A well presented static display scale model of the nine-screw turbine powered steam yacht Turbinia, designed by Sir Charles Parsons (1894) and modified in 1897
拍品 242

A well presented static display scale model of the nine-screw turbine powered steam yacht Turbinia, designed by Sir Charles Parsons (1894) and modified in 1897

成交價

GBP 2,232

更多資訊

如何委託拍賣

A well presented static display scale model of the nine-screw turbine powered steam yacht Turbinia, designed by Sir Charles Parsons (1894) and modified in 1897
with mast, rigging, brass anchor with chain, fairleads, anchor winch, bollards, deck rails, deck housing, cabin lights, turret wheelhouse with portholes and secured doors, rudder steering ropes and blocks to single port-side rudder, hatches, coal shute covers, single raked funnel with safety valve extension pipe and whistle, companionway, lifeboat in chocks with bottom boards, thwarts and oars, steering mechanism, life belts and other details. The hull, carved from the solid, with aft bilge keels, three shafts each sporting three three-blade propellors, is finished in green and white and mounted on two turned brass columns, within glazed display case. Measurements overall -- 46 x 44in. (117 x 112cm.) Stand
See illustration

專家說明

Turnbinia was designed by Sir Charles Parsons, inventor and builder of Parsons turbines. She was built by him in 1894 to test Parsons turbines in service and to demonstrate the advantages of turbine vs reciprocating engine propulsion. Naturally the fastest type of craft should be used for such demonstrations. It was a sad blow when, powered by one radial flow turbine, Turbinia made less than 20 knots due to cavitation at the high turbine speeds of 1800-2000 RPM. Parsons made many studies of cavitation. The single turbine was removed and replaced by three Parsons parallel-flow turbines, each driving a shaft with three propellers on each shaft.

The Royal Naval Review for Queen Victoria's Jubilee took place at the Spithead in 1897. With all the ships of the Navy, guest vessels, and huge crowds looking on, the tiny (comparatively) Turbinia went down the rows of naval vessels at 35 knots. This effectively demonstrated the power and performance of steam turbines, a previously unknown type of high speed marine power, from a practical point of view. In a very short time successful turbine installations had been made and put in service on coastal steamers. The Cunard Line experimented with turbines in the 20,000 ton Carmania, and then entrusted turbines to their Mauretania and Lusitania. Both ships became world famous, the former holding the transatlantic speed record from 1910 to 1929.

Turbinia was solely a demonstration vessel to show, as she certainly did, the advantages of turbine drive. Her weight of 44½ tons divided by her horsepower gave a very low 49 pounds per horsepower, only to be surpassed five years later by the American Arrow which, even with reciprocating engines, achieved a figure of 36 pounds per horsepower.

Shortly after being photographed alongside the Mauretania, the first large, fast, turbine powered ocean liner, she was laid up on the Tyne. Her after part was retired to exhibition in 1927 in the Imperial Science Museum in London. In 1961 both halves were rejoined in Newcastle on Tyne where she can now be seen.