Building The Dream

Titanic's construction lasted for 3 years of her existence, meaning it took up most of her life.  There is quite a bit out there from Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland where she was built and in 2017, I had the privilege and honor of visiting the spots where she was built and touring the museums there.

This magazine features a photo of Lord William Pirrie, a man responsible for the Titanic's construction.  He was the president of Harland & Wolff at the time and even served as Lord Mayor of Belfast.  Rumor has it he and J. Bruce Ismay (the managing director of the White Star Line) came up with the idea of Titanic and her sisters in 1907, though this rumor has largely been discredited.  His brother in law, Alexander Carlisle, and his nephew, Thomas Andrews were among the main designers for Titanic.

These postcards show photos of the Arrol Gantry which is the cradle where the Titanic and her sisters were built.  Prior to construction, the original gantries had to be demolished and the Arrol Gantry built to accommodate the enormous size of the new upcoming liners.  These gantries were used until the 1970s and were among the largest in the world at the time they were built.

These are pieces and fragments from the Arrol Gantry which was used to build the Titanic.  These were picked up from the very spot where they once rested.

These two time keeping boards were used for clocking in and out while working at Harland and Wolff.  Each one had a unique number which was recorded when they came into and left work.  If the workers required special tools from the shop, they would have to give up the boards until they returned the tools.  If they didn't turn them in at the end of the day, they didn't get paid.  

These booklets were printed and distributed throughout Harland and Wolff as away for people to stay informed about questions and issues.  Ireland at the time was not the most peaceful of countries and there were many internal conflicts over a variety of issues.  Above is a booklet about disputes and demarcation and a book about the Benefit Association.  

This postcard features the Titanic under construction in the Arrol Gantry at Harland and Wolff.  This postcard is exceptionally rare, showing the Olympic and Titanic being built side by side.  Very few original postcards with this view exist. 

This rare post-sinking bookpost postcard features a stunning photograph of the Titanic taken April 1, 1912, the original scheduled day of the sea trials.  Because of the high winds (as evidenced by the smoke coming out of the smokestacks), the sea trials were rescheduled.  The largest floating crane in the world at the time, Hercules, can be seen just behind her.  It was used to install the boilers, engines, funnels, and other heavy machinery.