New Titanic documentary series - coming 2010

[Jonathan Smith]

Not sure how much of this I can disclose, so for the time being I will keep the info down to a minimum.



There is currently in production a new series about the building of the Titanic due for relase in the summer 2010. The series centers around the technical goals that people and companies had in 1911 when the Titanic was built. Even though the ship was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, the ship was not built as a whole by the yard. Many components of the liner were manufactured elsewhere around Great Britain.



I am currently working with the documentary crew for one of the episodes about the building of the huge centre anchor for the Titanic which measured a whopping 11ft width, 19ft in length and weighed 16 tons. It was so large, a special cart was constructed to carry the anchor from it's manufacturer "Noah Hingley & Sons Ltd" in Netherton (West Midlands) and hauled by a team of twenty (20) Clydesdale horses to Dudley railway station, placed onboard a special running cargo train to Fleetwood docks in Lanchashire, then by cargo ship to Belfast. Titanic had 5 anchors, two large 8 ton anchors that sat either side of her bow. The 3rd (centre anchor) which was the largest sat in a well on her deck on the bow, and two small anchors, one at the bow and one at the stern (secured to the railings).



The anchor for the TV show will be an exact scale and size replica, built using similar methods and to be transported the same way. Other key sections of the ship are to be reproduced, and as I am told, using similar technology of the time (1911/1912).



I will keep you updated as I get info to release.





And here is Titanic's 16 ton centre anchor outside the testing shops for "Noah Hingley & Sons" in April 1911, and leaving the "Hingley" works with the fleet of Clydesdale horses.

[Jonathan Smith]

If anyone else is interested in Titanic's anchors, here is a research paper I published last year.



(please note this application works via PDF)



http://titanic-model.com/articles/a_...cheivement.pdf

[faginsgirl]

Thanks for the info Jonathan. Your paper looks really interesting.



I love watching documentaries about the Titanic so will look forward to it



xx

[jaycad]

i'll look forward to it

[GoggleboxUK]

Thanks Jonathan, those pictures are superb.



I'll enjoy this documentary immensely.

[Edward G]

Superb photos, as always, Jonathon.

I think that the most striking photos ever of Titanic that really show the impact of it's size are not of the full ship but of sections or details. The one with a few of the Harland and Wolf workers standing next to the rudder/propellors of the ship is the one I remember most. The beauty of the shot is that your imagination fills in the implied or projected size of the ship and it is simply mind boggling.

[Jonathan Smith]

name='Edward G']Superb photos, as always, Jonathon.

I think that the most striking photos ever of Titanic that really show the impact of it's size are not of the full ship but of sections or details. The one with a few of the Harland and Wolf workers standing next to the rudder/propellors of the ship is the one I remember most. The beauty of the shot is that your imagination fills in the implied or projected size of the ship and it is simply mind boggling.

There is only one photograph showing the rudder section of Titanic. It was when they were installing the Starboard propellor shaft while she was sitting in dry dock. All other shots were of her sister Olympic. It is easy at times to get the ships mixed up during their "fitting-out" stages.



Titanic







The Olympic images are these, which are often mistakenly captioned to being that of her sister, Titanic

[doblopirate]

Hi Jonathan,

I am a documentary film producer residing in Netherton in Dudley, and I am considering producing a DVD about the manufacture of the anchors and chains at Noah Hingley's works.

The news about a television documentary being released in Summer 2010 could be either good or bad news for me.

I appreciate that you have confidentiality issues with the information, but I would appreciate you being able to tell me as much as you feel able about this project.

[Jonathan Smith]

Received news that the series is currently in production and filming is underway as I speak/post this. The series is being released on Channel 4 at the end of this summer and will be a groundbreaking series, by all accounts.

[Jonathan Smith]

name='doblopirate']Hi Jonathan,

I am a documentary film producer residing in Netherton in Dudley, and I am considering producing a DVD about the manufacture of the anchors and chains at Noah Hingley's works.

The news about a television documentary being released in Summer 2010 could be either good or bad news for me.

I appreciate that you have confidentiality issues with the information, but I would appreciate you being able to tell me as much as you feel able about this project.

Hello



As you know, I am not in a position to release details due to my contract.



However, if you are a film maker in the Midlands who is currently producing a documentary on the Hingley works, please get in touch with me as I can help. I have been working for some time on a new book about Hingleys and the Titanic anchors.



Trust me, much of what has been released over the years about the anchors has been incorrect. As a Titanic historian, I deal with the technical aspects of the ship, not the disaster. I have studied these anchors for some time.

[darrenburnfan]

Although this is a very interesting subject, I rarely watch modern documentaries as they all have that dreadful (and completely unnecessary) white flash and computerised swishing sound between each shot. If you can assure me that this dreadful and very annoying modern film making fashion won't be a feature of your documentary, Jonathan, then I'll watch it.

[Jonathan Smith]

name='darrenburnfan']Although this is a very interesting subject, I rarely watch modern documentaries as they all have that dreadful (and completely unnecessary) white flash and computerised swishing sound between each shot. If you can assure me that this dreadful and very annoying modern film making fashion won't be a feature of your documentary, Jonathan, then I'll watch it.

That I cannot answer, I'm afraid as I am only a historical advisor and have no control over the rest of the production.