| Author |
Message |
    
Robert Falange
Member
Username: bobfalange
Post Number: 85
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 5:02 pm: | 
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I would imagine that some witnesses who spoke of certain timings during the disaster (collision, boat launchings, sinking, etc) got their information second-hand.
For example, survivors may have asked questions on the Carpathia such as "What time did she sink?" to which someone gave a reply which then became part of their own "stories".
If so, some of the evidence we have come to rely on may not be accurate. There would also be the issue of whether the watch/clock was set to Southampton time, ship's time, etc.
Would it be possible to put together a list of witnesses who had their own timepieces? Which of the survivors had a working wristwatch? Are there witnesses who referred specifically to a clock in their cabin prior to the sinking? And in each case, would we know whether these were synchronised with other sources?
I did try a search of this messageboard, but there are difficulties - the multiple-meanings of the words "watch", "time" etc.
So, unless there's already a thread which has comprehensively answered these questions, could I ask if we could try and put together a list between us of:
a) survivers who wore a functioning watch,
b) survivors who directly consulted a clock,
and (a little less satisfactory but nevertheless helpful):
c) survivors who directly observed another person clearly looking at a watch and reporting the time.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
bob |
Dave Gittins
Member
Username: gittins
Post Number: 684
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 10:01 pm: |
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This is a big can of worms and I can't see it ever being sorted out fully.
One thing I do know is that in 1912 men rarely wore wrist watches. They were not common until WW I, when they were issued to the troops so that they knew when to act on orders. Most men would have had pocket watches, but to read the time they had to take them out, open the case, read the dial and then reverse the procedure. I fancy that not many bothered in the general confusion.
As far as I know, there are only a few direct references to timepieces in the evidence. I'd have to dig for them, but one I recall is a mention of a woman in a boat looking at her wrist watch. |
George Pastarmatzis
Member
Username: fm123sparti
Post Number: 265
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:17 pm: |
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Hi! Is the gold wrist watch I saw in Susan Wels' book out of fashion or perhaps a "fashionable" one? Thanks!
George Pastarmatzis
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Steve Dever
Member
Username: rubayat
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 9:41 pm: |
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Hi! all.
I recently posted an information request regarding a watch I found while working a summer job in college.I was tearing our the wooden walls of the officers quarters and on a joist lay a Waltham Pocket watch which has been dated to 1906. Stamped on the chain plate " 25 Years Service W.S.L". If anyone can tell me if Waltham Pocket watches were given to officers for Retirement or Years of service it would be appreciated. The watch is 18K Gold fill with a solid 18k Gold chain.
Thanks
Steve Dever |
