5025 x 3363 px | 42,5 x 28,5 cm | 16,8 x 11,2 inches | 300dpi
Date de la prise de vue:
23 mars 2008
Informations supplémentaires:
SS Great Eastern was an iron sailing steam ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She was the largest ship ever built at the time of her 1858 launch, and had the capacity to carry 4, 000 passengers around the world without refueling. Her length of 692 feet (211 m) was only surpassed in 1899 by the 705 feet (215 m) 17, 274 gross ton RMS Oceanic, and her gross tonnage of 18, 915 was only surpassed in 1901 by the 700 feet (210 m) and 21, 035 gross ton RMS Celtic. Brunel knew her affectionately as the "Great Babe". He died in 1859 shortly after her ill-fated maiden voyage. The launch of the ship cost £170, 000, a third of Brunel's estimate for the entire vessel, and it had yet to be fitted out. It was difficult to get any more money from the Eastern Company's investors as the company was close to becoming bankrupt. To prevent this happening, a new company was formed, the "Great Ship Company", with capital of £340, 000. They bought the ship for £160, 000, which left enough funds for fitting her out. The Eastern Company's shareholders were given the market value of their £20 shares (£2 10s) towards payment for shares in the new company and the Eastern Steam Navigation Company entered liquidation. Tenders were invited for fitting the ship out, and two were received - one from Wigram and Lucas for £142, 000, and the other from John Scott Russell for £125, 000. Brunel had taken a long holiday on medical advice and was absent when the contract was awarded to Scott Russell. The work was begun in January 1859, and was completed by August.
