Brunel and the Industrial Revolution

Big Red Propeller (1843), Isambad Kingdom Brunel

Hel's comment on how you can't understand the Industrial Revolution without understanding Brunel got me thinking about what Morris must have thought of Brunel.  To Morris, Brunel must have been an anathema, an agent of the Revolution (and not the right one) relentlessly driving forward the mechanization and industrialization of England.  Brunel's red propeller reminded me of this painting of artist David Mabb (from a previous post) which captures the irony of Morris's antipathy toward the very forces of industrialization that not only allowed his designs to be mass produced but also greatly expanded the upper class able to afford his luxury goods.

Big Red Propeller (2001), David Mabb

The SS Great Britain, gears all still working, moving, turning....

"bridge to engine room"....check out that awesome speaking tube!

ship's "galley" -- a perfect work triangle

first class family cabin with fake well-behaved children

first class dining room

steerage

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, A Man As Great As His Name

In 2002, a BBC public survey in Great Britain published a list of the 100 Greatest Britons of all time.  Second on the list, after Winston Churchill, was Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a civil engineer and contemporary of William Morris.  Brunel beat out Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, Lady Diana, indeed even Charles Darwin.  (Irritatingly, William Morris did not make the top 100, a travesty I can't fully grasp.)

I had never heard of him!  But here is his bridge, The Clifton Suspension Bridge, still in active use in Bristol.  When it was built (started in 1831, eventually finished in 1864) it had the longest span of any bridge in the world, spanning over 700 ft (210 m) across the river Avon.

Brunel also designed and built the first commercial steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Western, which was also the first ship to hold the Blue Riband (which I wrote about a few days ago in this post).  This wooden ship had a paddle wheel but Brunel was convinced that a propeller-driven ship would be more efficient and, for an encore, designed a ground-breaking six-bladed propeller for the 322-foot Great Britain which is now preserved as a ship musuem in Bristol's famous floating harbor.  "Great Britain is considered the first modern ship, being built of metal rather than wood, powered by an engine rather than wind or oars, and driven by propeller rather than paddle wheel. She was the first iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean."

Here are some pictures from the incredibly awesome SS Great Britain ship/museum I visited yesterday.   I was only sorry I didn't have little kids with me to share the experience.

The ship is "moored" in an antique dry dock blocked off from river by the original caisson (pic below).  To prevent corrosion of the iron hull, the conservators came upon the unique solution of sealing the boat off at the water line with a transparent barrier that has a few inches of water floating on its surface.  This allows them to keep the humidity at a non-corrosive 20% while providing a spectacular setting from which to experience the ship, both above and below waterline.  You can see how cool it is walking "underwater" around the ship's hull, with the sunlight rippling through the water overhead.

Right third of the original and leaky caisson, that blocks off the water from the river, along with ship's anchor.

The six-bladed propeller and "balanced" rudder, famous engineering innovations.

Looking toward the bow from the back of deck --- many skylights let sunlight into the ship's interior.  In my next post, I'll put up some interior pictures.

My first in situ Banksy!

I'm in Bristol, England, for a few days, the home of the anonymous and very famous street artist Banksy---remember him from this post?  While out to dinner last night I asked my local hosts if they knew where any "Banksys" were.   Not three blocks from the restaurant was the one above (complete with subsequent paint ball splatters.....don't these graffiti guys have any respect!?!).   As I was crossing the street to get a closer look, a driver barreling down the hill at excessive speeds no doubt had to lighten pressure on the accelerator for a millisecond to avoid mowing us down.  As the disaffected youth flew by he leaned out of window and yelled "c#nt!!".   Normally my first thought would be "asshole!" but in this case it was "Wow, thank you for enhancing my artistic experience."

SS United States -- Saved from the Scrapyard!!!

This is me and my sibs sailing to Europe in 1968 on the fastest ocean liner of all time, the SS United States.  The SS United States was a luxury passenger liner built in 1952 both to capture the trans-Atlantic speed record for the U.S. (which it did on her maiden voyage) and to serve as an easily convertible troop carrier if war broke out with Russia (Cold War).  The SS United States operated continuously in trans-Atlantic passenger service until 1969 when she went to the shipyard for overhaul and never returned to service.  Airline travel had become cheaper and faster.  Returning from Europe in the summer of 1969, we were among the last passengers ever to sail on this beauty.

Since 1996, the SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia and just this past March narrowly escaped the scrapyard, due primarily to the more than twenty year effort of the SS United States Conservancy.   This national nonprofit organization has fought to preserve America’s national and legendary flagship while advocating for a dignified future for this historic ship.  A few days ago they announced the exciting news that Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest has pledged up to $5.8 million to the Conservancy, funds that "will be used to purchase the vessel from its current owner, Norwegian Cruise Line/Genting Hong Kong and maintain the ship in its current berth for up to 20 months while redevelopment plans are solidified." 

On her maiden voyage, the SS United States broke the record for fastest trans-Atlantic crossing by a passenger liner, capturing the "Blue Riband", going from New York Harbor to Cornwall, UK, in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 knots (40.96 mph; our trip took five days).   On her return voyage she broke the west-bound record, a speed record she still holds. 

From wikipedia:

"She is widely considered the greatest ocean liner ever built. She was also a secret weapon during the Cold War, able to be converted to a troop ship capable of carrying an army division 10,000 miles without refueling or replenishment. The ship became an icon of her era, transporting four American presidents and other heads of state, military and business leaders, and countless celebrities. She also brought many immigrants to America."  

I can still remember vividly my trips on the liner---the movies, the bingo games, the pool, the fancy dinner tables, everybody getting sea-sick as we skirted a huge storm, walking up and down the gangplanks, arriving in Le Harve and New York, peering into the first class sections of the ship!  When I get on a plane for Europe later today, with the cramped seats and unappetizing food, I will think back with nostalgia on my first European adventure, happy knowing I might get another chance to walk around this great ship someday soon! 

tied up in Philly...

today....(Photo by Patrick Murphy)

A Bamboo Coffered Ceiling

 

After reading the ceiling post of a few days ago my friend Dan sent me these pictures of his own coffered dining room ceiling.  He did this himself using bamboo wallpaper from Franks' Cane and Rush which he glued to 1/4" luan and tacked up.  The battens are made from #2 pine 1" x 5"s that he chamfered with a router and then followed with an application of four coats of ebonized shellac.

The frieze is peacock blue velvet and the whole room was inspired by one you might remember seeing on this blog in April.... the James McNeill Whistler Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery in D.C..   I think you captured it Dan!

Gotta Love P-town in the Summer!

 

This is a straight out travel post -- how much fun can you have in one town in two days?  A lot, starting with a 90 minute ride on the high-speed ferry from Boston to Provincetown at the very tip of Cape Cod.  This past weekend was the annual Portuguese Festival and blessing of the fleet.  Provincetown has a strong Portuguese fishing heritage, is a historical center of fishing and whaling in New England, and also is one of the oldest artist's colonies in the nation.  Its long-standing tradition of tolerance has also led to it becoming a mecca for the gay/lesbian community....think the Key West of the north, complete with equally fabulous beaches.

Two great cab fleets!  The Funkmobiles versus the Mercedes....

In my town, if a kid rode on a fire engine during a parade there would probably be a citizen's arrest for endangering minors.  How refreshing!

Dramatic photographs of the grand dames of the Portuguese community on the main wharf......really beautiful (click to enlarge).

the decked out boats....ready to be blessed.

I hope I'm still living my dreams at 78.....

View from the front porch of White Wind Inn (built 1845) on Commercial St......really lovely hosts, wonderful breakfasts, Saturday afternoon open bar cocktail party on the porch which coincided perfectly with the parade passing by!

This panel van delivering to the restaurants pulled up in front of the Inn early each morning.

Finally, miles of incredible bike trails wind through the dunes of the outer Cape.

Paint your ceiling blue and gold....

I love painted stenciled ceilings (as did William Morris).  Here are some with a real arts and craft vibe.  If I was going to do something like this in my house (or palace), I'd paint masonite panels then screw them up with drywall screws and my trusty Makita and put trim over seams.

And finally, three last pics from Kyoto trip of things I thought were really beautiful....

rock alter and bowl

rock bridges in rock garden

rock gutter

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