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Engine Area
This area is heavily incrusted with sea life and, to the untrained eye, difficult to make anything out. There are a number of items in this area that appear to be associated with and engine and gearing room. To include valve wheels, circuit boards, flywheel housing, engine body and equipment. Assistance identifying or explaining any of these items or answering the Questions listed below would be greatly appreciated.. Statistics:
Flywheel Beam -----------
About 6' Sq Pictures:
Synopsis: This area contains a number of items we hope to identify. A lot of question could be answered if we were able to determine what these items are and more importantly, how they are orientated on the bottom. There is a possibility that this area of the wreck is upside down. If this is the case how would the Control Valve pictured be mounted in the ship so as to end up in what appears to be an upright position. Also, the picture of what we believe to be the Engine Piston Housing would appear to be upside right on the bottom. Both of these items are between the forward end of the cantilever beams area. If our assumption about these items is correct, we cannot come up with a scenario that results in these items ending up in an upright position while the Pittman arms are upside down. Type Of Ship: Items found in the Engine area seems to correspond to the type engines used in this era of steamships. Cargo: Nothing in this area to suggest its cargo. One item found in this area is believed to be some of the ships working cargo. The item listed above as the Lead Stick was surely carried to implement repairs while under way. Lead, by itself, is too soft a material to handle any structural repairs. They commonly use a lead and tin combination to give the lead a more durable form. A combination of 50% lead and 50% tin makes for a very strong alloy but still maintains its low melting point. So it would make perfect sense to stamp the words "HALF & HALF" on the lead bar. As for the word "STRICTLY" stamped just prior to that, it could be just a further clarification of what the metal type. On an outside chance it could be the name of the foundry that smelted the bar. Sinking Date: Nothing in this area has helped to determine the sinking date. It does appear to be substantial deterioration with only super structure steel remaining, thus indicating its been submerged for quite some time. Cause Of Sinking: Nothing in this area has helped to determine the cause of sinking. How It Sank: As mentioned in the synopses paragraph above, the control valve pictured above appears to be an upright position. Also, the picture of what we believe to be the Engine Piston Housing would appear to be upside right on the bottom. Both of these items are between the forward end of the cantilever beams area. This tends to support the upright orientation on the ocean floor. 1. What is the item we call the connecting rod with a round hole in the H shaped end and what was it used for? 2. What is the control valve or wheel, what was it used for and could it be mounted in such a way that its current position would support the idea that the ship is upside down on the bottom? 3. What is the spindle or dive device and what was it used for? 4. What is the item are identify as the piston house and could it be mounted in such a way that its current position would support the idea that the ship is upside down on the bottom? |
