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originally posted by: ntech
originally posted by: Psynic
I haven't seen this newspaper report of the possible location of wreckage of the Ohau anywhere here yet.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz...
After I read the article linked here I had a thought. What if the bell was attached to something that floated when the wreck broke up? And some beach goer in 1904 found a souvenir.
LOOK at what I found in the sand Mommee!
originally posted by: Psynic
originally posted by: ntech
a reply to: Psynic
It's brass I think. When I cleaned her up back after I bought it the color is a light shiny yellow. But I haven't cleaned it since and it definitely darkened a bit. And with the clapper it weighed 11.6 lbs on the bathroom scale.
I doubt it very much.
Ship's bells are cast from Bronze. Brass would corrode, weaken and crack.
When polished, bronze and brass are nearly identical. We sailors refer to it as 'Irish Gold'.
Pleasure yachts, in which no expense has been spared, are referred to as 'Gold Platers' because the bronze would be plated with a thin layer of gold to prevent it from turning green.
Brass may exhibit an extremely slight attraction to a powerful magnet, while bronze will not.
Brass will flake when drilled, where as bronze will shred. If you pull that bolt out and try reaming the hole in the bracket a tiny bit you'll see the difference.
Both metals produce a 'Verdi Gris' like the copper roofing on old buildings when exposed to the elements or acidity.
I don't know whether it's the lighting or the dust, but I can't distinguish any yellow in the photograph you posted ?
originally posted by: ntech
originally posted by: Psynic
originally posted by: ntech
a reply to: Psynic
It's brass I think. When I cleaned her up back after I bought it the color is a light shiny yellow. But I haven't cleaned it since and it definitely darkened a bit. And with the clapper it weighed 11.6 lbs on the bathroom scale.
I doubt it very much.
Ship's bells are cast from Bronze. Brass would corrode, weaken and crack.
When polished, bronze and brass are nearly identical. We sailors refer to it as 'Irish Gold'.
Pleasure yachts, in which no expense has been spared, are referred to as 'Gold Platers' because the bronze would be plated with a thin layer of gold to prevent it from turning green.
Brass may exhibit an extremely slight attraction to a powerful magnet, while bronze will not.
Brass will flake when drilled, where as bronze will shred. If you pull that bolt out and try reaming the hole in the bracket a tiny bit you'll see the difference.
Both metals produce a 'Verdi Gris' like the copper roofing on old buildings when exposed to the elements or acidity.
I don't know whether it's the lighting or the dust, but I can't distinguish any yellow in the photograph you posted ?
All cleaned up and shiny it resembled this bell.
SS Afrique
originally posted by: TDawgRex
a reply to: mblahnikluver
I bet that thing is heavy as hell. Please don't tell me it's on the second floor as that would give me sympathy pains in my back.
originally posted by: JustMike
a reply to: ntech
Interesting. Seems very unlikely it's from that ship that went down off NZ, both because the bell's date doesn't match and the ship's exact location is unknown.
The only exact match I could find for a ship's bell with "SS Oahu 1892" on it is from a Lennie Marvin's Prop Heaven, a movie and theatre props rental place in California. The link to the precise page is HERE.
Not sure if that helps you much but it's all I could find.
originally posted by: Psynic
One thing that bothers me about the Ohau bell is the bracket and tab connection.
The Afrique bell has the customary flat tab of a marine bell moulded into it, whilst the Ohau has a machined round post, the same as that of the railway bell and a lightweight cantilever bracket with an entirely conventional machined nut and bolt. The bracket, bolt and bell all seem to match in patina which makes me think they were produced by the same foundry, yet the round post seems to be adapted to fit the flat tab bracket.
The little I see of the bracket and bolt does not show enough to differentiate it from the common style of all purpose bracket offered with most antique reproductions.
Brackets for ships bells traditionally were more similar to that of a railway bell in that they weren't cantilevered and had a yoke protecting both sides from becoming snagged on running rigging.
originally posted by: JustMike
a reply to: ntech
Interesting. Seems very unlikely it's from that ship that went down off NZ, both because the bell's date doesn't match and the ship's exact location is unknown.
The only exact match I could find for a ship's bell with "SS Oahu 1892" on it is from a Lennie Marvin's Prop Heaven, a movie and theatre props rental place in California. The link to the precise page is HERE.
Not sure if that helps you much but it's all I could find.
originally posted by: ntech
originally posted by: JustMike
a reply to: ntech
Interesting. Seems very unlikely it's from that ship that went down off NZ, both because the bell's date doesn't match and the ship's exact location is unknown.
The only exact match I could find for a ship's bell with "SS Oahu 1892" on it is from a Lennie Marvin's Prop Heaven, a movie and theatre props rental place in California. The link to the precise page is HERE.
Not sure if that helps you much but it's all I could find.
I wonder if they have checked their inventory lately? Maybe it's missing.
originally posted by: ntech
a reply to: Psynic
Oh, take a look at this report.
Wreckage of SS Ohau found.
It might be it washed up with the cabin wreckage and the finder didn't report it.