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British shipping companies (M)

Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: shipping lines |
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See also:

MacAndrew & Company, Ltd.

Robt. Mac Andrew & Co.

[McAndrews Shipping Company, Ltd. houseflag] image by Aingeru Astui Zarraga, 25 April 2002

Interestingly, the MacAndrew's logo that appears in the "Carga e Transportes" supplement is very different. All these last images have been taken from the same ad, an ad to MacAndrews, that includes these companies it operates with in Portugal: Bank Line, already sent, New Guinea Pacific Line and Crocodile Line, also already sent, plus two more: Ellerman, a company that has three lines from Lisbon or from Leixões (to the British Isles, to the Mediterranean and to India, Pakistan, Middle East and East Africa), and APL, a company that serves the US and Canada and the Far East. 

The logo of MacAndrew (or, better, MacAndrew Lda. / Group Andrew Weir Shipping as the full writing appears in the ad) is not only green, but quite a bit more complicated than appears in Aingeru's image, including a crown and a pair of hands holding the ship:

[McAndrews Shipping Company, Ltd. houseflag] image located by Jorge Candeias, 25 April 2002

The logo with the crown and a pair of hands holding the ship belongs to Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd. The one of McAndrews is simpler.
Aingeru Astui Zarraga, 26 April 2002

[McAndrews Shipping Company, Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 20 December 2005

MacAndrew & Co., Ltd., London - horizontal white flag, with red-yellow-red bars at top and bottom, black outlined sailing ship with sails furled.
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 20 December 2005

[McAndrews Shipping Company, Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 20 December 2005

Like the image above, but with two red stripes altered to purple.
Source: Loughran (1979), who writes: "This is a very old company, its former location dating back to 1770, and it has been prominent in trade to the Iberian Peninsula for many years; hence the Spanish national colours which accompany the ship on the flag. During the Spanish Civil War, these stripes were altered to purple, yellow and red, but resumed their former colouring on the cessation of hostilities."
Jarig Bakker, 20 December 2005

In the middle 1950s, I sailed in two of McAndrew's ships, the M.V. Pinto and the M.V. Pelayo. On the Spanish coast we flew the McAndrew's House flag, but on the Italian coast we flew the Glyn Line House flag. I can remember a white lozenge bearing a black capital B and there was also some red and also some green in the flag. As I remember, the Glyn Line was originally a West Country Shipping Company whose main trade was in China Clay. I have searched all the flag sites.
Albert Aliffe
, 18 April 2006

[Robt. Mac Andrew & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 22 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same house flag for Robt. Mac Andrew & Co. (#209, p. 46).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#11
Ivan Sache, 22 April 2021


Macbeth & Co., Ltd.

[Macbeth & Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 26 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Macbeth & Co., Ltd. (#682, p. 69), a Glasgow-based company, as vertically divided white-red, charged with the letters "M" and "C", counter-colored.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/34/
Ivan Sache, 26 April 2021



MacFarlane & Lander

[MacFarlane & Lander houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 23 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Macfarlane & Lander" (#295, p. 51), a company based in Cardiff (Wales), as blue with a thin white saltire and an oval charged with the red letters "M&L" .
Ivan Sache
, 23 April 2008 


Macintyre Bros & Co.

[Macintyre Bros & Co houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Macintyre Bros & Co. (#376, p. 54), a Newcastle-based company, as swallow-tailed, blue, charged near the hoist with a white triangle inscribing a red "M".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#19
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021


David MacIver, Sons & Co., Ltd.

[Macintyre Bros & Co houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

David MacIver (1840-1907), according to his obituary ("Birkenhead and Cheshire Advertiser", 4 September 1917) "established the firm of David Maclver and Co., shipowners, whose offices are in Brunswick-street, Liverpool, with a branch office in London. He had a fine fleet of steamships, built at Birkenhead, and these have for many years been engaged in the River Plate trade, which is one of the most extensive and prosperous of Liverpool's shipping branches, employing, as it does, a very large number of men.
Mr. MacIver was a director of the Great Western Railway Company, chairman of the Bala and Festiniog Railway Co., and a director of the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbour Co. He was also formerly chairman of the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association and President of the American Chamber of commerce."

http://georgejager.com/gj3/davidmaciver.asp

The MacIver family were pioneers in steamships and operated coastal steamship services from Glasgow as early as 1831. David and Charles MacIver were closely associated with Samuel Cunard in the formation of the Cunard Line.
David MacIver, a nephew of the original founder was admitted into the Cunard partnership in 1863, but left the company in 1874 to found his own steamship line. His earliest ships were registered under the name of Birkenhead Shipping Co., Ltd and these were followed by a number of one ship companies, all managed by David MacIver & Co. In 1894 a new company was registered in the name of David MacIver, Sons & Co. and all subsequent ships were registered in this ownership.
In its early days, the MacIver Line had no regular routes, but in 1885 a regular trade was established between Liverpool, Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Rosario.
Accidents were few, but in 1890 the Thessaly caught fire at sea while carrying a cargo of cotton between New Orleans and Hamburg and was lost. Losses were heavy during the Great War with the Araby being wrecked near Boulogne in 1916, Barbary was torpedoed and sunk near Port Said in 1917, Gascony torpedoed and sunk off Portsmouth in 1917 and the Brittany was sunk after collision with HMS Eglantine the same year. The last loss was the Tartary which was torpedoed off Ireland in 1918.
The whole of the shares of David MacIver, Sons & Co. were purchased by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. in 1919 and the name of the company changed to David MacIver & Co., Ltd. Although owned by Royal Mail, the ships continued to sail under their old colours and Liverpool management.
In 1932 the whole of the MacIver ships were transferred to the Royal Mail Line and their grey hulls and red funnels were changed to the black hull and buff funnel of Royal Mail. At this time, the MacIver Line lost its identity and went into liquidation.

The ShipsLists
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/maciver.htm

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of David MacIver, Sons & Co., Ltd. (#1739, p. 119) as white with a red square diamond in the center.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#84
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

[Macintyre Bros & Co houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

The ShipsLists shows the flag with the diamond touching the edges of the flag. No source is given.
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021


A. Mackay & Co.

[A. Mackay & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of A. Mackay & Co. (#1140, p. 91), a Glasgow-based company, as blue with a white saltire cantonned by the white letters "A", "&", "M", and "Co".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#56 
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021


A.Y. Mackay & Co.

[A.Y. Mackay & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 26 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of A.Y. Mackay & Co. (#681, p. 69), a Grangemouth-based company, as horizontally divided blue-white-blue, charged in the center with a red "M".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/34/
Ivan Sache, 26 April 2021


Richard Mackie & Co. (The New Line Steamship Co., Ltd.)

[Richard Mackie & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Richard Mackie & Co. (The New Line Steamship Co., Ltd.) (#1611, p. 113), a Leith-based shipping company, as horizontally divided blue-white-blue, in the upper corner, the white letter "N", in the lower left corner, the white letter "X", in the middle the black letters "R.M.&Co.".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#78
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021


Robert Mackill & Co

[Robert Mackill & Co houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021

Robert Mackill, founder of the firm of Robert Mackill & Co., shipowners, Glasgow, was born at Dungalston, near Moniaive, in 1848. On leaving his native parish he entered the office of Messrs Burrell & Son, Glasgow, of which firm he eventually became a partner. In 1881 he started the firm of Robert Mackill & Co., and under his management as senior partner a large commercial connection was soon formed. [...]
He died at Glasgow, 12th March, 1906, in his fifty-eighth year.

John Corrie. Glencairn (Dumfriesshire); the annals of an Inland Parish
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/john-corrie/glencairn-dumfriesshire-the-annals-of-an-inland-parish-ala/page-9-glencairn-dumfriesshire-the-annals-of-an-inland-parish-ala.shtml

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Robert Mackill & Co. (#1651, p. 115) as swallow-tailed, white, charged in the center with a red cross coupee.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#80
Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021


J.R. Mackrill & Sons

[J.R. Mackrill & Sons houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of J.R. Mackrill & Sons (#824, p. 76), a Grimsby-based company, as horizontally divided white-red-white.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/41/
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021


Maclay & McIntyre

[Maclay & McIntyre houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

Founded in Glasgow in 1885 by Joseph Maclay and Walter McIntyre with six small steamers to operate tramp services and in 1886 set up the Glasgow United Shipping Co. By 1896 the company owned 33 ships and concentrated on the coal trade to Algoa Bay and the ore trade from the Mediterranean. Joseph Maclay retired in 1905 the business was then run by Walter McIntyre.
At the outbreak of war in 1914 the company owned 51 tramps, but lost 16 during the war years. Between the wars, the ships were mostly employed in the coal and grain trades between South Wales and the River Plate and sugar from Cuba. During the second world war, seven ships were lost, leaving the company with only five. In the 1950s four Empire ships were purchased, but they could not compete with the downturn in freight rates and by 1960 the last two were sold and the company closed.

http://www.mariners-list.com/site_pages.php?section=Shipping+Companies&category=Scottish&page_name=Maclay+%26+McIntyre%2C+Glagow
Mariners L

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Maclay & McIntyre (#1336, p. 100), as white with a blue "M" framed in a blue rectangle.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#65
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021


W. Maclean & Co.

[W. Maclean & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of W. Maclean & Co. (#366, p. 54), a West Hartlepool-based company, as red with the white letters "WM&C°".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#19
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021


Macvicar, Marshall & Co.

[Macvicar, Marshall & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Macvicar, Marshall & Co. (#1605, p. 113), a Liverpool-based shipping company, as swallow-tailed, white with a red cross, in the respective quarters, the black letters "M.", "M.", "&" and "Co.".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#78
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021


Mail Steamship Co.

[Mail Steamship Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 21 April 2021

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Mail Steamship Co., Ltd. (Mail Bros.)" (#77, p. 40), a company based in Newcastle-on-Tyne, a white with a blue letter "M".
Ivan Sache, 12 March 2008 


Mamitank London Ltd.

[Mamitank London Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 28 November 2005

Mamitank London Ltd., London - blue flag, white "M".
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 28 November 2005


British Shipping lines: continued