board
5-Feb-1936 Auckland Star
Arrival in Auckland
30-Jan-1936 Auckland Star
600 ft coil of 20in Manilla rope being removed from King’s Wharf.
The rope weighs 3tons 13cwt and will be used by the Harbour Board’s new tug, WCD
10-Dec-1936 ©NZ Herald
Large rope fender, weighing over 3 1/2 tons being fitted to W C Daldy
Harbour Board members and guests en route to Tiri Tiri Matangi Island
26-Feb-1936
Awesome site, your blog just got a new follower this very minute
Dear Sir. I found your website a fascinating story of the William C. Daldy which was built in my home town of Renfrew, Scotland, where we were raised to the sound of rivetting guns from Lobnitz & Co shipyard which was close to my home. Our town is very proud of its connection with Lobnitz and its successive companies until their demise in the early 60s.
Our website MyRenfrew.com has a thread discussing the history of interesting vessels which were born in the Lobnitz ‘London Works’ as they were called. You may peruse them via this link –
I would like to have read the documents found in the Galley. Could they possibly be restored.
Thank you for looking after her. Your work does you proud.
Best wishes.
Robert.
1/11/10