Why is so much heroism attached to the sinking of Titanic? Why do we accord impossible glory to the miserable, misbegotten drowning of the equivalent of a small town? What process led to the creation of champions? Who were the real heroes and how were they overlooked? What did society--and the press--do with an overriding need for blame?
By identifying the fable-making this book enables a fresh, sharp focus on history's most famous shipwreck. We see into the nature of prejudice, public values, political and national motives. It explores what we think we know about the engineers, musicians, Captain Smith, his officers, the owners and officialdom.
It also looks at sacrificial victims, in particular the character of Captain Stanley Lord of the S.S. Californian, a man tarred with abandoning fifteen hundred people to their fate.
Backed up with a new photographic archive and bolstered by a series of contemporary extracts to support its arguments, this is Titanic history presented in a new and authentic light. Softcover. 224 pages. New and archival black and white photos.
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There has long been a desire and need for a book, or set of books, that cover nearly every facet of the construction of Titanic––from hull plates to funnels and from dinner plates to waste pipes, Titanic The Ship Magnificent undertakes to be that all-encompassing work.
Titanic The Ship Magnificent is a compilation of diverse and assorted sources brought together into one place for the first time. This set of two volumes is the culmination of an effort that spanned years of research and many more hours of editing and annotating. As an anthology that seems to be second-to-none and that includes about 1,500 photographs, drawings and illustrations, the books answer nearly every question about the ship’s design and building. Many photographs have not been published since the time of building of Olympic and Titanic.
The first volume spans 688 pages covering nearly every element of her design and construction with accompanying illustrations, diagrams and plans.
The second volume boasts 512 pages and covers the details of her interiors including hundreds of photographs and deck plans. Click here for more information
This booklet was reprinted from a rare original in its original red and buff color cover, using the same size and text. Rare images are the same tinted photographs of interiors including the grand staircase, first class lounge, reception room, grand dining saloon, a la carte restaurant, reading and writing room, smoke room, verandah cafe and palm court, gymnasium, salt water pool, squash court and the Turkish bath. 20 pages, all are magnificent full page illustrations of these opulent and legendary liners as they were advertised for the public to view in 1910-12.
Titanic’s first class passenger list is one of the most requested reproductions and its understandable why. This is an exquisite reproduction printed from an original and rare Titanic Passenger List in the Titanic Museum Collection. Hold a real piece of history in your hand and search through the familiar names. Printed with the same color covers and includes Titanic's (future) scheduled sailings and the listing of the passengers in first and second class. This facsimile original maiden voyage booklet printed on glossy paper looks like the real thing and contains all the shipboard information that was distributed to the passengers. A real find for those seeking information about the first and second class people who were aboard the Titanic.
Are you a stamp or autograph collector or do you know one? Here is a truly unusual gift for that will be cherished. This beautiful commemorative cover was commissioned for The Titanic Historical Society and cannot be purchased anywhere else. The illustration of Britannic was created by Ken Marschall especially for this commemorative cover. 433 was the hull number of Britannic. Each cover was taken down to the ocean floor to the wreck of Britannic during Dr Ballard's official Britannic photographic expedition where a memorial plaque was placed by Dr Ballard on behalf of the THS remembering those who perished. While resting at the wrecksite in the submersible, the 433 envelopes were officially at the wreck and stamped with the official expedition logo and official Greek postage stamps. Signed by Dr Robert Ballard, maritime illustrator Ken Marschall and author Eric Sauder, they are not only beautiful but are truly rare and unusual collector's items. Only 433 commemorative covers were printed. When they are gone, they are gone.
Carpathia’s Captain Rostron raced his vessel at top speed to reach the sinking Titanic on what began as a leisurely passage to the Mediterranean from New York. His autobiography “Home from the Sea” published in 1931 describes his life at sea in sail and steam and his service on many famous vessels for the Cunard Line...
RMS Majestic was launched in 1914 as Bismarck for the Hamburg-Amerika Line and not completed until the end of the First World War. When she was finished, she was handed over to the British Shipping Controller who sold her to the White Star Line. At 56,000 tons she enjoyed a long reign as the world’s largest ship and spent most of her service on the Southampton-New York run with occasional cruises to Canada. With sumptuous interiors as well as luxurious restaurants and public rooms, she plied her trade until 1936. Saved from the scrap yard, she was converted to a training ship for cadets as HMS Rosyth.
With an extensive collection of archival photos, the White Star vessel’s stately rooms, striking paintings in vibrant colors as well as a fascinating and comprehensive narrative chronicling the life of RMS Majestic; the ‘Magic-Stick’ provides a complete history of a ship that was once the pride of the White Star line. Illustrated throughout with sharp, clear black and white and color photos. 100 pages.
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Below decks on the ill-fated Titanic, carefully synchronized clocks kept
perfect time until icy salt water stopped them at 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912.
Today the historic, utilitarian styling that inspired this meticulously engineered
timepiece makes it an attractive and practical conversation piece in any room
in your home...
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Last
Photo of TitanicThis stunning photograph of Titanic is the last known snapshot of the ill-fated liner as she was leaving Queenstown. Snapped by a Titanic passenger, Jack Odell, a young boy who was on holiday with his family that got on board at Southampton and disembarked in Queenstown, Ireland, Titanic's last port of call. This image was taken while they were on the tender heading back to Queenstown (now Cobh).
Not only is this image the last known picture taken of Titanic but also is signed by Jack Odell, the person who was on board the ship and snapped the photo when he left. A magnificent and amazing collectible. This is not a printed autograph. Each print was signed by hand by the late Mr. Jack Odell. Mr Odell signed these prints especially for the Titanic Historical Society and they were offered for sale for the first time at the Society’s convention in Boston in 1992.
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There
are many gaps in our collective knowledge of His Majesty's Hospital Ship Britannic.
An example of that is the official transport number assigned when she was
in hospital ship service. It had been reported as G.618, prior to 2004, with
the exception of Captain Bartlett's report following the ship's loss which
gave the number as G.608. Captain Bartlett would have been in a position to
know his own ship's assigned number, however, as the report was completed
shortly after the sinking, Bartlett's slip could be written off as a minor
mistake and natural under the circumstances to get a single digit wrong, and
the letter and other two numbers otherwise matched. All that changed in 2004,
when a new photograph surfaced. It was a stunning, hitherto unknown image
of Britannic at Southampton in early 1916….
Of all the mysteries surrounding Titanic, one is how Captain Smith met his end. Popular myth holds that Smith went down with his ship. This legend has been sustained by portrayals of his death in books and movies, perhaps most memorably in J. Arthur Rank's A Night to Remember (1958), and in James Cameron's Titanic (1997). (Click here for more information)
The
cover image and story, Entertainment Onboard an Ocean Liner, came about from
frequent questions to the Titanic Historical Society about activities during
a voyage. “Was it boring? What did passengers do besides eat, nap in a
deck chair, read, play cards or walk around the deck?” We know ships like
Titanic had magnificent public rooms but one generally didn’t spend a lot
of time in them. A gymnasium, swimming pool and pursuits to promote health were
innovative circa 1912 but consumed a minimum of time so we are back to the question––what
did people do to keep from being bored, especially on long voyages?
Titanic Dinners are immensely popular now and people also contact the THS asking about entertainment to complete their dinner party. “Are there any games that were popular that we can play?” In contrast, today’s cruise ships provide so much activity for all ages and interests, from climbing a rock wall to Broadway revues, that when a port of call is reached, some people choose to stay aboard. In Titanic’s era amusements were organized by the passengers. The social or cruise director did not evolve until much later. Your editor was fortunate to observe and participate in part of this transition in Entertainment On Board between the simpler times and the super-organized, non-stop entertainment aboard many contemporary cruise ships. (Click here for more information)
One artifact in the Titanic Museum (Indian Orchard, Massachusetts) that has attracted curiosity is a cover stamped “TITANIC” addressed to the Winter Building in Washington, DC. Tom Fortunato specializes in philately and answers questions about this group of envelopes that were destined for RMS Titanic’s mails.
The late Ken Schultz used this journal as a source of information and encouraged people interested in maritime memorabilia to join the THS so they would be informed collectors. A White Star Line calendar was a subject of interest that began with an inquiry from PBS’s “History Detectives.” The result is a variation of that theme that appears with more frequency as Titanic-related collectibles are offered for sale. Tim Trower and Karen Kamuda provide descriptions.
Irene (René) Harris was a Titanic survivor and an Honor Member of the Titanic Historical Society. Mrs. Harris’s graphic account of the sinking and loss of her husband affected her deeply. In a note to yours truly in 1964, she gave permission to reprint her story that appeared in Liberty (magazine) in 1932. Forty-four years later, René’s story is finally in this journal. Click here for more information
As 2007 turned to 2008, inevitable change occurred and the loss of two people connected with Titanic history, Frank Braynard and Barbara West Dainton, was keenly felt. Mrs. Dainton was the second-to-last known, living Titanic survivor and Frank Braynard was a virtual encyclopedia of shipping history. He was always willing to share his love of ships and, as a former newspaperman and other occupations that took him to New York’s storied piers lined with famous ships, he was extremely knowledgeable about the goings-on of the Atlantic greyhounds during their heyday.
Changes can also be seen in this issue. The Commutator’s format of the past ten years has a fresh look.
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An important centenary in White Star history occurred this year with the inauguration of transatlantic services from Southampton in June 1907, with the departure of Adriatic (II). Adriatic marked the beginning of the giant ship era. The design of Olympic and Titanic can be traced back to this cutting-edge vessel. Many of the features introduced in Adriatic were later incorporated into the design of these ocean-going giants; Turkish baths, a photographer’s darkroom, the plunge bath, electric lifts, a gymnasium and an enquiry office where passengers could obtain information on hotels, train timetables and tourist guides. White Star tested these ideas before developing and enlarging them for the Olympic-class. Her commander, on this historic voyage to New York, was Captain Edward J. Smith, the most highly paid officer in the British Merchant Service.
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Never again will you see so many Titanic survivors together.
Are you looking for a DVD featuring Titanic survivors? In April 1988, eleven, from age 76 to 100, were guests of The Titanic Historical Society’s convention at the Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. This historic video was not commercially made in a studio but created by a young producer and contains the best live interview of Ruth Becker Blanchard. Mrs. Blanchard was old enough to recall the disaster and tells a remarkable story as a missionary’s daughter in India that includes her personal photographs. Because of poor health the family was returning to the U.S. on Titanic. Leaving her father behind, she tells her mesmerized audience how they escaped with only the clothes on their back and how very lucky they were to survive with the family intact when so many others lost their lives. There is also a lengthy interview of Eva Hart, a second class passenger whose biography, “Shadow of the Titanic” is in its second printing. Eleven Titanic passengers attended that memorable convention and all have since passed away except for Millvina Dean. This was Millvina’s first trip across the Atlantic since Titanic.
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The Women’s Titanic Memorial in Washington, DC, like the iconic Titanic Engineer’s Memorial in Southampton, is a powerful yet poignant symbol of the disaster. Sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney executed the Titanic Memorial and called it a gift from “the women of America.” Inscribed on the back of the pedestal: “To the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the ignorant and the learned, all who gave their lives nobly to save women and children.”
The process of the monument’s creation connects with the evolution of the District of Columbia. Despite the initial emotional fervor to commemorate the heroes in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster, making the memorial a reality was a lengthy process that required an incredible amount of persistence to see it through when it was finally dedicated in 1931. The story of the memorial from origin to unveiling is featured in this issue.
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NOW
AVAILABLE AND IN STOCK!The inside story of what it was like to work at the fabled shipyard from one who was there. For boys growing up in Belfast, like their peers in other British ports, the great shipbuilding yards offered the opportunity of employment and career advancement. The city of Belfast has a long history of shipbuilding with the first completed vessel dating back as far as 1663 and the firm of Harland & Wolff forms a large part of the city’s nautical heritage. Famous ships such as Titanic, Olympic, Britannic, Belgenland, Southern Cross and Canberra were built on Harland & Wolff’s berths and slipways.
White Star’s Boston-Liverpool service, calling at Queenstown, is often overlooked in the broad range of ocean liner history. While secondary compared to other ports in the first two decades of the twentieth century, nevertheless, Boston was important in the scheme of things.
Hoosac Tunnel Docks seems like an odd moniker for the wharf facility used by White Star, the name came from a great engineering feat in Western Massachusetts’ Berkshires. As you read the article, its background ties in to a fascinating period in transport history.
As many times we have traveled to Charlestown, Massachusetts to see the U.S.S. Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument nearby, we did not see the remaining remnant of the White Star Line literally staring at us until Simon Mills and Karen Kamuda visited the famous frigate early in 2007. That photo is inside this issue and is a reminder how much fun there is discovering history.
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April 15th 2007 is the 95th anniversary of the Titanic disaster and a day that changed thousands of people’s lives. The stories told by passengers and survivors always fascinate and, because April is nearly upon us, this issue is devoted to them. The survivors featured are from a different class and provide a fascinating perspective––a man from first class who was a celebrity in his day, an engaged young woman in second class coming to the United States to meet her fiancé and get married and a young boy immigrating from England with his parents to settle in Detroit.
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What is believed to be the first interview with film star Dorothy Gibson about her experiences in the Titanic disaster appeared in the New York Telegraph on April 20, 1912.
The cover image is Dorothy Gibson by the artist, Harrison Fisher, painted in 1912.
Her eyewitness account was originally supplied by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for use in Randy Bryan Bigham’s book, Finding Dorothy, a biography of Gibson privately published last year. As the document arrived too late for inclusion, it is provided in its entirety for The Titanic Commutator for the first time in 94 years.
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“Thousands of people line up to participate in the grand opening” announced the News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri) Saturday, April 8, 2006 in a front page story above the fold including a large photo. Lining sidewalks and hillsides Friday morning, April 7th, they came to witness the official grand opening and christening ceremony of Titanic—World’s Largest Museum Attraction, and to see TV personality, Regis Philbin. In this special edition celebrating the launch and opening, there are dozens of gorgeous color photos and eighteen pages that tell the story.
Unsolved questions about the sinking of Titanic are a reason that draw us to her story. We are pleased to feature two original and absorbing investigations in this issue. The first was completed early in 2005; the second is a follow-up by Parks Stephenson to Simon Mills’ article, More Questions Than Answers and the History Channel, Titanic’s Final Moments documentary first televised in February 2006.
Shortly after the kerfuffle caused from the 1998 Titanic movie depicting a shooting by Officer Murdoch, Tad Fitch and Bill Wormstedt began their sleuthing involving dozens of people and a wealth of sources. Following the tried and true method of Sherlocking the whereabouts and statements of passengers, officers and crew, the result is a well-organized and very readable bit of detective work.
As this journal went to press, we lost a dear friend, Ken Shultz and Lillian Gertrud Asplund, the last American Titanic survivor died. Although she lived nearby, she maintained her privacy throughout her life. Paul Phaneuf, a funeral director and THS advisory board member put his thoughts on paper in part two of her story in the next issue.
There are always people looking for overlooked Titanic treasures. Karen Kamuda found one on eBay, unbelievable as that seems.
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As a student, Peter Davies-Garner built architectural models to supplement
his income. At that time he also drew a set of Titanic plans in 1/200th scale
which he hoped to publish in book form. It took two years just to draw the
side profile. 
When
he graduated, Peter had to earn a living, the plans weren't completed and
the book project was shelved. He joined a company where he constructed many
architectural models simply because he was the only one in the firm who could
build them. After a decade he decided to start his own business.
Titanic - The Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, commissioned him to create a Titanic in 1/48th scale as this is the same dimension as the builders' models. Until then Peter built models at home; but for this particular Titanic he needed a large workshop. Fortunately, a large, airy place was found within five minutes bicycling distance from his home. Then construction began in earnest. The hull frames were attached to a keel-plate and the spaces between the frames were filled with wooden strips -- the hull was approximately 18 feet long! (Peter's finished model can be seen at Titanic- The Exhibition.)
See how this amazing model was built in this issue of The Titanic Commutator with dozens of gorgeous, detailed color photos showing step-by-step how it was done.
(For the complete story) 
Of the fourteen four-stackers built, Aquitania was one of the longest-lived and the only one to survive two world wars. Launched in 1913, she was the third four-funnelled liner for Cunard and the only one not to have a government subsidy. Aquitania entered commercial service in May 1914 and was christened "The Ship Beautiful" thanks to her elegant interiors. Unfortunately, she was soon called up for war service as an armed merchant cruiser and her gorgeous interiors either stripped out or covered over...
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Born and raised on a small farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales, John Treasure Jones went to sea when he was fifteen. For the first four years he was indentured as an apprentice, surviving the ocean in a small tramp steamer. Slowly, however, he worked his way up to become Captain of the most famous ocean liner afloat, Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary.
During the Second World War, as a Commander in the Royal Navy Reserve, he was torpedoed in the Atlantic and mentioned twiced in Despatches. In the post-war glory years he mixed with film stars and royalty commanding several famous Cunard liners such as Saxonia, Mauretania and Queen Elizabeth. In 1967 he took his final command––Queen Mary on her last voyage––a 12,000-mile trip from Southampton to her retirement home in Long Beach, California. This is an important chapter for passenger ship aficionados; while he was sad that his ship was being sold, he was very proud to be in command for the final trip and the determination of her owners and supporters to preserve her for future generations. Foreword by Commodore Ronald W. Warwick.
Captain Treasure Jones died in 1993, but his manuscript was recently found and has been edited by his son-in-law to be reproduced here for the first time.
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Awash in elegance, this pin is a skillful recreation of the reknowned White Star Line logo, a red swallowtail flag with a white star in the center surrounded in royal blue. This beautiful pin is made of baked enamel in authentic colors that is set off in solid brass. .75 inch diameter, push pin back.
Now you can relive the courtly polish of Titanic's Edwardian-style without
the muss and fuss of searching for the right accessories. In an era in which
the Social Register listed vessels on which the socially prominent sailed,
the White Star Line set a standard right down to the understated, elegant
menus and place settings in the first class dining saloon. Created especially
for your Titanic Dinner party using rare originals from The Titanic Museum
Collection reproduced to create a 1912 ambience for your unique Titanic Dinner
all in one.
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First class elegance with large, banquet-size napkins. Soft, absorbent yet
elegant white with famous White Star Line logo imprinted in red and big enough
to cover your lap. 25 per package. Measuring a huge 17 X 17 inches (unfolded);
8.50 X 8.50 (folded) with embossed pleated edge.
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A faithful reproduction of original White Star Line buff-colour stationery
with the imprinted White Star burgee logo in red and the Titanic's name at
the top left. 10 sheets and 10 envelopes in each package.
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Reproductions of Rare Originals. MAJESTIC, OLYMPIC, BRITANNIC, OCEANIC, TEUTONIC,
CEDRIC, GEORGIC, REPUBLIC, HOMERIC and the CUNARDER CARPATHIA.
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Normandie was unquestionably the most beautiful ocean liner ever built. The author resurrects Normandie within a sober historical context, winnowing fable from fact in this comprehensive volume enriched by 277 photographs and a magnificent 4-page foldout illustration, he documents every aspect of the vessel’s decorative antecedents, design, construction and service...
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The perfect party favor or place card holder for your gala Titanic Dinner
or Titanic birthday party at a discount price when you buy the party pack.
RMS Titanic is one of the nicest little miniatures in the inexpensive price
range that we’ve ever seen. Comes 12 to a package.
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For 8 and up here is a wonderful pop-up Titanic book package that the whole family can enjoy. Discover all the glory and tragedy of the Titanic in this interactive re-creation of her ill-fated maiden voyage. Paper engineering by David Hawcock who created a spectacular 3-D model of the magnificent liner that unfolds into nearly a foot-an-a-half long––includes a peek into her engine room! A 32-page book follows the Titanic’s history from blueprint to ocean liner. Discover what led to the liner’s tragic end. Discover some dishes on a Menu Card, the dishes served up in first and third class; Pop-up scenes-explore the wheelhouse, gymnasium and luxury first-class accommodations in six pop-up scenes. Also included is a replica of a first class ticket; find your way from deck to deck with this detailed plan of the ship; read the headlines and reports from British and American newspapers and a folder of personal histories-uncover the stories of those who were lost and those who were saved.
If you are looking for a concise, accurate account on the White Star Line, this book is for you. A big, handsome, 15 X 8 1/2, 136-page hardcover beauty published by the Titanic Historical Society is chock full of glorious color illustrations. Hundreds of rare images from the author’s collection, many published for the first time, are sharp, visually striking and photographed in their natural color.
If you use eBay, this book is for you; a fantastic resource with a wealth of information and showing loads of White Star collectibles as examples.
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Queen Mary 2 is the largest ocean liner in the world and you can be
a proud owner of this magnificent 1/400 scale model kit that brings a combination
of 21st century technology with of the style and glamour echoing the floating
palaces of the past. $99.95
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