Old windlass

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3 August 2009 at 15:31 #22402
Bob Abell 2
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@bobabell2
Anybody any idea what ship this windlass came off? It`s on the prom at New Brighton

Could it be The Great Eastern?………She was broken up, only a few miles from here!

Bob …………………clutching at straws!

Edited By Bob Abell on 03/08/2009 15:32:08
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3 August 2009 at 15:31 #3388
Bob Abell 2
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@bobabell2
3 August 2009 at 16:31 #22403
Paul T
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@pault84577
Bob

I have a cut away drawing somewhere showing the GE and its deck equipment….I will try to find it and see if the types are the same.

Meanwhile here are some images of the GE when she was cable laying.

Paul

Edited By The Fat Controller on 03/08/2009 16:43:09
3 August 2009 at 17:24 #22407
Len Ochiltree
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@lenochiltree67043
Oops sorry I thought the heading was Old Windbag.
3 August 2009 at 17:28 #22408
Bob Abell 2
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@bobabell2
Hello Len!……………..Where`ve yer bin, La?

Meckin out new?

Bob
3 August 2009 at 17:35 #22409
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Thanks Paul

The third picture brought back memories of GE construction days……….15 months ago!…..How time flies?

The steering wheel is actually, a telegraph……..to the Geezers at the back, manning an eight gang rudder wheel………………..but you knew that anyway?

Can you imagine in this day and age…………..taking a multicore cable from Cornwall……..all the way to New York?………………..Can`t be done!

It actually snapped once and they found the end after several months later!…………..What a useful ship…GE was?

Three cheers for GE!……..Hip Hip Hip………………….Bobrunell
3 August 2009 at 18:46 #22412
ashley needham
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@ashleyneedham69188
Gosh, I was not aware that the G.E had cannon ! Most interesting. Ashley
4 August 2009 at 17:27 #22423
Len Ochiltree
Participant
@lenochiltree67043
Hi Bob,

I have been reading the Forum,but didnt have any comments.

I have some ideas but I look in my workshop/shed and it is full of boats.

On the Horizon is my iminent Retirement, 65 on 30th October which is 12 weeks and 3 days off, not that I am counting!!

Len
4 August 2009 at 18:42 #22424
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Congratulations Len, on your forthcoming retirement…………..You enjoy yourself and take things easy.

You`ll find life quite strange at first………………..Too much spare time on your hands etc…………..and you can only make so many boats, before the house is full!……………..I`m in that category now!

Bob
4 August 2009 at 20:06 #22425
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Bob

Haven’t found the image of the capstan yet but here are a couple of photos for you.

Paul
4 August 2009 at 21:06 #22426
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Thanks for the pictures, Paul

I like anything relative to GE………Can`t make out that strange shaped white tulip shaped thing????…on the lower picture

Bob
5 August 2009 at 06:09 #22430
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Bob

These series of images were made when GE was fitted for cable laying but I have no idea what the “tulip” is for.

Here are a few more, rather sad images of the GE during her last days on the Mersey.

Advertising Lewis’s department store.

Just a rotting hulk.

Being broken up, it took 200 men 2 years to complete.

And to give everybody an impression of just how big the GE was this is an image from when she was being fitted out.

Click onto the picture and compare the size of GE’s hull to the other ships and boats.

Paul

Edited By The Fat Controller on 05/08/2009 06:35:31
5 August 2009 at 07:05 #22431
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Thanks Paul

On the lower picture, it shows what looks like handrailing……..but it`s at least twice as high as a passenger. It also appears on a few other pictures too.

It could be a temporary cover supporting rail whilst fitting out?

It was a truly awesome ship!

Bob
5 August 2009 at 08:24 #22432
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
sometimes for more breeze below decks, my understanding is that they rigged canvas “scoops” up on the ventilation cowls to catch and funnel more air into same. I offer that as a Tulip explanation. Did the GE really have cannon??? Ashley
5 August 2009 at 08:29 #22433
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Hello Ash

GE had these cannons fitted when the ship was used for cable laying……………..I assume for the far eastern areas?

You could be right about the tulip thingy?……………being a wind gatherer………………must have been quite warm below decks with five giant boilers in action?

Bob
5 August 2009 at 11:18 #22436
Pierre
Participant
@pierre
I agree with Ashley – that is a windsock – you can see it is rigged exactly in line with the apparent wind over the deck, as shown by the smoke.

As a matter of interest, as an apprentice in the 70s carrying a cargo of copra from Lourenco Marques to Bremen, we still used these to reduce temperatures in the holds – the cargo was prone to spontaneous combustion above a certain temperature.

Pierre
7 August 2009 at 06:17 #22466
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Bob

Whilst delving into the depths of the interweb I came across this site

http://www.atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/GreatEastern/

and I thought of you.

Paul
7 August 2009 at 07:08 #22467
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Hello Paul

Thanks for the link……………It`s very informative and the next link…………”Maritime Quest”………..has some very nice large detailed construction photos too

Thanks a lot……………….What a great ship!………..Bob
7 August 2009 at 08:19 #22468
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Found this picture from TFC showing more tulip shaped air vents on Great Eastern
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