Totally shameless off-topic link plug

[Blacklord]

Hi guys,

As well as my interest in classic Commodore machines, I also have a passion for Sydney's ferries (all 500 plus over the last 200 years or so).

For a while I've had an on-again off-again page hosted locally on these, but now have a new domain for it at http://www.ferriesofsydney.com

So if you share the interest, take a look :-) In the middle of uploading content to it all over this weekend.

cheers,

Lance

[nikoniko]

Fascinating stuff, and an impressive collection of information you have there!

While not Sydney-related, I recently enjoyed this fascinating account by 19th century inventor and engineer, Sir Henry Bessemer, of his experience trying to design, build and market an innovative passenger compartment for Channel-crossing vessels. It was intended to stay level at all times, immune from the rocking back and forth of the ship.

[Blacklord]

Fascinating stuff, and an impressive collection of information you have there!

While not Sydney-related, I recently enjoyed this fascinating account by 19th century inventor and engineer, Sir Henry Bessemer, of his experience trying to design, build and market an innovative passenger compartment for Channel-crossing vessels. It was intended to stay level at all times, immune from the rocking back and forth of the ship.

This thing was actually built at one stage into at least one Atlantic crossing vessel and was a less than success (to say the least) - the builders neglected to take into account that ships also roll bow to stern as well....  passengers found it worse than a static cabin.

cheers,

Lance

[nikoniko]

I believe Sir Bessemer noted that same flaw in his own design. Apparently the designer of the Atlantic vessel wasn't familiar with Bessemer's failure, or failed to learn from it as they should have. Or if it was Bessemer himself... shame on him!