Propeller notice boards

[Snellman]

I just read this yesterday.

The Case for the Color of Titanic’s Propeller Warning Notice Boards Being Black and White

Any thoughts?

 

[Thomas Krom]

Any thoughts?

Good day to you,

I can't deny that I've disagree with a few of the colour statements made by Dr. Read (such as the anti-fouling paint he claims the Titanic had and the green capstans and windlasses on the forecastle), however this is one of the few times I agree with him on colour based matters.

There are only a few examples I discovered that had red notice signs, such as the MS Vulcania below

However, there is overwhelming photographic evidence of black notice boards in comparison to the red ones:

Wreck of the Andrea Doria

SS Lochfyne.

Port Mebourne

RMS Mauretania (1938)

MV Britannic (1929)

MV Georgic (1931)

It is interesting to know that warning signs once used to be yellow, and not red as it is today.


Kind regards,

Thomas

 

[Snellman]

Great, thanks for the reply, Thomas!

 

[Kyle Naber]

This was my first time hearing about this! I didn’t know there was such explicit documentation about the Britannic’s boards either. Super interesting stuff!

 

[Kiku]

Good day to you,

I can't deny that I've disagree with a few of the colour statements made by Dr. Read (such as the anti-fouling paint he claims the Titanic had and the green capstans and windlasses on the forecastle), however this is one of the few times I agree with him on colour based matters.

There are only a few examples I discovered that had red notice signs, such as the MS Vulcania below
View attachment 110849
View attachment 110859
However, there is overwhelming photographic evidence of black notice boards in comparison to the red ones:
View attachment 110850
Wreck of the Andrea Doria
View attachment 110851
SS Lochfyne.
View attachment 110852
Port Mebourne
View attachment 110853
View attachment 110854
View attachment 110855
RMS Mauretania (1938)
View attachment 110856
View attachment 110857
MV Britannic (1929)
View attachment 110858
MV Georgic (1931)

It is interesting to know that warning signs once used to be yellow, and not red as it is today.


Kind regards,

Thomas

Some warning signs today do have a yellow background with a black exclamation mark in the foreground.

 

[Justin Litke]

Do we know what font these boards used?

 

[Bob Read]

Do we know what font these boards used?

Font styles are used in print typesetting and digital type styles. These notice boards were hand painted so they had no formal “font” as such.

 

[Andy A Carter]

Font styles are used in print typesetting and digital type styles. These notice boards were hand painted so they had no formal “font” as such.

Hey Rob,

proper Signwriters used and knew the Fonts - I have evidence of this as I used to use a Signwriter alot on my Race Cars in the late 70s, early 80s.

His name was Frank, lovely man (was a Rear Gunner on Wellingtons during the War) and he always used to ask me what Font I wanted.

At 17 I had never heard of Font and he explained it to me and showed me examples.

Unfortunately now a nearly varnished trade.

Best regards

Andy

 

[Encyclopedia Titanica]

From a film of the last departure of the Britannic from New York.

 

[Scott Mills]

I just read this yesterday.

The Case for the Color of Titanic’s Propeller Warning Notice Boards Being Black and White

Any thoughts?

I am not at all qualified to even discuss this, other than to ask where did the assumption these notices were red come from? It appears from the evidence in this thread that most ships had these signs painted black.

I will comment though that red seems far superior to black, since the red contrasts with the black hulls of most vessels of the era. Having the sign in black, with white lettering, even if hung from the ships white rails would make it much more difficult to differentiate from the rest of the hull at any distance greater than a few hundred feet... though I suppose these warnings were meant for those in boats or small ships close into the liners who carried them.