Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte
Many of these locations were information center, employment office, and social aid station all at the same time. Often landlords acted as brokers for ship's captains. Prospective emigrants were able to obtain addresses of reasonably priced accommodation mostly located in close vicinity to the harbour. Means of payment were - instead of money - often items and souvenirs brought from all over the world which then characterised the interior of various bars and pubs. Many sailors' bars were furnished with an assortment of curios which added considerably to the cosyness and provided the background to all kinds of big adventures being told. Normally, cellar bars did not hold much furniture, among the few necessary items were the counter or bar, in Hamburg named "Toonbank".
It is difficult to convey the atmospheric conditions, the smoke-filled air, often mixed with the sweet odour of Jamaican rum, the smell of tar wafting over from the harbour and the smoke from steamers and all that mixed with the smell of stale beer. The sound level of the patrons would be occasionally drowned out by the noise of countless riveters, the screeching of winches or the squealing of steam-sirens.
