Thomas Andrews Rare Signed Document from the Titanic Designer

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Dec 6, 2023

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• Lot Description
  DS, signed “Th. Andrews,” two pages, 8 x 10, postmarked February 25, 1911. Document from the ‘Works Department’ at Harland and Wolff, the shipbuilding company that built the ​​RMS Titanic, issued to ‘Management’ regarding “No. 400 s.s. ‘Olympic,’ Bilge Blocks.” The RMS Olympic, the lead ship of the White Star Line's trio of Olympic-class ocean liners, was completed on May 31, 1911, and embarked on its maiden voyage on June 14, 1911. The letter begins: “With reference to Harbour Secretary's letter of the 24th inst. advising us that they cannot see their way to supply 80 additional keel blocks to be used as Bilge Blocks during the time the above vessel is in the New Graving Dock from the 30th March or 1st April until the 22nd April, viz: about 3 weeks: The following points occur to us.” The document lists six points relaying the importance of obtaining and using the requested bilge blocks. They read, in full:
  
  
  
  “(1) - That in view of our letter of the 22nd inst. to the Harbour Master, which clearly points out the necessity for the use of Bilge Blocks in the case of all vessels more than 80 ft. beam, which letter may not have had the consideration that was intended, we think that perhaps Lord Pirrie may yet be able to convince the Harbour Commissioners of the necessity of supplying these.
  
  
  
  (2) - Perhaps a number of keel blocks could be borrowed from one of the sections of the Alexandra Graving Dock for use as Bilge Blocks for the "Olympic" in the New Graving Dock, if the necessary permission could be obtained from the Harbour Authorities, but these would not be too satisfactory, as they are much lower than the blocks in the New Dock and would require to be made up with timber.
  
  
  
  (3) - The Foreman Carpenter (Mr. R. F. Keith) does not recommend making Bilge Blocks of timber and weighting them with pig iron before vessel is docked, on account of the height of these (about 5 ft.), as he does not consider these would be satisfactory, as it would be impossible to estimate the amount these would crush and yield on getting the weight of the vessel, and moreover these might easily get displaced when filling the dock.
  
  
  
  (4) - The Foreman Carpenter does not consider it would be satisfactory to erect the Bilge Blocks after the dock has been pumped out, nor to fit Bilge Shores then, as the bilges by that time would have come down and it would be impossible to get them up again.
  
  
  
  (5) - Taking the weight of the vessel at about 35,000 tons resting on 318 blocks at centre line makes the weight a fraction over 110 tons per block. It occurs to us that 76 of these blocks might possibly be withdrawn from the centre line, and these, with the 4 space blocks, would make 80 available for use as Bilge Blocks, 40 P. & S., and if the vessel rested on these it might be represented that she is sitting on the 322 blocks that the Harbour have provided, and that the weight would be a little less than 110 tons per block, but we are of opinion that this would be quite in error, as the weight would first come on the keel blocks. Perhaps double oak keel blocks could be substituted in the place of the cast iron blocks removed, but the Foreman Carpenter does not favour this proposal, as he feels he cannot estimate the amount that the timber blocks would yield and crush in. The 246 keel blocks at centre line divided into the weight works out at about 143 tons per block.
  
  
  
  (6) - Bilge shores could be got out and prepared for their correct length, and the positions for these determined, and just after the vessel had taken the keel blocks the pumping of the dock could be stopped and these bilge shores fitted by Divers, which we estimate would take about 6 hours, after which the pumping could be resumed until dock is dry.” Signed in the upper right of the first page in blue pencil by Thomas Andrews, and countersigned by Lord Pirrie, Andrews’s uncle, who served as a chairman at Harland and Wolff. The front is also initialled by Charles Payne, who was the shipyard manager, and the bottom of the second page bears two stamped signatures from works department officials. In fine condition, with light creases and folds. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from White Star Memories, Ltd.
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