What happened to the Titanic's propellors ( all right, 'screws' if you must )?
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04-14-04, 05:13 PM
Jenny Roberts
The stern of the Titanic went down at such a speed, the propellers were driven deep into the ocean bed and cannot be seen.

04-14-04, 05:28 PM
FredPuli
Not all of them, Jenny Smile

04-14-04, 06:44 PM
Georgia85
Not sure I understand the question. Do you mean what happened to the propellers during the accident? They were raised up into the air.

Or do you want to know what has happened to them now? As far as I know they are still under water and show to be in very good condition and will last longer than the ship because they are made out of manganese bronze.

04-16-04, 07:02 PM
FredPuli
What has happened to them now, Georgia. There were more made than fitted. There were two which were made as replacements. In those days the prevention of cavitation damage and wear on propellors was not understood, quite apart from any other mishap that might put them out of service. Making them was a slow and expensive business so they made spares in advance.

What happened to the Titanic's ? Part of one is on my desk. The spares were melted down when she sank. Naturally although they could , presumably, have been reassigned because she had a sister ship, the shipyard and the owners had them melted down. The metal was used to make ashtrays in suitable design, very much Art Nouveau, sold for charity or retained as mementos. I have two of them.

(And no, I didn't buy them from that nice American who sold me Brooklyn Bridge; I had to get them from Sotheby's, with the documentation.)

04-16-04, 09:43 PM
Georgia85
So these were spares that were never on the Titanic? What makes them special? Wouldn't that be like having a spare tire to the car that Princess Di was in when it crashed?

I mean I think it's fascinating that you have a part of one...but it's not really a part of the Titanic is it?

04-17-04, 01:32 AM
Sailracer
Fred, would you like a piece of the Space Shuttle that blew up to even out your desk ornaments?

04-17-04, 02:21 AM
FredPuli
Well, Georgia the propellor was thought special at the time by the people who owned and built the ship and who grieved the loss of her and her complement. The ashtrays therefore have an interest as of being an immediate and personal link with the event. The letter from the company manager who directed this making adds something even to that. So they are of more interest than, say, an original of a contemporary newspaper or black edged mourning postcards sold commercially to catch the public mood and purse.

The question was what happened to the Titanic's propellors. These were the Titanic's propellors whether or not they'd ever been fitted to her.

Space shuttle pieces, Sailracer, me old salt? Only if they come with a note reading ' found on the Brooklyn Bridge you have bought'.

04-17-04, 10:33 PM
Georgia85
That's a very interesting story about the propellers. I didn't know about the spares - thanks for sharing.

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