Mystery item on Olympics's Bdeck panel

[Nigel Bryant]

I was wondering if any one had identified the object that Ken Marschall could not work on Olympic's "A-deck panel" relic, originally in 1911- named B-deck (before the re-numbering in the 20s) which he describes in his wreck report.

See here: http://titanic.marconigraph.com/km26.html

It's that little hole just below the "A-deck" writing. Is it some sort of small light that shone its light ray above the original brass lettering for better visibility? Ken believes its some sort of electrical fitting. Thats why I thought it might be some sort of light. What do you guys think it is.

Best,

Nigel

 

[Bob Godfrey]

That area was provided with a number of upholstered chairs and settees where passengers might spend some time, so maybe the fitting was a bell-push to summon a steward. But if so it would be awkwardly placed as there was a settee immediately below it. If you have the book Titanic and her sisters there is an artist's impression of this area on page 59 - this is probably the drawing referred to on your linked page.

 

[Joshua Andersen]

Maybe it might be one of those bent lights that go straight out at the horizontal for a couple inches. Then the light is vertical maybe an inch tall. This light may have been used to show the sign better in the dark or to just show it off.

 

[Stuart Kelly]

Writing on the back of the panel may give some indication of where it was placed and so would pin point it to a spot that could be looked up in the dispersal auction catalogue. The lot description would perhaps give more info about what was attached to the panel.

Ken, if you read this, what's written on the back of the panel?

It's always fascinating to see photos of things from the Olympic and that panel is is indeed revelatory.

I include a photo of a similar panel from the deck above that was sold at auction in 1991.

Stu

 

[Daniel Klistorner]

Stuart,

The catalogue sheds little light as to what it might be. In fact, it mentions that the panels are sold minus the clock. By the time they were documented for sale a lot of things were taken. Who knows this little electrical fitting might have been one of them, it is not mentioned with the paneling.

(An aside: the clocks were sold separately, since they were one system of about 50 clocks).

Daniel.

 

[Alex Clark]

I was wondering if any one had identified the object that Ken Marschall could not work on Olympic's "A-deck panel" relic, originally in 1911- named B-deck (before the re-numbering in the 20s) ...
Nigel

Interesting. What was the reason for the renumbering?