Exciting development!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just found this very nice clear picture, in colour too, of GE

The drums in the foreground with the chains were meant to control the descent of the ship, as it descended down the slipway. At each end of the drums are friction brakes to control the descent speed. Each brake has a long radial arm, which was manned by several men.

At launch time, the ship slipped down the greased ramps with such speed and force, that the men were hurled into the air with fatal results! This caused the ship to "cross jam"……the rest is history!

Take a look at the quality of the plating!……..No wonder Great Britain ruled the seas?

Can you imagine the conditions down below, stoking the boilers all day by candlelight?……Or probably carbide lamps?

The chap in the top hat could be the designer…..John Scott Russel……..Brunel was the Boffin

Hope your share my pleasure in the history of GE?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Here is another view of the launch winches

This is the other chain winch

I`d love to see the calculations for the feasibility of the system!

Modern day engineers are saying that if the launch had been successful, it would have caused a tidal wave with great loss of life on the opposite bank!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just letting you know that the BBC Coast prog is back on BBC I-Player

"Coast series 7"

Capt Bob

[Dave_PParticipant @dave_p]

Thanks Bob,

I missed it first time round.

Dave

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I know this is an old thread, but I`ve discovered a rare photograph of The Great Eastern under construction, which I haven`t seen before…….For me, at least, I find it very interesting

Super ship building in 1857

Bob

[Dave_PParticipant @dave_p]

A great picture Bob. I too find it most interesting. Britain at its best.

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob,

Its a great photo. My great great grandfather Captain William Harrison had quite a lot to do with with the building of GE.

He was only in charge for a short time, her sea trials as he was drowned in Southampton waters in January 1860 aged 46.He is buried next to Liverpool Cathedral I have copies of some of his letters to his wife they are very hard to read as he wrote side to side and over the top of this bottom to top!.

Cheers,

Hutch

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Hutch

Have you got any interesting pictures or relics of Great Eastern yourself, that you would like to post on this thread, please?

There must be hundreds of unseen photographs out there, gathering dust in the attic?

Anybody?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Frightening instance in Brunel's life!

When Brunel was a young man, he had a party trick, playing with his children in the parlour

He would to pretend to swallow a half Sovereign and make it reappear out of his ear!

He did the trick once too often!…..Horror of horrors………He swallowed it!

The true engineer he was…..He designing a pivoting table, that he was strapped to and it would pivot to the vertical, with his head down below!

The Coin would fall down his throat, but get stuck somewhere and fall back down again, when he got up!

More horror of horrors,!…..He had open surgery where the surgeons opened up his throat?….In those days? But the could not be found! He was put back on the seesaw once again and luckily, the coin fell down and rattled against his teeth!……Phew!.. Was he lucky!

Needless to say, he went right off that party trick!

The report does mention, that when the coin fell down, it blocked his windpipe……But he could still breathe….Through the hole in his neck!

Truly amazing…….Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 11/11/2013 07:01:41

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob,

I am sorry but I do not have any more info as down here in South Australia we are a bit cut off from the rest of the world apart from the internet.all i have came from you guess it the internet!

After the start of next year I will be starting on my card model of GE but i will be using the card as templates on to modelling ply so I can have a strong model for our windy conditions at the boat ponds.

In the mean time I have dusted off my old models built 22years ago

A 1.6 meters scratch built battle class destroyer,a small fishing boat and two sailing boats that are based on a boys toy from the 1920splus a very small rear paddle steamer all powered by electric motors and R/C when I get around to doing it..I would like to post the photos some time when I find out how to.

We are coming to the UK on a 55 days cruise at sea arriving on the 18th of July i think! but will be flying back home after a very short stay of only a few days its pity love to stay longer,but.

Cheers,

Hutch

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

Found a new construction picture of the build quality of the mighty ship

Look at the quality of the wrought iron plating and the beautiful lines of the plating……Awesome

Wonder why they painted the black band?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This is a rare photo of Great Eastern at Holyhead, not seen before

Why did they make an etching of a similar scene, when photographs were available?

Note typical ships at the time, much smaller but similar construction

Bob

On closer inspection…..This can`t be Holyhead!……….Why not?

 

Edited By Bob Abell on 25/11/2013 08:10:51

[Lord HavengottenyParticipant @lordhavengotteny]

Hello Bob,

I haven't been to Holyhead, Wales but this view reminds me of Halifax Basin,

Nova Scotia. Could GE have been here prior to or after laying the cable?

Regards, Lord Havengotteny

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Lord H

I think you have twigged why it can't be Holyhead…….Because GE is showing only four chimneys..ie……After 1865

GE went all over the world laying cable…….Including Hearts content…..Nova Skotia

A fascinating subject

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

Found an etching of your Great Great Great Grandfather…

Captain H (Hutch?) Harrison in 1859

All the best……Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Found this rare but very sharp photograph of GE

She still looks sea worthy

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Kevin

This is the thread I was referring to, it`s a mammoth, but very interesting story, to me, it was the highlight of my model making years! Something we will cherish forever

The BBC video is now on YouTube………… **LINK**

I am very embarrassed to have to confess, that the model has since been scrapped, which I now regret, but at the time, I had good reason

I have recently taken out a Digital subscription and discovered Dave Wooley`s report on the great event, with unseen excellent photos

Enclosed, is an example, showing the remarkable weathering

The model was never a finely finished example, but the overall effect was impressive

I was hoping to donate the model to the Holyhead Maritime Museum, but the quality of the late Les Jones` models, put paid to that!

Bob

Dave Wooley`s photo……….Many thanks Dave

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob the model has gone , I know the feeling only to well . Yet as you say the GE is on U-tube and as such your model will most certainly live on into the future for all to see any time they wish . As the title of the old song goes thanks for the memory .

All the very best

Dave Wooley

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

The fact that you thought your effort inferior to another, does not detract from the fact, that you built something that a lot of us could only dream of, plus it featured on a TV program (not any old channel either, but the B.B.C. no less), Bob, I take my hat off to you, but please, don't scrap any more models, there will always be another modeller out there willing to take it into their care.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Kip Woods, for your kind words of encouragement

For James Gensmor

This thread is the story of my involvement with the BBC Coast programme and there will be a further reference to the actual original build, via a link

All the best

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Two rare pictures of every day life on the Great Eastern

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Found this high quality photograph of the build of Great Eastern

Such camera quality for circa 1856?

Quality engineering too!……….Got to criticise the paddlewheel construction though!……Too flimsy?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. Who designed the GE ??? Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Wash your mouth out with swarfega

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley!……You deserve a stint in ye olde stocks!

Who designed the Great Eastern indeed?……….Everybody knows that!

Another gallon of Swarfega for the Southern Pretender, Paul please………and the keel hauling apparatus!

Bobrunel

[Author]

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