拍品 69
69
[THE GREAT EASTERN] THOMSON, J. (photographer). A collection of ten albumen prints showing cable-laying machinery on the deck of the "Great Eastern," [ca. 1867], laid down on board in folio album, one to a leaf, average size 190 x 240mm./7¾ x 9½in., the first eight prints with lithographed caption to mount reading: "Atlantic Telegraph Machinery on board the S. S. Great Eastern," and photographer's credit "J. Thomson, 21 High Park St., Liverpool," contemporary marbled boards, Scott Library label. [but not in Catalogue]

細節
[THE GREAT EASTERN] THOMSON, J. (photographer). A collection of ten albumen prints showing cable-laying machinery on the deck of the "Great Eastern," [ca. 1867], laid down on board in folio album, one to a leaf, average size 190 x 240mm./7¾ x 9½in., the first eight prints with lithographed caption to mount reading: "Atlantic Telegraph Machinery on board the S. S. Great Eastern," and photographer's credit "J. Thomson, 21 High Park St., Liverpool," contemporary marbled boards, Scott Library label. [but not in Catalogue]

拍品專文

The final print in the album is of a more general nature, showing the ship's guns as well as the line of masts and funnels viewed from the top deck. In 1865, the "Great Eastern" took aboard the 3000 miles of cable for connecting Valentia and Newfoundland, and is not to be derided for carrying out John Brett's great scheme for connecting Europe and America by a submerged electric cable. The most ingenious piece of machinery used in cable laying was Macfarlane Gray's steering engine, fitted in 1867.