Titanic was often called "a city gone to sea" and the comparison was apt. For days on end the Ship would be alone on the ocean. To ensure that the mechanical needs of the vessel were met while away, the Titanic carried a number of workshops on various decks. Plumbers, electricians, boilermakers, and carpenters each had their own shops outfitted with specialized tools of the trade.
The lower decks were also home to the Ship's cold storage rooms, spread over two decks at the stern of the Ship. Here dozens of compartments were kept at temperatures ranging from simply cool to below freezing by miles of copper pipes circulating chilled brine from the engine room. Bacon, beef, mutton, fish, poultry, oysters, fruit, wines, and champagne were each kept in separate storage lockers at temperatures optimal for the contents. Below are some artifacts recovered by RMS Titanic, Inc. during various dives that reflect the activities of these lower decks.
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Electric Motor Pole Windings (00/0087). Motor pole windings were used to run small motors attached to the table fans in first-class cabins. Greaser Thomas Ranger was on duty in the Electrical Workshop repairing fans when the Ship struck the iceberg. It was there he received the order to switch off the massive boiler room blowers as the Titanic was dead in the water. |
This closeup of an electric switch (98/0039.A/B) displays celluloid lables indicating its connection to the cold storage rooms for poultry and mutton. |
This massive vise (00/0283a) is from one of the machinists' shops next to the engine room. |