Exciting development!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

Any chance of a picture of the Telegraph Cable relic please?

I would find it very interesting.

Thanks a lot

Bob

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob

Have a look at History Answers web page put in {The Transatlantic Comunications Cable was the Victorian answer to the Moon Landings,} Yes I know its very long winded but you will find lots about the cable with photos.

My cousin in the UK who has the souvenir section of the cable. I think send a photo of it to me but I can not lay my grubby hands on it at the moment when I do will send you a copy.

Your model of the SS Great Eastern had windows across the stern I maybe wrong the SS GE did not have any only the Great Britain had them.?

Cheers

Hutch.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well, Hutch………You rivet counter you!

Just had a quick search for evidence of the rear widows, only found artists impressions showing a lack of windows

Can't really believe there were no windows at the rear?

Will look into it

Thanks for the cable info

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Hutch

Proof of the Pudding?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

I'm not so sure that it did have large windows across the stern, although your photo is very compelling could the 'windows' simply be decoration?

This image shows the ship under construction and there are no window openings across the transom,

Other prints from the period are also lacking these windows

It looks like yet more research is needed.

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Just imagine for a moment the possibility of being able to buy transparent paint. It would make modelling windows so much easier…

[I'll get me coat, shall I?]

DM

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 07/03/2019 17:18:52

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Paul

This photo is titled…….."Rear Lounge"

Good enough for me

It may be possible that the rear windows were sheeted over in the cable laying days for strength, with all that cable dangling over the rear end?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

That is another very convincing photo but I always thought that all of the internal columns ran from side to side rather than bow to stern in which case the window in your photo would be on either the port or starboard side of the hull rather than the stern.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Paul

There are no other windows anywhere along the hull sides.

So this must be a view of the stern windows

I`ll try and find another photo

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

There is a museum model of the GE LINK that has some very clear views of the stern.

this is a link to deck plans LINK 

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 07/03/2019 18:13:54

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Paul

Perhaps the model builder was unaware of the windows?

Any way……….More proof here……….

Bob the Builder

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ships are often modified during their lifetimes so you are probably both right.

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Found this section drawing

and a close look at the stern shows little more than steering gear

As Colin says it could have been changed over its lifespan and it would be nice to know if they are windows or just decoration.

Paul

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Bob's sepia photos probably demonstrate that the windows were decorations. If you follow the run of the chains the "cabin" would be full of mooring handling equipment. Decoration on ships outlived practical use for many years. Welded ships of the fifties and sixties and even early seventies had vestigial figureheads as decorations on the stem. The galleried "windows " at the stern are very likely remnants from the previous century but it would be entirely logical for these to be removed when the vessel was converted for cable laying.

Don't forget designers and sailors were a superstitious lot and also very conservative. Nobody wanted to cross Neptune or meet Davey Jones in his locker! Changes evolved and Colin is right so did the ships. It is not so different even now.

Tim R

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob

There is a builder model of GE in the Science Museum London,{its approx 5 or 6 ft long} I went as a child to be shown the model by my Grandmother,I cannot remember if she not me granny! had any windows at all in the hull, only sky lights on the deck, my model has none.?

A large working model of the main engine driving the paddle wheels,is on display to, you use to press a button to watch it turn, but many many years later I did the same pressed the button and was informed it has been stopped as it was wearing out after 150 years it was a shame as it was fascinating to watch.

Hope this helps,

Hutch.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Hutch

If we look at the Rear Lounge photo, notice that there is an extra wide column?

This could be the rudder shaft tube?

The steering mechanism would be on the deck, near the wheels

The anchor chains would be below the lounge floor, or to each side of the lounge

Bob

Ps………Just found a very interesting photo, that will set the Technical Anoracks Tongues wagging!

It settles an argument that has been going on for years and should put Time Team to shame!

To follow shortly……Said the Tease

We may get some feed back from Baldrick himself?

Bob

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Bob

yes I see what you are looking at, you could be right

To the right of it is the "window" I t think it is just paneling with light shining on it from the skylight

Any of builder plans still around ?.

Cheers

Hutch.

[Empire ParkstoneParticipant @empireparkstone]

4

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Now for the controversial photo………But first, many thanks to the person responsible for producing this photograph. it explains a lot now, regarding the Launch Ramps

The position of the preserved ramps on display are alongside the Brunel Museum and didn`t make sense to me

I wrote several Emails to the Museum and received no reply

So I watched the Time Team programme intently, several times and still the position relative to the ramps running down to the river, was fudged over, or it seemed to me that way, anyway

I have a confession to make………I phoned the Museum, a few years earlier, and got an explanation, but later, the preserved ramps were still made out to be in the correct position, so I still had my doubts

How many readers out there assumed the preserved ramps were in their correct position?……eh?

I`ve had many conversations with Paul Thomason on the subject and he was confused too

The Official answer is that the preserved Ramps were moved from the foreshore, to the present position……. To make way for the Museum, I assume?

Apologies for the song and dance I`ve made over this mystery, but it did need clarifying

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

Perhaps the most obvious and simplistic answer to your problem is that the remaining beams were the base or load bearing structure to support the launching ramp [which would be positioned at 90deg to the remaining beams]

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

What are you on about here, Paul

The Museum said that the preserved ramps were re-sited from the foreshore

End of story

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

 

Bob

To explain my reasoning firstly you need to appreciate how different the Thames foreshore was back in 1854 when work started on GE in J Scott Russells yard

Back then the foreshore was very different to what we see today and the actual construction site was a lot further back than the present embankment might lead us to think.

The picture below shows the location of the construction site overlaid on the modern map.

The beams that are visible today are in their original position and were part of the supporting structure to one of the two launching ramps. The launching ramps themselves were laid at 90deg over the top of this supporting structure and ran from under the ship down to a point in the river that was submerged at high tide.

The TV images of Time Team examining the slipway showed the river end of the structure.

The second picture shows the orientation of the ramps, their relationship to the existing beams and estimated length into the river.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 10/03/2019 12:31:18

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That`s an interesting idea, Paul

Have obtained a hint of your idea somewhere?

I have found a very interesting extensive blow by blow report of the launch and will post it right away, for you to study

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

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

Here is the full story of the build and launch etc

Bob

[Author]

Posts