Mike,
I will probably write an article on the writing of this book in more detail then what is posted on the TTSM site for the societies out there that would want it. I'm sure that some people are saying to themselves "This information is waaaay over the top - more then anyone needs" and they are correct. However, we did this on purpose. Why? Because we are afraid that shipbuilding in this era, and more specifically the Titanic's construction, will be lost to the future generations after all of the ephemera and technical sources have found their way either out of someone's closet into a trash bin having been thrown out by a grandchild or over eager landlord, or these period books become so rare that they can only be found in certain libraries under lock and key - and at that, one would still need to piece it together. In other words, we wanted to seal this information into the annuls of time for the future, and that is why we went overboard with much of the subject matter. We could have done more, but cut it, or held back for obvious space reasons. This is why we welcome feedback and even criticism on this book also, and why we tried as much as possible to steer clear of controversial matters also. In 50, 100 or 200 years, this book may be all there is to tell the story of Titanic's construction.
Recently I started working on my family's genealogy, and even facts that are no more then 40 years old are gone with the death of a family member. But no-one seemed to care to ask when the person was still alive, and now I am stuck here looking for what would have been an easy answer ten years ago. Imagine what we would have now if someone back in the 50's had this kind of fascination for the specifications of Titanic when
Walter Lord first interviewed those survivors? Instead of asking about the human stories or whatever, someone asked one of those saloon stewards where they ate their meals or some other crewman what color their bed spreads were? what kind of flooring was laid in the alleyways of where they worked or what color a skylight was painted, or how they even opened the damned thing? Now we have to piece it all together with shards of information.
We also feel for Joe the modeler in his garage, and those on up, who long for these types of facts but may never have the chance to get it. We all were there once, and have had a few doors slammed on us too (and still do). I understand to some degree, as I can't answer everyone's personal request either.
So here is a book of information. This book (it was supposed to be one volume initially remember) is really nothing more then my original personal notes highly expanded with the help of the other guys. With this book out in the public, the Titanic playing field has been leveled to some extent, and now the awareness and knowledge of anyone who reads these books, and understands most of it, will be at an advanced level to start with. Perhaps now we won't have to try and explain that the 36 socket signals were not the same as distress rockets - even though both were fired from a socket, or what the differences were between the ventilating bitts and the regular ones, or what a "floor" is and so on...
And Phil,
In the second edition we are going to include a warning page to release us of liability for any injuries that may occur from reading this material
Bruce
