CyberHeritage

Steve Johnson has an interest in, amongst other things - fireworks, armaments, advertising, submarines and greeting cards. [Quite a few broken links I'm afraid]. Link…

Cryptography

A large collection of vintage cryptography equipment and paraphernalia. Link…

Captain Smales and Paddle Steamers

"Thursday, 26th January, began with a heavy N.W. and Westerly gale with a very high sea running. The 'Magdala' was behaving splendidly. About 11 a.m. I remarked to the Mate who was on watch at the time "Isn't she a fine sea boat?" It was his first voyage in her as he had only joined in Glasgow. A little while after, I was standing on the lee side of the bridge watching the heavy rollers as they rolled away to leeward in the hurricane squalls that came along at short intervals and as I stood there the words of the hymn came to my mind "He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm". There was something awe-inspiring in the long heavy billows as they rolled away to leeward, clear of the ship. We had had no observation of the sun since we left Glasgow and I made the dead reckoning at noon to be Lat. 53 - 11 N. Long 15 -57 West. Somewhere about 260 miles West of Ireland. At 10 minutes past noon, during a hurricane squall, ship not steering at the time, a huge mountain of a sea - tidal wave in fact - came rolling and towering above us on the starboard beam. Just a black mountain of water with a white crest on the point of breaking. The ship had not the ghost of a chance, she simply could not rise to it but just gave a sickening roll to wind-ward and the mountain fell on her and rolled right over her from the fore rigging to the main. Over she went and buried her port rail, listing to 46 degrees measured later. What happened was, 600 tons of coal in the bridge space and No.2 tween deck was thrown bodily to Port. The front of the funnel was stove in and the whistle lanyards tightened with the whistle having been knocked inside the funnel. It was howling away full blast inside!"
Find out what happens next here.
I came across this story while browsing the fascinating Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery (yes, that is Acker Bilk on Margate Pier). Link…

The Anzac Book

Written by the troops at Anzac in 1915 & edited by CEW Bean. Link…

Customs

Board of Trade Tape - The Waterguard used a special tape, made by Rabone Chesterman Ltd. and supplied by the Board of Trade.

Extending Rummage Mirror - Extending from about 1 foot to about 3 feet with the mirror mounted on a short 'ball and socket' arm, this was official issue to all APOs on rummage duties in the 1960/70's.

Shuftyscope - It was used by officers on rummage duties to see into confined, enclosed spaces. It had a light source powered by batteries and a lense mounted at the end of a 20mm diameter tube. The eye piece could be focused by a knurled ring mounted close to the handle.

Sykes Hydrometer - This used by Waterguard Officers to assess the alcoholic strength of any liquor presented, or detected, during passenger or crew baggage examination. Some spirits, such as rum, had the indicated strength reduced to compensate for any colouring or sweetening held in solution in the liquid. This was calculated in degrees of Obscuration.

Tuckstick - The tuckstick, or sword cane, was used from the 19th century onwards as a rummage tool to prod cargo in order to locate contraband goods.

All things smuggling at HM Waterguard. Link…

Great Ships

The postcard and ephemera collection of Jeff Newman. Link…

A Medieval Mariner and his Manuscript

In 1401 a young man named Michael of Rhodes joined the Venetian navy as a lowly galley oarsman. Over the next four decades, he sailed on more than 40 voyages and took part in five major sea battles, rising through the ranks to become a trusted galley commander. Link…

San Diego Navy Historical Association

Preserving the story of the Recruit Training Command and Naval Training Center through postcards, posters and documents. Link…