For the Day of the Stamp, the Austria Post issued in 1954 one stamp which shows us an Ulmer Ordinari
Ulmer Ordinary: The "Ulmer Ordinari" was an 18th-century passenger raft, whose passengers were divided into classes, some even being allowed to "work their passage". On the stamp, the craft is seen passing the historic Benedictine monastery, Melk Abbey.
24.03.1696 is the day from which ships from Regensburg were sent to Vienna, which were called Ordinary ships because they sailed regularly. Ulm followed in 1712. The voyages were undertaken by the mastership guilds located in the cities mentioned. The ships used for these trips were “Zillen”, which were brought back with horses, or “platen”, that were beaten up at the destination of the trip and used as timber. The Ulm in general with “plätten,”, which were called “Schwaben”, “Schwäbinnen” or “Schwabenplätten” on the Bavarian and Austrian Danube, also “Ulmer” or “Ulmer Ordinari “and were called in Ulm Wiener schiffe (Vienna ship). Their size was different. There were “Ulmers” who were 34 m long and 7 m wide. The smallest had a length of 19 m and a width of 5.2 m.
Professor Schrom's drawing on the special stamp shows such a watercraft from Ulm, a real “Schwabenplätte”. They are commonly called “Ulmer” today.
Source Navicula
Aak to Zumbra a dictionary of the World’s Watercraft gives from the “Ordinar”
Used in Austria/Germany, A variety of “marktschiff” used on the Danube River to transport passengers. Light freight, and often the mail, on a regular schedule. Dated from 1670. They were often designated by the name of the city from which they originated or to which they were going. e.g “Ulmer Ordinari”, although in Ulm they would be called “Wiener Schiffe”. Those traveling from Ulm to Vienna in the 18th century were rafts with straight sides scored with fire marks; flat bottom and wide stern. Generally broken up at Vienna for firewood and other purposes. Cabin amidships; open forward and aft. The regular crew of 2 plus working passengers. Steered with long bow and stern sweeps. Vertical black and white stripes painted along the sides.
Lengths 16-34m. e.g. length 30m. beam 7m. depth 11.2m., burden 150 ton.
Later Ulm boats were called ‘Ulmer Schachteln”, a name still in use.
The “Ordinarischiffs” traveling from Regensburg to Vienna in the 19th century were boat like with proper planking and amenities.
Stamp Day 1954 (Ulmer Ordinari)
Special postage stamp
Compared to today, the waterways used to occupy a much more important position for traffic. The roads were bad, and driving on the water was relatively quick, safe and cheap. The Danube played an extremely important role in long-distance traffic from western Germany to Vienna. March 24, 1696 is considered to be the day from which Regensburg constantly sent ships to Vienna which, because they sailed regularly, were called Ordinari. Ulm followed in 1712, Donauwörth in 1750, and Linz in 1754. The brand motif shows an "Ulmer Ordinari" and the Melk Abbey in the background. This picture of a so-called Swabian plate was created based on a drawing by Professor Schrom, which was designed using contemporary models. The Ordinari not only carried travelers and goods but also handled the mail. This specifies the relationship between the brand's motif and "Stamp Day". Because mail delivery has always been a central area of responsibility of postal administrations around the globe. This took up an important aspect of the postal system, which found its way all over the world with this brand in artistic perfection.
See also:viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6467
Austria 1954 1s + 25g sg1267, scott?