Posted by Bruce Beveridge on August 31, 1998 at 13:18:46 in dyn1-tnt1-17.chicago.il.ameritech.net:
In Reply to: Re: THE WHITE SUPPORTS FOR "A" DECK DO EXIST posted by Bob Read on August 31, 1998 at 07:37:12:
: Bruce:
: Let's say just for the sake of argument that the ladders in the two Fr. Browne photos were completely blocking an outer white support post (even though both pictures were taken from different angles and the supports of the ladder are a smaller diameter than the post). Do we have a clear photo that shows this area where there could be no overlap? Yes. See "Titanic: An Illustrated History", p.26,27. In this photo you can even see the rungs of the ladder and the corner where the post should be but alas no post.
: There is a post visible in this area but it is in the middle of the area where this boat deck extension proceeds forward to the wider boat deck.
: Regards,
: Bob Read
: : There has been a lot of discussion over the ladders on "B" deck aft that are in line with the supports for "A" deck. The white supports are located right next to the ladders on the outside of each. The Father Browne photo is deceiving, look at "The Last Days of the Titanic" by E.E.O'Donnel pg.65. The ladder hides the white pole (page 66 also). If you look on page 65 at the two people. Look at the pole to the right of the man. When the pole ends at it's top, it flattens out by the rivets. You'll notice the shadow it casts on the superstructure. The same shadow can be seen just on the left side of the ladder on the superstructure.
: : Also, in nearly all of the Titanic photo's taken of her back end you can see this white pole sticking out amongst the darkness. Some of these pictures are from a distance but I tell you the white pole visible is not the sun shining of the brown ladder.
: : Here are my references:"An Illustrated History" pg's 26 (though blurry),34,35(Olympic). "The Last Days of The Titanic" pg.73 (unmistakable).
Bob, the supports were the same diameter (or really close) as the ladder sides. In the Browne photo of the old people you can see the shadow of where the bracket is riveted to the superstructure and almost see a white verticle line running down along the left side of the ladder. In the Browne "spin the top" photo the support is totally covered as this photo is taken straight on of the ladder, the support being behind it. This photo in "Illustraated History" is proof of one being there. The photo is shakey but look close, there are two verticle lines on the left side of the ladder, one being white or lighter than the other. This is a support and is exactly the same color as the one behind it that you refer to in your post. This is not just the sun shinning off a brown ladder side. It almost looks as though the white line runs through the middle of the ladder, but thats just an illusion of the shakey camera.
Also, how can you deny page 73 of "The Last Days of The Titanic" it's right there uncovered for the world to see. I do agree that it appears that these ladders did not exist on the Olympic, but the support in the Olympic picture is exactly in the spot where the Titanics is in the "Illustrated History" p26 picture. Look, If those verticle lines were only the brown ladder than A) you wouldn't have three of them and B) one of them wouldn't be lighter than the others.
reguards, Bruce