Cork from Mrs Astor's Lifejacket on Titanic

At approximately 12:30 am on 15 April 1912, twenty-four year-old Gottleib Rencher, senior attendant-in-charge under the ship's surgeon, Dr Frank McGee, was awakened from his sleep on the Cunard liner Carpathia enroute to the Mediterranean. Her captain, Arthur H. Rostron had just been informed the new White Star liner Titanic had struck an iceberg and was in need of immediate assistance. Rencher's duties were fairly routine attending to passengers who became seasick or perhaps treating a crewman's broken arm. This time was different, preparations to receive survivors especially those suffering from shock and exposure. Rencher, stationed at one of the gangways, gazed down at the stunned and freezing people in the lifeboats. Among them, a sobbing Madeleine Astor, pregnant with her first child, whose husband, John Jacob IV, had gone down with ship barely a few hours ago. She pleaded with Rencher to help her. Setting a foot on the gunwale, he lifted her out and up onto the deck and to the ship's hospital where he helped her out of her lifejacket putting it aside. Later, when she was comfortable and composed, she thanked Rencher for his kindness and left the cabin. He left the sea in December 1912 settling in New York becoming a chiropractor and licensed physio-therapist. He became a US citizen on 30 December 1920 and died at age 62 on 6 September 1950. In November, 1978, Rencher's son, Jules, was driving home listening to an interview on WCBS-radio New York with William Harris Tantum, IV, who, at that time, was president of The Titanic Historical Society. Rencher wrote to the THS mentioning his father's involvement with Titanic survivors. The lifejacket Mrs. Astor wore now tanned with age, faintly visible on the fabric of one of the panels was the name of the manufacturer, Fosbery, London. Jules Rencher explained he wanted to give the historic artifact to an organization where it would be displayed and appreciated and he knew with the Titanic Historical Society he had found a proper home. Cork from Mrs Astor's lifejacket on Titanic comes in your choice of a glass-enclosed frame with felt matte back, a photograph of the lifejacket which it came from and displayed in the Titanic Museum Collection and a photograph of an original Titanic broadsheet.

Framed $1,100.00
Unframed in clear lucite case $950.00

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany your artifact with the Society's Great Seal and the President/Founder, Edward S. Kamuda's signature:

Certificate of Authenticity Royal & United States Mail Steamer Titanic Your name as an owner and date imprinted on the Certificate.

A decade ago when the THS Collection was being moved and photographed by Karen Kamuda, tiny loose pieces fell from some of the items while they were being unwrapped and conserved. Three types in all are available.

• Cane From Chair on Titanic
• Carpet Yarn (or thread) from Titanic
• Cork from Mrs Astor's Lifejacket

These historic artifacts as described have been documented and illustrated in The Titanic Commutator, the Society's official journal of record and are displayed in the Society's Collection.