Posted by Scott Andrews on February 23, 1999 at 11:54:06 in 205.147.245.41:
In Reply to: Real Titanic whistle? posted by T. J. on February 23, 1999 at 10:24:56:
: Hello,
: I may be asking a very dumb question, but is this whistle they have been blowing one of the real whistles or is it a replica? If it is, i didnt know they found one on the ocean floor. By the way, hey sean, happy anniversary. I am proud to say that i have been referring to this page since March 14 of last year and it keeps getting better and better!
: Thanks, T. J.
T.J.:
Yes, this is really one of Titanic's whistles, brought up from the debris field in 1993. Author and Titanic historian Charlie Haas was on hand to witness it's retrieval. Actually, two sets were recovered and proved to be of very different construction, the second set being fabricated of a zinc alloy similar to that used in waste pipe plumbing of the time. As it turns out, according to Rowland Humble, owner of The Whistle Museum, Bodmin, Cornwall, this second set is one of two dummy sets which were fitted to the no. 3 and 4 funnels strictly for the sake of appearance. There were two working sets of whistles, one each on the no. 1 and 2 funnels. The set you heard blown was one of these. These whistles were made by Smith Brothers and Company (Hyson) Ltd. and were referred to as a "Hyson" Triple Bell Super Whistle" in contemporary company literature. They were available in four different sizes, the sets supplied for the Olympic, Titanic and Britannic being the largest ones available, having 9", 12" and 15" diameter bells. They stand a little over four feet tall from the base flange of the manifold to the top of the bass bell and weight a hefty 756 pounds. Contrary to the display we were given last Saturday, where they were blown at considerably less pressure than the 215 psi they'd normally operate on, these things really are LOUD! There are two other identical whistle sets in existance, both in the UK. One belongs to a gentleman in Scotland (I think?) and came from the SS Lady of Mann. The other set belongs to Mr. Humble and came from RMS Mauritania. Mr. Humble's Mauretania set is fully functional is still used occasionally. When operated at their design pressure, these whistles are heard clearly at five miles distance and reportedly, especially in fog when the atmosphere is most dense, they can be FELT at even greater distances.
Regards,
Scott