Old relics

[Zombie]

It's nearly five years since QE2's last voyage and the ship was sold. It was intended to sell her for scrap, but she was bought by a real estate developer in Dubai that planned to convert her into a floating hotel, like the Queen Mary at Long Beach. But after the ship sailed to Dubai on her final voyage nothing seems to have happened, although her internal systems have been kept running. Last December it was rumoured the ship had been sold for scrap, then in January it was announced a consortium known as QE2 Dubai had been formed to own and operate the ship as a five star 500-room hotel at an unknown location in Asia, but her future is still uncertain.

QE2 was built as a steam ship, powered by steam turbines, and during her life rescued passengers from a doomed French ship that later sank, was held to ransom, ran aground on rocks and was seriously damaged, and was requisitioned by the UK government as a troop ship during the Falklands War. She was the most famous ship in the world and was a true ocean liner. Unlike "cruise ships" or "cruise liners" an ocean liner is designed to cope with heavy seas and storms like those on the transatlantic crossing. These are the only ships that could offer a regular scheduled service between Europe and the US. To be able to do this they need to slice through the waves efficiently and cope with stormy seas and weather, so they're designed differently and built to be stronger, using significantly more steel, which makes them much more expensive to build per passenger. Strong seas and storms would probably sink a modern "high-rise" cruise ship, like the sort of weather QE2 came up against in September 1995 when, in the middle of the Atlantic on a regular transatlantic service from Southampton to New York, she was caught up in Hurricane Luis. The Ship's Log records that she encountered winds up to 130 mph, average wave heights of 40 feet, and was hit by a monster wave of over 90 feet. That's pretty impressive. The only remaining ocean liner is the Queen Mary II which is still able to run a scheduled trans-Atlantic service.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Zombie

[Zombie]

Cragside

Here's another old relic. 2013 is the 150th anniversary since the most technologically advanced house in the world was built by William Armstrong, a lawyer, scientist, engineer, manufacturer and pioneer of renewable energy.
 

 

The house had ducted central heating, telephones, a hydraulic lift [elevator ] dishwasher and appliances, and from 1878 the world's first hydroelectric power station using a high pressure turbine generator to power electric light in the house:



In 1880 Cragside was the first house to be lit by incandescent light bulbs, newly invented by Armstrong's friend Joseph Swan. The hydroelectric plant operated until 1945 when the house was connected to mains electricity. Hydroelectric power generation is now being reinstated and will power the house again later this year.
 

 

[Zombie]

Gloster Meteor

An old British jet fighter flew again today.  Well almost - thanks to a lift from a Chinook helicopter, it was flown to a new home at an aviation museum where it will be displayed.



The Gloster Meteor is interesting because it was the only Allied jet fighter in WW2, in operational service with the Royal Air Force 616 Squadron from 1944:

 

 

The plane suffered from some "friendly fire" incidents because its shape was very similar to the German Me 262, so in 1945 European based Meteors were painted white to prevent this



At the end of 1945 the plane broke the world air speed record at 606 mph. It continued in service with some air forces until 1970.
 

[Zombie]

S.S. United States

 

 

 

I'd forgotten about this ship. I assumed she'd gone to the great scrapyard in the sky like all the other historic liners. But no, she still exists. When she was launched in 1952 she was impressive, powerful, streamlined, and beautiful with her sleek profile and distinctive funnels, and modern interior. The designer was obsessed with fire safety so no wood was used. He even insisted Steinway supply aluminium cased pianos as on the Hindenberg - until they demonstrated there was no fire risk by dousing a piano in petrol and trying unsuccessfully to set it alight On her maiden voyage she smashed the transatlantic record by over 10 hours, with an average speed of 35 knots - 41 mph / 66 kph - claiming the Blue Riband which she holds to this day - in both directions.

Officially the ship had a maximum speed of 38 knots - which for landlubbers means 44 mph / 71 kph But the ship had a dual role. During WW2 Britain's ocean liners, RMS Queen Mary and Elizabeth, regularly crossed the Atlantic with up to 15,000 troops, alone without any escort - they travelled so fast it meant they could outrun anything, including torpedoes. Those troop movements were a key factor in the outcome of the war. This must have impressed the US government so the SS United States was commissioned in 1949 with specifications for a military role - extensive use of aluminium, four screws each powered by a high performance steam turbine, width to enable transit through the Panama Canal, and conversion in one day to a military troop ship, she could deliver 15,000 servicemen anywhere in the world in less than 10 days. Remember this was a time of fear and uncertainty and military air transport capable of moving tens of thousands of troops quickly simply did not exist. It has been claimed that this ocean liner was in fact capable of moving at 44 knots - 50 mph / 80 kph. She is the fastest object of this size ever built, and with a non-stop range of over 10,000 miles.

But her military specification meant she was expensive to operate  - she needed 10,000 gallons of fuel an hour - so with the arrival of fast jet transport which made her military role redundant, and rising oil costs which meant she was commercially uneconomic, she was doomed and her final voyage was in November 1969.. Sadly, since 1996 the ship has been docked at Pier 54 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia as a rusting hulk.
 

 

Many plans have been proposed to preserve and renovate her for future commercial use, like the Queen Mary, but none has worked out. Unless a viable plan comes forward soon the ship will be broken up. This ship is an important artifact. I hope a new use can be found for her and that she can be saved and restored to the magnificent appearance she once had for future generations to enjoy. Hey, in Britain we go nuts about old steam railways and these days they make good money
 

Edited April 30, 2013 by Zombie

[Celethiel]

The United States Government has a hand in not letting the United States go... too many 1950/60's "state secrets" that would get out if it was sold to any foreign company....

Honestly I wish they'd do something nice with her, I would hate to have what happened to the America, or the first Queen Elizabeth or the France happen to her. If I had the money i'd do it my self... but i'd have to be Warren Buffet to do something like that, and he's more interested in trains than ships....

I also find it sad that the Queen Elizabeth 2 has gone out of service, she was litterally the last child of the Ocean Liner age, and the first born of the Cruise Liner Industry... oh well Carnival now Owns Cunard (which is also sad...since Cunard seems to be treated as the overdressed but bankrupt sister by them... besides we all know what Carnival is like... Pooh in the halls anyone )

[Zombie]

Pre-WW2 Television

 

This television - a 1936 Marconiphone - is claimed to be the oldest working electronic TV set in the world. It was bought in London at a cost of £100 - the price of a small car then. The BBC started its regular TV service in November 1936, the first in the world.  
 

 

The cathode ray tube and 70% of the electronics are original, the replacements are original spec and it was sold to only its third owner in 2011 for £16,800. The reason the screen is at the top and watched through a mirror is because the CRT is enormous and extends all the way to the cabinet base. Obviously the electron beam has to scan backwards to display the image correctly in the mirror.

The BBC started its TV service in October 1936 as a trial between two competing formats - John Logie Baird's 240 line mechanical TV system, and EMI's 405 line electronic CRT system. In January 1937 the EMI system was declared the winner and adopted by the BBC so all those who'd bought Baird sets were left high and dry. Baird was devastated, but continued to develop his technology:
 

 

[1940 photo of Baird's hybrid mechanical colour TV image]

During WW2 Baird was using an electronic system and by 1944 had developed and demonstrated the world's first high definition 3D TV and "telechrome" colour TV at up to 1000 lines - "true HD". Baird tried to get his technology adopted for when TV resumed after the war but sadly, perhaps because of Baird's history with a failed mechanical system and a lack of interest in TV development, his advanced modern system was not taken up and Britain retained the 1936 black and white 405 lines TV system until the 1960s
 

Edited May 7, 2013 by Zombie

[Zombie]

Anji / Zhaozhou Bridge [Hebei Province, China]
 

 

A simple, graceful, mathematically precise curve of 123 ft / 37 metres.

Looks pretty modern doesn't it.  

Nope. It's over 1,400 years old.

It was built between 595 and 605 AD and has survived eight wars, ten major floods and many earthquakes including a 7.2 magnitude in 1966. The bridge is still in daily use - only the ornamental railings have been replaced every few hundred years. It was built by people just using their brains, their labour, limestone and iron. Now we use computers and sophisticated materials, and we think we're pretty smart. But what modern structures will still be around in 1,400 years time?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anji_Bridge

[Slytherin]

Anji / Zhaozhou Bridge [Hebei Province, China]

 

 

 

A simple, graceful, mathematically precise curve of 123 ft / 37 metres.

 

Looks pretty modern doesn't it.  

 

Nope. It's over 1,400 years old.

 

It was built between 595 and 605 AD and has survived eight wars, ten major floods and many earthquakes including a 7.2 magnitude in 1966. The bridge is still in daily use - only the ornamental railings have been replaced every few hundred years. It was built by people just using their brains, their labour, limestone and iron. Now we use computers and sophisticated materials, and we think we're pretty smart. But what modern structures will still be around in 1,400 years time?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anji_Bridge

WOW ! That is old

[Zombie]

Manchester Museum mystery as Ancient Egyptian statue rotates in display case ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0E7q4TAj6w

An Egyptian statuette that mysteriously turns itself round inside its display case has left experts baffled at the Manchester Museum. Even eminent television physicist Professor Brian Cox has weighed in on the mystery of Manchester Museum's moving statuette, which dates back to 1800 BC. The 10-inch tall statue of Neb Sanu was discovered in a mummy’s tomb and has been with the Museum for 80 years, but has only recently been noticed moving.

Prof Cox, who teaches physics at the city's university, claims the movement is due to the "differential friction". However, Manchester Museum's resident Egyptologist Campbell Price suggested something more sinister, an Egyptian curse.

"I noticed one day that it had turned around. I thought it was strange because it is in a case and I am the only one who has a key," he explained in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.

“I put it back but then the next day it had moved again. We set up a time-lapse video and, although the naked eye can’t see it, you can clearly see it rotate on the film. The statuette is something that used to go in the tomb along with the mummy.

“In Ancient Egypt they believed that if the mummy is destroyed then the statuette can act as an alternative vessel for the spirit. Maybe that is what is causing the movement.”.

He went on the cast doubt on Prof Cox's explanation: “Brian thinks it’s differential friction, where two surfaces - the serpentine stone of the statuette and glass shelf it is on - cause a subtle vibration which is making the statuette turn.

“But it has been on those surfaces since we have had it and it has never moved before. And why would it go around in a perfect circle?”"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/10137556/Mystery-as-museum-statue-starts-turning-in-display-case.html

Cue Twilight Zone music ...........

 

[Former Member]

Anji / Zhaozhou Bridge [Hebei Province, China]

 

 

A simple, graceful, mathematically precise curve of 123 ft / 37 metres.

 

Looks pretty modern doesn't it.  

 

Nope. It's over 1,400 years old.

 

It was built between 595 and 605 AD and has survived eight wars, ten major floods and many earthquakes including a 7.2 magnitude in 1966. The bridge is still in daily use - only the ornamental railings have been replaced every few hundred years. It was built by people just using their brains, their labour, limestone and iron. Now we use computers and sophisticated materials, and we think we're pretty smart. But what modern structures will still be around in 1,400 years time?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anji_Bridge

 

I've been there! <3

[Kitt]

the Egyptian statue seems like a publicity stunt to me. With modern technology it would be easy to alter the tape to allow someone turn it.

[Zombie]

Except this is the UK'S largest university museum, well respected, been around since the 1860s, is publicly funded and staffed by fusty musty dusty academic types - can't see why these guys would risk putting their entire academic, professional and personal lives at stake for a cheap publicity stunt And the time lapse during the day - the video is time and date stamped - which means he would have had to unlock the cabinet maybe 20 times with visitors milling around to move the critter a millimeter - and no-one noticed?

Edited June 25, 2013 by Zombie

[Kitt]

As Sherlock Holmes said - eliminate the impossible and what ever remains, no matter how improbable must be the truth.  While I agree with all you said about the facility and protecting their reputation, it seems much more probable to be human instigated than Egyptian spirit instigated, especially since it didn't begin when the tomb was disturbed, but just began recently.  The differential friction theory hold more merit than both, and we have no knowledge of if the visitors traffic patterns have shifted or structural changes could have begun the vibrations needed. Even a change in the traffic patterns out on the street could contribute. Guess i am not so ready to accept a supernatural explanation till all the natural ones have been conclusively excluded.

[eroticwriter]

My first ship HMS Maidstone based at Faslane Scotland. I was all of 16

 

[rockyroads]

Manchester Museum mystery as Ancient Egyptian statue rotates in display case ...

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/10137556/Mystery-as-museum-statue-starts-turning-in-display-case.html

 

Cue Twilight Zone music ...........

I wonder if they've evaluated any changes that have happened in the museum's neighborhood, including  subway lines, traffic patterns, buildings housing heavy equipment, etc.  It might explain why it wasn't moving before and maintains a circular pattern.

 

But then again, it's hard to control those pesky spirits when they get ticked off.  Maybe it's trying to get a better view of some new sexy exhibit.

 

EDIT:

As Sherlock Holmes said - eliminate the impossible and what ever remains, no matter how improbable must be the truth. While I agree with all you said about the facility and protecting their reputation, it seems much more probable to be human instigated than Egyptian spirit instigated, especially since it didn't begin when the tomb was disturbed, but just began recently. The differential friction theory hold more merit than both, and we have no knowledge of if the visitors traffic patterns have shifted or structural changes could have begun the vibrations needed. Even a change in the traffic patterns out on the street could contribute. Guess i am not so ready to accept a supernatural explanation till all the natural ones have been conclusively excluded.

Well, heck.  You beat me.  That's what I get when I get sidtracked with something else before clicking on the post button.  Harrumph **crossing arms across chest**

Edited June 25, 2013 by rockyroads

[Zombie]

As Sherlock Holmes said - eliminate the impossible and what ever remains, no matter how improbable must be the truth.  While I agree with all you said about the facility and protecting their reputation, it seems much more probable to be human instigated than Egyptian spirit instigated, especially since it didn't begin when the tomb was disturbed, but just began recently.  The differential friction theory hold more merit than both, and we have no knowledge of if the visitors traffic patterns have shifted or structural changes could have begun the vibrations needed. Even a change in the traffic patterns out on the street could contribute. Guess i am not so ready to accept a supernatural explanation till all the natural ones have been conclusively excluded.

 

 

I've no issue with this. I agree with a scientific explanation. The news item is just a bit of fun and I trust you weren't implying I was "so ready to accept a supernatural explanation". But since you've invoked The Great Detective I think it unlikely that He would have immediately inferred this was a "publicity stunt" and the video tape had been altered 

[Kitt]

My apologies -  I hadn't intended to offend, just comment on an odd phenomenon.

[Zombie]

Mallard

 

This the World's fastest steam loco: 126 mph / 203 kph

 

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of a record breaking speed run by Mallard which broke the World speed record on 3rd July 1938 pulling 7 carriages and became the fastest steam train ever built. It would probably have reached 130 mph but had to slow for a curve.

The loco is now in the York National Railway Museum in perfect condition, but has not run since the 1980s. But last Saturday it's sister engine Bittern was given official permission to exceed the current 75 mph / 120 kph speed restriction on steam locos pulling a passenger train from London to York - on this test run the train exceeded 94 mph / 151 kph [video starts at 0:30]

Six of these A4 Pacific locos survive and the ones in the US and Canada are being shipped to the UK for a happy celebration reunion - sweeeet
 

[Thorn Wilde]

I've no issue with this. I agree with a scientific explanation. The news item is just a bit of fun and I trust you weren't implying I was "so ready to accept a supernatural explanation". But since you've invoked The Great Detective I think it unlikely that He would have immediately inferred this was a "publicity stunt" and the video tape had been altered 

 

Were he not fictional, you mean?

 

Really cool that it's moving. Pretty sure the physicist is right. Of course, the physicist could be right AND someone could be playing a really elaborate prank, somehow causing the vibrations on purpose.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Thorn Wilde

[Zombie]

Were he not fictional, you mean?

 

 

Hey, allow us our conceit 

[Thorn Wilde]

Hey, allow us our conceit 

 

[eroticwriter]

Mallard

 

This the World's fastest steam loco: 126 mph / 203 kph

 

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of a record breaking speed run by Mallard which broke the World speed record on 3rd July 1938 pulling 7 carriages and became the fastest steam train ever built. It would probably have reached 130 mph but had to slow for a curve.

 

The loco is now in the York National Railway Museum in perfect condition, but has not run since the 1980s. But last Saturday it's sister engine Bittern was given official permission to exceed the current 75 mph / 120 kph speed restriction on steam locos pulling a passenger train from London to York - on this test run the train exceeded 94 mph / 151 kph [video starts at 0:30]

 

 

Six of these A4 Pacific locos survive and the ones in the US and Canada are being shipped to the UK for a happy celebration reunion - sweeeet

 

Loved my steam train journeys. Flying Scotsman was some journey. Great granddad worked on Canadian Pacific

[Zombie]

The Battle of the Bones - now it's getting ugly!

They're fighting over the bones of Shakespeare's greatest villain, Richard III


 

 

The crooked, scheming murderer of the Little Princes who stole the crown of England and was hacked to death on the battlefield in 1485, had his bones dug up from a council car park last year. And now Leicester and York are fighting over them - Leicester stakes a claim because the bones were in its municipal car park, York claims them because Richard was the last Yorkist king. This time the battle is taking place in the courts:

"Richard’s descendants from the Plantagenet Alliance have launched a High Court challenge to the decision by the Ministry of Justice and the University of Leicester to push ahead with the burial in Leicester Cathedral. The university has launched a staunch defence in its involvement in the archaeological dig, and stressed it had “led and principally funded” the excavations in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Richard III Society. A spokesman said: “The university supports the view of the Richard III Society and other partners that re-interment is a final act with an over-riding need for dignity.The university declines to comment on allegations conflated from various sources designed to promote the Plantagenet Alliance’s interests. Leicester City Council declined to comment, while no-one was available from the city’s cathedral."

 

The judge has urged both sides to settle out of court in order to "avoid embarking on the Wars of the Roses, Part Two" :funny:

So why all this fuss over a few old bones? Richard III still has many supporters even after all this time and despite the damning evidence against him, and they want him interred in an appropriate place, which they claim should be York. But another reason is money - there's money in them thar bones Before Henry VIII abolished the monasteries in England they were running a nice little earner with "relics". These were claimed to be bits of bodies of saints or the Cross and so on and were big attractions for tourists - called pilgrims then - and were very profitable, and almost certainly fraudulent. If an English monastery didn't have a "relic" then it was missing out on mega bucks. Well now we have real relics - the real bones of the most infamous king in English history - and wherever they end up they will attract serious numbers of tourists and serious amounts of tourist income.

Let battle commence

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/university-hijacked-richard-iii-bones-discovery-1-6063349

[Zombie]

Sound recording

Came across this pic the other day. It's the world's earliest sound recording made between1857 and 1860



Thomas Edison is credited with inventing sound recording with his 1878 phonograph patent. But he didn't. Just like he didn't invent the lightbulb The first sound recordings were printed onto paper 20 years before Edison and the above pic is one of these printed recordings. These are the earliest known playable sound recordings, made over 150 years ago, and were made between 1857 and 1860 by a Frenchman, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville - who you won't have heard of - of music and speech. Scott deserves his place in the history of invention. A printer by trade, in 1857 he patented the "phonautograph" which "printed" sound onto paper.



His patented device was essentially a breakthrough invention, creating the method of analogue recording that was used for recording all sound - music, radio, film, TV - until replaced by digital technology from the 1980s.

 

A phonograph / gramophone able to playback Scott's recordings - called a "paleophone" - was invented by fellow Frenchman Charles Cros in April 1877 but lack of money meant this was never done. It wasn't until 2008 - 150 years after they were made - when a computer program was developed using optical scanning to play them, that Scott's recordings were heard for the first time.

 

BBC newsreaders are very professional but when Charlotte Green played this clip as part of a news summary she collapsed in a fit of giggles - I defy you not to laugh when you listen to her training, professionalism and composure go flying out the window...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdlF-DCUKs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonautograph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleophone

[joann414]

Who needs wiki when they have Zombie?