Vintage work crew photos

[olderdan]

That does not look like a place I would want to be, trip hazards everywhere and tonnes above your head, but I am sure they knew what they were doing.

[12bolts]

That chain in the foreground is to catch the ship so it doesnt float away. You would want to be sure the links your standing on dont catch a foot before you can step away

[mklotz]

Is it to "catch" the ship or to act as a brake to slow the ship as it slides into the water?

From what I've seen in videos it seems to be the latter rather than the former. With a very heavy ship, I would think that a "catch" would simply tear the chain anchor point out of the ship or the dock when the chain went taut. OTOH, a slowly moving ship could be restrained by a stretchy tether such as heavy rope.

In this video of the launching of the Queen Mary...

the use of drag chains to slow the ship is mentioned at approximately 3:45 minutes into the video.

[12bolts]

Listen to what the commentator says, "The enormous drag chains take up the strain and brake the momentum of the launch", At 3:59 - 4:03 you even see the chains pull tight

[ranald]

#913 bit like watching a dragline chain get taught: I was very fit early 70s, and couldn't lift one link allbeit attached to a whole chain. What a Strain also on the restrainers!? I could hold that. LOL

[Jon]

Pouring concrete, Vancouver, 1931.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...w_fullsize.jpg

[Frank S]

What I like is the all knowing expression on the older gentleman's face as he watches the youngers stretch the skins. If you could hear his eyes they would be saying boys I've done this all my life now its your turn and you better to them right if you expect me to buy them.

[Toolmaker51]

She might have aged some, but touring the Queen Mary envelopes one with an indescribable sense of wonder; when design, engineering, craftsmanship converge. Once again, prime example achieved with nothing but paper, ink and endless calculations, and sufficient reliable capital equipment.

[mklotz]

She might have aged some, but touring the Queen Mary envelopes one with an indescribable sense of wonder; when design, engineering, craftsmanship converge. Once again, prime example achieved with nothing but paper, ink and endless calculations, and sufficient reliable capital equipment.

The story surrounding the naming of the ship has always made me smile. This excerpt from the Wikipedia article on the ship recounts it succinctly...

Legend has it that Cunard intended to name the ship Victoria, in keeping with company tradition of giving its ships names ending in "ia", but when company representatives asked the king's permission to name the ocean liner after Britain's "greatest queen", he said his wife, Mary of Teck, would be delighted. And so, the legend goes, the delegation had of course no other choice but to report that No. 534 would be called Queen Mary.

[Toolmaker51]

The story surrounding the naming of the ship has always made me smile. This excerpt from the Wikipedia article on the ship recounts it succinctly...

Legend has it that Cunard intended to name the ship Victoria, in keeping with company tradition of giving its ships names ending in "ia", but when company representatives asked the king's permission to name the ocean liner after Britain's "greatest queen", he said his wife, Mary of Teck, would be delighted. And so, the legend goes, the delegation had of course no other choice but to report that No. 534 would be called Queen Mary.

Yes. That's smile worthy.
Illustrates one's wishes need to be clear for desired results from other parties.

PS Wikipedia offers good reads on Victoria, Mary, and Elizabeth. Someday we'll get a female of that standard for nomination to president; so far none have possessed such factors. Put nicely, this crop manages the direct opposites.