1886 report card of young Bruno at age 9, grade 5, in Laucha bearing his father’s signature. At this time he was ranked 2nd in a class of 31.

Bears the writing in pencil of Karl Bruno Franke:
“25 Jahre alt! Maschinen-Elektriker (Assistent-Rang)
An Bord des Reichspostdampfers des Norddeutscher Lloyd. “Prinzess Irene” 12000 to.
bis März 1903, nach Ost-Asien.
Darauf bis 26.8.1903, an Bord der Lloyd Mittelmeer-New York (ab Genua) Schnelldampfer “Hohenzollern” 9000 to.
1904 im Mai mit Schwesterschiff der “Prinzess Irene” Lloyddampfer “Friedrich der Grosse” als passagier nach Deutschland zurück.”
[25 years old! Electrical Mechanic (Assistant Rank).
On board the Imperial Postal Service steamship of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, "Prinzess Irene" 12,000 tons, until March 1903, to Eastern Asia.
After that until Aug 26,1903, on board the Lloyd high-speed steamer "Hohenzollern" 9,000 tons, Mediterranean to New York (starting from Genoa).
In May, 1904, with the sister ship of the "Prinzess Irene", Lloyd steamer "Friedrich der Grosse", as a passenger back to Germany.]

Historical Postcards from a web page on Imperial Germany at http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/default.htm
This picture and the ones below show the S.M.S. Deutschland, the Imperial flagship of Kaiser Wilhelm and his brother GroßAdmiral Prinz Heinrich. Karl Bruno served on this ship with Prince Heinrich aboard and also on the S.M.S. Sachsen between 1896 and 1898 (aged 19 to 21).

This photo from a web site on the history of old Imperial Germany. For all we know, Karl Bruno Franke could be one of the sailors seen on deck.