Grand Staircase Photographs

[Brian O'Dell]

Some of you may know, I hold a connection with the Odell family from Titanic, but at Ellis Island, the name was incorrectly spelt O'Dell, hence my username.

I have been digging around trying to find old documents and paperwork and came across two photographs of the forward Grand Staircase. I have no idea of their authenticity.

The photographs Kate Odell took are different to these, so I am wondering if Jack Odell took them with his own camera he is seen holding in the photograph of the family on the Boat Deck.

Can somebody shed some light on these? Thanks!

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/JAtkinsonManhattan/PICT0014.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/JAtkinsonManhattan/PICT0016.jpg

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Hi Brian!

What for great photos!
I am not quite sure if these are the Titanic grand staircase. It is hard to see because of the light reflexion on the 1st photo of the boat deck level, but it seems that there is no door which would speak that these was taken on board Olympic.
(Do you know if some of them were on Olympic before 1913?)

 

[Brian O'Dell]

Thanks! They really did surprise me when I found them. I am really not sure if any were aboard the Olympic, Ioannis.

I am wondering which doors you are referring to. If you mean the doors leading to the forward cabins then there are doors in the photograph. It's just hard to see because of the light. I'll attach a better one in my next post.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Hello Brian, I have add you here two images from Olympic so you can see the door I was refering to. Titanic was having this door on Boat Deck level as there were some extra 1st class cabins near the Officer quarters. Olympic did not have them, she got them after her refit 1913.

If you upload better images better you also add something on them (your name) as sure people will made a copy of it and you will find them later on different internet pages (as this happen with some of my Olympic photos).

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

This is the door, directly beside the staircase. There was also one on the port side.

 

[Brian O'Dell]

Yes, I know which doors you mean.

But you should know what I found! A box full of 30 or so photographs aboard 'Titanic' and there are some really rare views of the public rooms! Below is a photograph showing the door on the Boat Deck level.

I was going to scan the ones I already posted but I thought someone might steal them. When I start scanning them, I'll add a watermark.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Wow, I am not sure what to say!
There are now 2 possibilities,
1. Olympic after the 1912/13 refit
or
2. Titanic

Would need time to compare with my Olympic staircase images.
I don't not know much about photo cameras, but as you already mentioned, they does not look like the quality of the other Odell photos. Maybe you are right and they are taken by young Jack.
If there is a photo of the forward A Deck promenade or the Cafe Parisien then it would clearly answer the question if it is Titanic or Olympic.

Would be great to see also the other ones too!

I am sorry if my previously post about the doors sounds rude or something like that. My English is not perfect I and to make sure what I mean I add the images to show them.

 

[Brian O'Dell]

I actually don't have a photo of the cafe or forward promenade but there are some of the A la Carte Reception Room and the restaurant itself. I know on Titanic it was expanded so maybe by that photograph you can tell which ship it is.

Don't worry about your English, by the way! I understand it.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Thanks!

Yes, A la Carte restaurant would be of help. Also if there is any of the Gymnasium (or even boat deck itself) as there were also some differences between both of them.

 

[Matthew D. Chapman]

Fascinating. Could this be a whole series of never before seen Titanic photos?

Is there anybody willing to shed some light on which ship may have been portrayed here?

 

[Brian O'Dell]

There are no photos of the Gymnasium, unfortunately. There aren't any of the exterior of the ship, either, only the interior.

Unfortunately, the A la Carte photograph is in bad condition and I'm scared to scan it. I hope this is alright.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/JAtkinsonManhattan/PICT0025.jpg

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

I still love the photos!

(No matter which ship it will turned out to be!)

Ok, we are looking here from starboard to port. On the port side we can see three groups of 3 windows. Unfortunately I can not make out many details so I am afraid to call them Titanic if they are Olympic and the other way.
Titanic was having that group of window on the port side but also Olympic after the 1912/13 refit with the expansion of the Restaurant.

Seemed that the photos does want to hold there secret! Is there any of the Veranda Cafe, Smoking Room or D Deck Reception Room? There were also there some differences between Olympic and Titanic. (Also some of the cabins.)

Maybe there is someone else who maybe see something which I missed on the photos.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Sorry, I am now watching nearly one hour at the A la carte photo but can not see anything more.

The Reading and Writing Room was also changed on Olympic during the refit. It became smaller, but maybe you already know and there is no image.

 

[Rocky Whiteside]

I really hate to disappoint you, but those are incredibly fake. The first two look like badly created pictures of compute models, made to look old, and the larger one you posted appears to be a model. There is very little detail, and looks more like paper than anything. They are not real, I can guarantee you that.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

>>I really hate to disappoint you, but those are incredibly fake. The first two look like badly created pictures of compute models, made to look old, and the larger one you posted appears to be a model. There is very little detail, and looks more like paper than anything. They are not real, I can guarantee you that.<<

Pity, I have wanted to see more of them before someone would notice.