Kisfaludy (Lake steamer)

[john sefton]

A model of the old paddle-steamer Kisfaludy is illustrated on the 2Ft. Hungarian stamp issued 1959, one of a set intended to publicise the rebuilding of the Museum of Communications in Budapest. This institute, which had a shipping section, was established towards the end of last century to preserve the traffic material of the Hungarian Millenary Exhibition of 1896. The museum received heavy air raid damage during 1944 when the shipping relics and models were almost entirely destroyed. Rebuilding is now in progress and the first exhibition was opened last September on the occasion of a traffic conference in Budapest. The Kisfaludy model however seen on the first stamp illustrated is in the Maritime Museum of Siofok and is the only known representation of this first steamer on Lake Platten. It is not a scale model and may well be inaccurate in its lesser details.
The Kisfaludy was built of wood in 1846, at the shipyard of Obuda. She was equipped with a steam engine of 70 h.p., built by the Watt works in London to the order of Count Stephen Szechenyi, promoter of Hungary's first steamship enterprise. The wooden hull was replaced by an iron one after 50 years service. She was named after the Kisfaludy brothers—eminent figures in Hungarian literature early last century ; Charles, the elder, wrote dramas and comedies which are still produced and the younger Alexander was a poet.

Sea Breezes June 1960

Hungary SG1569, 4311.

[aukepalmhof]

21 September 1846 launched.
1869 Rebuilt by Hungaro-Belgian Machine & Shipbuilding Co. Ttd., Budapest.
Wooden hull replaced by a iron one, original boiler and steam engine remain.
1887 Out of service.

Source: http://www.hajoregiszter.hu/hajoadatlap ... 9/11079/en