Emmerson book/colors

[Christian]

Yesterday me and my friend decided to order the only copy we found online of
the book: "The Greatest Iron Ship: SS Great Eastern" by George S. Emmerson.
Hopefully it is still available. The condition seems to be so-so and the
price quite high at US$44. But since this book is more rare than the dodo
bird, we decided to order it. We usually keep exchanging material from one
side of the big pond to the other when only one copy is available. I'll let
you know when and if the book arrives. Of course reviews of all GE books
will be included in our upcoming GE model page. I definitely need to visit
London soon and go shopping for used books. I'll return flat broke I'm
afraid :-(

Jim, we are checking on all info to come up with a comprehensive paint
chart. Same old song: too many changes were made and so many things were
exclusive to the GE that apparently simple questions like deckhouse roof
colors are hard to pinpoint.

The deck was almost 100% made of teak wood. The wooden deck houses that
appear dark might have been made of mahogany but I need to find that
documented before I answer that definitively. The skylights and other deck
detail can be seen nicely in the Beaver book, but almost all pictures are of
the cable laying period when the vessel had suffered major refitting.

Another problem is the inside of the wooden bulwark, fitted after launching
thus missing from construction pics. B/W photos don't tell much since film
stock was ortochromatic back in mid 19th Century and reacted differently to
each color hue. On the builders model which we suspect to be situated in San
Francisco at the moment depicts the inside of the bulwarks as medium brown
wood but on many photos it looks like it has been treated with some kind of
creosote. Again: needs more research.

I promise to come up with much more comprehensive info regarding the colors
of the Great Eastern superstructure ASAP.

Best and thanks again

Christian

[Paulrjordan]

> We (my friend and myself) just miss one book: "The Greatest Iron
> Ship, S.S. Great Eastern" Author: George S. Emmerson, Publisher:
> David & Charles, probably 1970s. No matter where we track it down,
> it has been sold already.
> Does anyone know where to get this book?

You and your buddy must have quite the library there, Christian.
I'm afraid that I wasnt able to locate a copy for you either. I
searched every possible combination and string without luck. The only
thing I could come up with from the same publisher is:

Russell, WH. The Atlantic Telegraph.
David & Charles - Newton Abbot. 1972, facsimile of the 1st ed.
published in 1865, 1972. (facsimile reprint) 117pp with b/w illus.
This book tells the story, published shortly after the Atlantic
Telegraph was laid in 1864. It tells - and graphically illustrates -
how the cable was manufactured, how the Great Eastern was adapted for
the task, and how the cable was laid.

There are currently 3 copies of this book available in the UK

I'll keep a watch out if anything comes up

PJ

[Christian]

Hello PJ,

> Christian..still having the same old probs? ..man oh man..it's been
> almost a year now and you still havn't been able to get into our files
> area!

Yup. Sorry, I was too busy elsewhere (including Great Eastern research) and
kept postponing resolving the problem... :-/


> Christian..I kinda regard you as our guiding lights in all things "GE"

Thanks I am honored. I start to get a good grasp of her. Still so much to
find out yet, sources to be double checked, but that's part of the fun.

> You and your buddy must have quite the library there, Christian.

Yes we do. We have almost everything we know of about the Great Eastern
except: "The greatest iron ship: SS Great Eastern" by George S. Emerson.
Alibri has a copy but it looks as if it's in a poor state and way too
expensive at $ 42.95 plus shipping. I trust we will track one or two better
copies down before long. Of course I'd highly appreciate any help.

In regards to your question: No, I am not a member of any other Yahoo group.

I am positive that if you would help me to sign in again and do a fresh
start beginning from square one, I'll be able to access the group's files.

Thanks in advance for your kind help

Best

Christian