1905                                  Francis L. Robbins                                  1965

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Cleveland OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 424
Launched Jan 19, 1905

401’ LOA, 380’ LBP, 50’ beam, 28’ depth

1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1000 IHP
Engine from str. George W. Roby of 1889, which was converted to a barge

Enrolled at Cleveland OH March 27, 1905 (#38)
380.0 x 50.0 x 28.0, 4222 GT, 3036 NT     US 201802     to:
American Ship Building Co., Cleveland OH (home port Cleveland OH)

Reenrolled at Cleveland OH April 5, 1905 (#44) to:
Robbins Transportation Co., Cleveland OH, W. H. Becker, Mgr. (home port to Fairport OH)

Entered service 1905

Transferred 1908 to Valley Steamship Co.

Fleet renamed Becker Steamship Co. Aug 4, 1922

Sold April 13, 1928 to Consolidated Water Power & Paper Co., Wisconsin Rapids WI

Converted 1929 to an automobile carrier at Manitowoc WI by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., transferred to the Newaygo Tug Line and renamed George W. Mead.
Remeasured to 387.0 x 50.2 x 23.8, 3968 GT, 2935 NT

Sold 1936 to T. J. McCarthy Steamship Co. Detroit MI

Converted back to bulk freighter 1942 and then back to automobile carrier 1945.

Flight deck added 1948 to increase automobile carrying capacity.

Sold for scrap 1965 to Acme Scrap & Metal Co.  Resold to Chas. Kurz & Co. for trade in to U. S. Maritime Commission on vessels in the reserve fleet.  Scrapped 1967 at Ashtabula OH.

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