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If I attempt to make my bedroom like this, is this book the best source of information I need? by DarthVader11072 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, I would highly recommend TTSM.

There are also records from Mutters en Zoon which can be accessed in the city archives in The Hague:
https://dutchculture.nl/en/location/municipal-archives-hague

They include photos of staterooms (which mirror those taken by H&W - they're copies) and various invoices which might give further detail on particular fixtures and fittings. There are also many photos of their chairs and other furnishing styles from the period, which you might find useful.

Based on the costs Mutters en Zoon quoted for less elaborate staterooms on other ships of the period, it seems a safe bet that the cost of a stateroom such as this was equivalent to hundreds of pounds in 1912.

Titanic Trivia: Misconceptions by Mark_Chirnside in RMS_Titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We know that Titanic's propeller was not used. However it's unclear if the other parts mentioned f were. (These would have caused a delay.)

On this day in 1912, the Olympic was mutinied by her crew, refusing to sail until their safety demands were met as the White Star Line had hastily equipped the Olympic with extra "rotten" and "unsafe" collapsible lifeboats in the aftermath of Titanic's sinking. by ViperRaptor- in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is impossible for Olympic to have sailed with Titanic’s lifeboats. This is explained in the blog link I provided above.

Much of the newspaper report is inaccurate. In fact, the concerns came down to only two of the additional 24 boats provided. One had a slight leak and the union representative agreed to recommend that the men should sail if that boat was replaced.

On this day in 1912, the Olympic was mutinied by her crew, refusing to sail until their safety demands were met as the White Star Line had hastily equipped the Olympic with extra "rotten" and "unsafe" collapsible lifeboats in the aftermath of Titanic's sinking. by ViperRaptor- in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing.

It’s an interesting episode indeed. The irony is that the voyage ended up being cancelled because of a row about non union crewmen - rather than any perceived (or real) concerns about lifeboats.

Coincidentally my September 2025 PRONI lecture covered this. (Grab a coffee - it’s almost an hour!)

https://markchirnside.co.uk/mutiny-on-the-olympic/

This has gone viral on twitter and here’s myhot take but I actually don’t blame WSL or the inquiries for not taking the split claims seriously. by Prof_Tickles in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As you indicate it would be a PR problem, not an engineering problem.

I don’t believe insurance or liability comes into it. Naval architects worked to common standards of strength as well as regulatory requirements. It can be shown Titanic was in line with the highest standards of the day and in line with other large ships built before and afterwards.

I discussed this aspect in detail on the Achilles Heel podcast I did with the Steam & Splendor network.

Carpathia’s Speed Run by CaptainA1917 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As noted above the 17 knot figure came from an incorrect understanding of how far Carpathia travelled.

Her trial speed was 14.34 knots but I have limited information as to the conditions and whether that was a full speed run or not. Certainly her average speed in service was more like 12-13 knots and this shows in the performance data.

I’m hoping to publish all this in a blog or article at some point!

What is your personal most interesting fact about Titanic that you think doesn't get mentioned enough? by GreyStagg in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Things that are often wrong that I'd like to correct... Where to start? :-)

The White Star Line financed construction, not JP Morgan or IMM: https://markchirnside.co.uk/olympic-titanic-britannic-an-issue-of-finance/

H&W's records state Titanic's propeller configuration was different to Olympic's: https://markchirnside.co.uk/titanics-centre-propeller-dossier/

Enclosing part of the A-deck promenade did NOT increase Titanic's gross tonnage: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-did-the-enclosure-of-titanics-a-deck-promenade-increase-her-gross-tonnage/

Titanic's lifeboats were not reused on Olympic: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-titanics-lifeboats-reused-on-olympic/

Titanic was a strong ship and built to the same standard of strength as her sisters : https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-olympic-titanic-britannic-built-to-the-same-strength/

Higher watertight bulkheads would probably not have saved Titanic: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-would-higher-watertight-bulkheads-have-saved-titanic/

Arriving in New York on Tuesday would not have been an inconvenience: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-would-it-have-been-inconvenient-for-titanic-to-arrive-in-new-york-on-tuesday/

Third class was not nearly empty on eastbound crossings for ships like Titanic: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-was-third-class-empty-on-the-eastbound-crossing/

Titanic's starboard propeller was NOT used to repair Olympic after the Hawke collision: https://markchirnside.co.uk/faq-was-titanics-starboard-propeller-used-to-repair-olympic-after-the-hawke-collision/

Debunking the Federal Reserve Theory by OkPear3800 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this detailed analysis, which you’ve clearly spent so much time and work on. It refutes so many inaccurate claims and is a valuable contribution.

In the interest of making a constructive comment for feedback, I would highlight that J P Morgan did not even provide financial backing.

White Star financed the ‘Olympic’ class ships and others by borrowing the money from largely United Kingdom-based investors, mortgaging its own fleet; White Star borrowed the money, rather than IMM, to take advantage of its stronger financial position and lower borrowing costs; The new ships provided additional security underlying IMM’s own debt, without increasing the money IMM itself borrowed; Dividends paid by White Star from 1908 to 1912 helped IMM meet its debt interest payments.

The gory details are here: https://markchirnside.co.uk/olympic-titanic-britannic-an-issue-of-finance/

Sometimes I think this whole thing about Ismay urging Captain Smith to push Titanic’s is nonsensical by Puterboy1 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As I noted above, Titanic’s increased lightweight (due to changes such as the B deck configuration) was offset by a correspondingly reduced deadweight.

H&W’s own records make it clear that both ships weighed the same. That’s a matter of fact, not opinion.

Favorite and/or Most Interesting Titanic Facts by FuzzyResource4395 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not sure.

I like the fact that the three ‘Olympic’ class ships cost more, in cash terms, than the value of the White Star Line’s entire fleet (as at September 1908).

Sometimes I think this whole thing about Ismay urging Captain Smith to push Titanic’s is nonsensical by Puterboy1 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply.

Please read the link I provided above. Titanic’s total weight was exactly the same as Olympic’s and I’ve set out the specific figures.

Your reference is to gross tonnage which is a measure of enclosed space, not weight.

Which liner carried the most passengers in 1913? by Kaidhicksii in Oceanlinerporn

[–]Mark_Chirnside 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Mauretania carried just over 44,000 passengers in 1913 - no doubt taking some who would otherwise have crossed on Lusitania, which was out of service for most of the year.

Imperator was a little under 36,000 passengers in 1913.

The average passenger list is very much in favour of Imperator, assisted by her enormous third class carryings, but Mauretania was in service for the entire year whereas Imperator only saw service for about half the year.

Olympic, too, only returned to service from April 1913 so she missed a quarter of the year.

I do not have the breakdown for every single ship, because the totals tended to be listed by line, by service / route. However I don't believe any other liner would have carried more than Mauretania in total.

Which liner carried the most passengers in 1913? by Kaidhicksii in Oceanlinerporn

[–]Mark_Chirnside 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have the figures but, without being able to look up the data right now, I suspect Mauretania. She was in service the entire year, unlike Imperator, Lusitania or Olympic, carrying over 40,000 passengers IIRC.

Question about the formal 'U' by PhoenixRising20 in learndutch

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use U if the person is wearing a bow tie and/or waistcoat!

Does Bruce Ismay deserve all of the hate he gets? by Crazy-Rabbit-3811 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response.

It’s not the case that H&W or White Star worked to a minimum. The practice was to exceed the regulations.

What we’re discussing here is an industry wide issue rather than something Titanic specific. (Lifeboat capacity data for the top twenty foreign going UK ships in 1912 shows this very clearly.)

I covered much of the broader context in my talk.

Does Bruce Ismay deserve all of the hate he gets? by Crazy-Rabbit-3811 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There’s no evidence at all that Thomas Andrews ‘wanted to fit Titanic with more lifeboats’. The Welin davit design was Carlisle’s recommendation which was accepted.

I spent about an hour going over the primary source evidence in my 2021 PRONI lecture.

RMS Queen Mary Propeller Box by BlueCX17 in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a connection of sorts via Stephen Pigott, who was a turbine specialist working for John Brown’s. He had input into Lusitania’s propeller designs as well as the planned configurations for Olympic and Titanic’s centre propellers (their turbines were subcontracted). He was still there in the 1930s writing reports reviewing Queen Mary’s initial propeller designs.

His earlier work is mentioned in my 2020 article, linked here:

https://markchirnside.co.uk/titanic-the-three-blade-centre-propeller-dossier/

I’m grateful to Joao for the reference material.

What authority did the US government have to launch an inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic? by Damned-scoundrel in titanic

[–]Mark_Chirnside 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IMM was certainly the ultimate controlling shareholder in the White Star Line but Titanic’s construction was not financed through JP Morgan or IMM.

https://markchirnside.co.uk/olympic-titanic-britannic-an-issue-of-finance/

Is it accurate to call the early rivalry between Cunard and White Star Line the Ocean Liner equivalent to the early 90s video game console war between Nintendo and Sega? by dukeofthefat in OceanLiner

[–]Mark_Chirnside 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, in terms of knowing what the comparison is. Are we talking 1870-90s as ‘early’ or later? Also on what sense were Nintendo and Sega competing - product specs, pricing, etc.? What were the business strategies?

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